The following is a 24-hour daily schedule for a community radio station, balancing core programming elements with listener engagement and local relevance.
It’s based on the training article ‘Setting up community radio’ which we suggest you read before adapting the schedule below for your own purposes.
If you do use this model we suggest you give the various shows names to help with audience recognition, attachment and loyalty.
Early morning (12:00 AM – 6:00 AM)
Automated/repeat content
- 12:00 AM – 5:30 AM:
- Curated music playlists (mix of genres)
- Replays of popular daytime shows (e.g. culture, farming)
- Public service announcements (pre-recorded)
- 5:30 AM – 6:00 AM:
- Pre-recorded morning meditation/health segment
- Weather update (5:50 AM)
Morning (6:00 AM – 9:00 AM)
Wake-up & commute focus
- 6:00 AM:
- News bulletin (10 mins: local, regional and national headlines as well as selected international news, overnight updates)
- 6:10 AM:
- Weather & travel (5 mins: forecast, roadworks, public transport)
- 6:15 AM – 7:00 AM:
- Morning show (Lifestyle: health tips, quick recipes, listener shoutouts)
- 7:00 AM:
- News bulletin (10 mins)
- 7:10 AM:
- Traffic update (5 mins)
- 7:15 AM – 8:00 AM:
- Local culture spotlight (Interviews, event previews, community history)
- 8:00 AM:
- News bulletin (10 mins)
- 8:10 AM:
- Weather & local prices brief (5 mins: local weather forecast, cost of living information, personal money tips)
- 8:15 AM – 9:00 AM:
- Interactive breakfast show (Music, call-ins, “Question of the day” quiz)
Midday (9:00 AM – 12:00 PM)
Lifestyle & community focus
- 9:00 AM – 9:30 AM:
- Community announcements (Events, volunteer opportunities, charity drives)
- 9:30 AM – 10:00 AM:
- Market gardening show (Expert tips, listener Q&A)
- 10:00 AM:
- News bulletin (10 mins)
- 10:10 AM – 11:00 AM:
- Consumer affairs (Product reviews, scams to avoid, guest experts)
- 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM:
- Culture & arts hour (Live music sessions, author interviews, film reviews)
Afternoon (12:00 PM – 4:00 PM)
Engagement & relaxation
- 12:00 PM:
- News bulletin (10 mins)
- 12:10 PM – 1:00 PM:
- Lunchtime lounge (Chill music, listener dedications, travel stories)
- 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM:
- Finance in-depth (budgeting workshops, cost-cutting tips, where to buy at the best price)
- 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM:
- Afternoon quiz hour (Themed trivia, on-air competitions, prizes)
- 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM:
- Youth zone (Teen hosts, music requests, school/college news)
Evening drive (4:00 PM – 7:00 PM)
Commute & wrap-up
- 4:00 PM:
- News bulletin (10 mins)
- 4:10 PM:
- Traffic & weather (5 mins)
- 4:15 PM – 5:00 PM:
- Drive-time show (Upbeat music, “Rush hour challenge” mini-games)
- 5:00 PM:
- News bulletin (10 mins)
- 5:10 PM – 6:00 PM:
- Sports & recreation (Local team updates, fitness challenges)
- 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM:
- Community debate hour (Live call-ins on local issues)
Prime time (7:00 PM – 10:00 PM)
Entertainment & specialist content
- 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM:
- Live music sessions (Local bands, open-mic nights)
- 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM:
- Specialist show (Rotating: world music, local politics, ‘down you way’, language programmes, grow your own advice)
- 9:00 PM – 10:00 PM:
- Night owls unwind (Podcast-style storytelling, listener poetry)
Late night (10:00 PM – 12:00 AM)
Wind-down & reflection
- 10:00 PM – 11:00 PM:
- Late-night discussion (Topic of the day, audience experiences)
- 11:00 PM – 12:00 AM:
- Local music hour (Curated playlist, artist retrospectives)
Key features
- News: Hourly during peak times (6 AM–9 AM, 4 PM–7 PM), three times a day otherwise.
- Weather/travel: Every two hours, with extra updates during rush hours.
- Interactive segments: Quizzes, competitions, and call-ins spread across daytime.
- Local focus: 70% of content highlights community voices, events, or issues.
This schedule balances structure with flexibility, ensuring it remains dynamic and responsive to listener needs. But it’s just a structure. Please feel free to adapt for your own purposes.
