Cool FM separated from Downtown Radio
Cool FM is an Independent Local Radio station based in Newtownards, Northern Ireland. The station is owned and operated by Bauer and forms part of Bauer's Hits Radio Network.
The station began broadcasting in 1990 when its parent station Downtown Radio ceased simulcasting and split its AM and FM frequencies into two separate services. Downtown Radio continued on 1026 kHz AM and FM frequencies outside Belfast–and Cool FM was created to broadcast on 97.4 MHz. Initially broadcasting to the Greater Belfast area only, Cool FM can now be received across Northern Ireland on DAB.
As of March 2023, the station broadcasts to a weekly audience of 489,000, according to RAJAR.