to BBC Radio Solent). Ocean Sound (East) therefore sounded livelier than its West counterpart, which took on a softer sound. New Studios Once the franchise was won, Ocean Sound needed brand-new state of the art studios in Segensworth West, a district outside Fareham, beside the M27 motorway in Hampshire. This move to base themselves outside the two major cities of Southampton and Portsmouth was a strategic one, so as not to appear sounding biased in favour of either city and to remove any lingering associations with Radio Victory, primarily focused on Portsmouth. The following is an excerpt of a 1986 interview with then managing director David Lucas in an Independent Broadcasting Authority publication: "The original plan was to have studio buildings and offices in both Portsmouth and Southampton,' says Lucas. 'But that is an unnecessarily complicated way of doing the job. The important thing is for the programmes themselves to provide a strong and relevant local identity. Contribution studios have been established in both Portsmouth and Southampton to provide direct city-centre access to the airwaves for interviewees and guests." "...But Lucas, like some other radio managers, wonders whether the high standards of IBA studio specifications are always necessary. 'A significant proportion of studio costs comes in sound-proofing them'; says Lucas. 'Would it really matter if the listener heard the occasional lorry rumbling past outside? With most stations operating on close mic techniques anyway, peripheral noise can be minor'". Once the studios were complete, staff needed to be hired – almost from scratch. Sales managers and a Head of News were all recruited, ironically from Radio Victory. Construction of the new studios took under a year and finished in time for the station's launch in 1986. On 6 December 1987, Ocean Sound's coverage area was extended with an additional service covering the Winchester area. Entitled Ocean Sound (North) – The Light FM, this would relay the Ocean Sound West service, with locally focused news, travel and programmes during the morning, early afternoon and early evening. Ocean Sound North could be heard on 96.7 MHz FM. The Gold, The Power and The Light 1988 saw Ocean Sound undergo a massive re-organisation of its frequencies and services. The main changes were: Ocean Sound (East and North) on FM would become FM-only and simply renamed Ocean Sound and The Light FM Ocean Sound (West) on FM would become Power FM Ocean Sound on AM