Bath FM
Encyclopedia
Bath FM was a local independent radio station
based at the former Weston railway station
in Bath, England
. The station was launched in November 1999 and closed on 24 March 2010.
The station broadcast to an area with a population of 104,000. In September 2008, RAJAR
figures gave the station a weekly audience reach of 14% and an audience share of 2.7%
In December 2008, after the acquisition by South West Radio Ltd, listening figures increased to an audience reach of 15% and an audience share of 3.4%.
, which also served the city. In February 2006, Bath FM was taken over by The Local Radio Company (TLRC). In June 2008, TLRC sold Bath FM, along with nearby stations Brunel FM
and 3TR FM
, to Laser Broadcasting
. On 28 October 2008, Laser Broadcasting were placed into administration.
On 29 October 2008, it was announced that Bath FM had been sold to South West Radio Ltd. Bath FM was sold alongside Brunel FM, 3TR FM, and two Quaywest stations, following the collapse of previous owner Laser Broadcasting.
South West Radio LTD went into administration on the 4th August 2009. The assets and contracts were acquired without liability by YMC ltd who ran the stations as a group.
On 24 March 2010, the five stations were closed by administrators after multiple refusals on the part of regulator OFCOM to transfer the licenses, following a number of financial issues at the stations following TLRC's sale.
_station_in_september_2007.jpg)
Bath FM's signal was broadcast from a transmitter based at Bathampton Down
, next to the University of Bath
.
In November 2007, Bath FM moved their studios to Swindon, 35 miles (56.3 km) away from their broadcast area, after Ofcom
agreed to a request from The Local Radio Company to co-locate Bath FM with Brunel FM.
On 9 September 2008, under Laser Broadcasting, Bath FM moved back into Station House and once again broadcast from the city until its closure. All broadcasting equipment and specialist wiring has now been removed from the premises, a former railway station.
Independent Local Radio
Independent Local Radio is the collective name given to commercial radio stations in the United Kingdom. The same name is used for Independent Local Radio in Ireland.-Development of ILR:...
based at the former Weston railway station
Weston (Bath) railway station
Weston was a small railway station in Bath, England, about a mile west of Bath Green Park railway station on the Midland Railway line.It was opened in 1869 when the Midland Railway's Bath branch was opened...
in Bath, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The station was launched in November 1999 and closed on 24 March 2010.
The station broadcast to an area with a population of 104,000. In September 2008, RAJAR
RAJAR
RAJAR was established in 1992 to operate a single audience measurement system for the radio industry in the United Kingdom. RAJAR is jointly owned by the British Broadcasting Corporation and the RadioCentre...
figures gave the station a weekly audience reach of 14% and an audience share of 2.7%
In December 2008, after the acquisition by South West Radio Ltd, listening figures increased to an audience reach of 15% and an audience share of 3.4%.
Ownership
Bath FM, initially an independent station, was launched in November 1999 as an alternative to GWR FM BathGWR FM Bath
Heart 103 was an independent radio station serving Bath in Somerset, England, broadcasting on 103 MHz FM, on DAB Digital radio and online.-History:In 1986, a Bath ILR licence was awarded by the IBA...
, which also served the city. In February 2006, Bath FM was taken over by The Local Radio Company (TLRC). In June 2008, TLRC sold Bath FM, along with nearby stations Brunel FM
Brunel FM
Brunel FM was a UK commercial radio station broadcasting to the town of Swindon and outside areas of close proximity.-Overview:Brunel FM was owned and operated by YMC Ltd, however it was a company in its own right....
and 3TR FM
3TR FM
3TR FM was a radio station based in the ancient market town of Warminster, Wiltshire, United Kingdom. It broadcasted on 107.5 FM to the West Wiltshire, East Somerset and surrounding area, and online via Internet streaming...
, to Laser Broadcasting
Laser Broadcasting
Laser Broadcasting was a commercial radio operator based in Darlington in County Durham, England.-History:The group was founded in 2002 by Nigel Reeve—one of the launch directors of Classic FM and one time chief executive of London News Radio owners of LBC—and Nick Jordan, a media sales executive...
. On 28 October 2008, Laser Broadcasting were placed into administration.
On 29 October 2008, it was announced that Bath FM had been sold to South West Radio Ltd. Bath FM was sold alongside Brunel FM, 3TR FM, and two Quaywest stations, following the collapse of previous owner Laser Broadcasting.
South West Radio LTD went into administration on the 4th August 2009. The assets and contracts were acquired without liability by YMC ltd who ran the stations as a group.
On 24 March 2010, the five stations were closed by administrators after multiple refusals on the part of regulator OFCOM to transfer the licenses, following a number of financial issues at the stations following TLRC's sale.
Technical
Bathampton Down
Bathampton Down, is a flat limestone plateau in Bathampton overlooking Bath, and the River Avon, Somerset, England.There is evidence of man's activity at the site since the Mesolithic period including Bathampton Camp, an Iron Age hillfort or stock enclosure...
, next to the University of Bath
University of Bath
The University of Bath is a campus university located in Bath, United Kingdom. It received its Royal Charter in 1966....
.
In November 2007, Bath FM moved their studios to Swindon, 35 miles (56.3 km) away from their broadcast area, after Ofcom
Ofcom
Ofcom is the government-approved regulatory authority for the broadcasting and telecommunications industries in the United Kingdom. Ofcom was initially established by the Office of Communications Act 2002. It received its full authority from the Communications Act 2003...
agreed to a request from The Local Radio Company to co-locate Bath FM with Brunel FM.
On 9 September 2008, under Laser Broadcasting, Bath FM moved back into Station House and once again broadcast from the city until its closure. All broadcasting equipment and specialist wiring has now been removed from the premises, a former railway station.
Previous presenters
- Geoff Barker
- James Carpenter
- Karl Bennett
- Steve Collins
- Jonathan Fido (Philips)
- Graham Godwin
- Paul James
- Tim Manns (Radio PlymouthRadio PlymouthRadio Plymouth is an independent commercial radio station broadcasting from the Devon city of Plymouth.-History:Radio Plymouth was launched at 10am on Sunday 28 February 2010 by television presenter Phillip Schofield, an investor in the station. The first song played was The Way It Is by Bruce...
) - Jason Neal
- Roger Noble
- Simon Parkin
- Trevor Reid
- Nigel Richards
- Imogen Sellars
- Lee Wardle
- Ben Williams
- Chris Wood
- Ian Dore
- Tim Lewis
- John Watson
- Laura Harrison
- Alix Young
External links
- Official website
- All Fact - No fiction Listener website collating all the information