Laser Broadcasting
Encyclopedia
Laser Broadcasting was a commercial radio operator based in Darlington
in County Durham
, England
.
and one time chief executive of London News Radio owners of LBC
—and Nick Jordan, a media sales executive who previously worked at Invicta Radio, KFM
and the Daily Express
. Jordan left the company in August 2004.
In October 2008, a creditor (Gateshead-based venture capitalist Capital North East No 1 Limited Partnership) applied for the company to be wound up at the high court. However, the company made an application to be placed into administration in the court before the winding up order could be heard.
Laser Broadcasting, via subsidiaries, held the licences for nine commercial radio stations in the UK:
After administration, Begbies Traynor
sold five of Laser's stations to farmer and property developer John Roberts, who is also the owner of Exeter-based South West Radio Ltd. He bought Bath FM, Brunel FM, 3TR, and the two QuayWest stations.
South West Radio operations director Paul Roberts later confirmed that they had hired Nigel Reeve's company Nando Consultancy to aid their advertising sales. This prompted a group of former employees to write to OFCOM
, media minister Lord Carter, Begbies Traynor, Companies House
, the House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee
and MPs including Bath's Don Foster, asking that the relationship between Laser and SWR be investigated. In particular, they asked Lord Carter to request an explanation from Ofcom as to how both Laser and SWR passed suitability tests demanded by the regulator and posed the question "how a deal, which has given people with an association with Laser Broadcasting ownership of these stations, is in the best interests of all creditors."
Fresh Radio was acquired by Roger Tempest of Broughton Hall, Skipton and one of Laser's creditors, Sunshine 106.2 was sold to Murfin Music International
and both
Sunshine 855 and Sunshine 1530 were sold back to Murfin.
Darlington
Darlington is a market town in the Borough of Darlington, part of the ceremonial county of County Durham, England. It lies on the small River Skerne, a tributary of the River Tees, not far from the main river. It is the main population centre in the borough, with a population of 97,838 as of 2001...
in County Durham
County Durham
County Durham is a ceremonial county and unitary district in north east England. The county town is Durham. The largest settlement in the ceremonial county is the town of Darlington...
, 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...
.
History
The group was founded in 2002 by Nigel Reeve—one of the launch directors of Classic FMClassic FM (UK)
Classic FM, one of the United Kingdom's three Independent National Radio stations, broadcasts classical music in a popular and accessible style.-Overview:...
and one time chief executive of London News Radio owners of LBC
LBC
LBC Radio operates two London-based radio stations, with news and talk formats. LBC was Britain's first legal commercial Independent Local Radio station, providing a service of news and information to London. It began broadcasting on 8 October 1973, a week ahead of Capital Radio...
—and Nick Jordan, a media sales executive who previously worked at Invicta Radio, KFM
KMFM West Kent
KMFM West Kent is an Independent Local Radio serving the towns of Sevenoaks, Tonbridge, Royal Tunbridge Wells and the surrounding areas in Kent, South East England...
and the Daily Express
Daily Express
The Daily Express switched from broadsheet to tabloid in 1977 and was bought by the construction company Trafalgar House in the same year. Its publishing company, Beaverbrook Newspapers, was renamed Express Newspapers...
. Jordan left the company in August 2004.
In October 2008, a creditor (Gateshead-based venture capitalist Capital North East No 1 Limited Partnership) applied for the company to be wound up at the high court. However, the company made an application to be placed into administration in the court before the winding up order could be heard.
Laser Broadcasting, via subsidiaries, held the licences for nine commercial radio stations in the UK:
- Bath FMBath FMBath 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 Bath, SomersetSomersetThe ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the... - Brunel FMBrunel FMBrunel 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....
, in SwindonSwindonSwindon is a large town within the borough of Swindon and ceremonial county of Wiltshire, in South West England. It is midway between Bristol, west and Reading, east. London is east...
, WiltshireWiltshireWiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers... - Sunshine 855Sunshine 855Sunshine Radio is a local radio station, based in Ludlow, Shropshire. The station serves South Shropshire, Herefordshire and Monmouthshire-History:...
, in LudlowLudlowLudlow is a market town in Shropshire, England close to the Welsh border and in the Welsh Marches. It lies within a bend of the River Teme, on its eastern bank, forming an area of and centred on a small hill. Atop this hill is the site of Ludlow Castle and the market place...
, ShropshireShropshireShropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west... - Sunshine 1530Sunshine 1530Sunshine 1530 was a radio station which broadcast to Herefordshire and Worcestershire on 1530 and 954 kHz Medium Wave from studios in Worcester, England.-History:The station started life as Radio Wyvern on both FM and AM in...
, in WorcesterWorcesterThe City of Worcester, commonly known as Worcester, , is a city and county town of Worcestershire in the West Midlands of England. Worcester is situated some southwest of Birmingham and north of Gloucester, and has an approximate population of 94,000 people. The River Severn runs through the...
, WorcestershireWorcestershireWorcestershire is a non-metropolitan county, established in antiquity, located in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire" NUTS 2 region... - Sunshine 106.2Sunshine Radio (FM)Sunshine Radio is a radio station which broadcasts to Herefordshire and Monmouthshire from its studios in Hereford, England. It is operated by Murfin Media Ltd, and previously by Laser Broadcasting.- History :...
, in HerefordHerefordHereford is a cathedral city, civil parish and county town of Herefordshire, England. It lies on the River Wye, approximately east of the border with Wales, southwest of Worcester, and northwest of Gloucester...
, HerefordshireHerefordshireHerefordshire is a historic and ceremonial county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire" NUTS 2 region. It also forms a unitary district known as the... - Quay West 107.4, in BridgwaterBridgwaterBridgwater is a market town and civil parish in Somerset, England. It is the administrative centre of the Sedgemoor district, and a major industrial centre. Bridgwater is located on the major communication routes through South West England...
, Somerset - Quay West 102.4/100.8 in WatchetWatchetWatchet is a harbour town and civil parish in the English county of Somerset, with an approximate population of 4,400. It is situated west of Bridgwater, north-west of Taunton, and east of Minehead. The parish includes the hamlet of Beggearn Huish...
, Somerset - 3TR FM3TR FM3TR 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...
, in WarminsterWarminsterWarminster is a town in western Wiltshire, England, by-passed by the A36, and near Frome and Westbury. It has a population of about 17,000. The River Were runs through the town and can be seen running through the middle of the town park. The Minster Church of St Denys sits on the River Were...
, WiltshireWiltshireWiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers... - Fresh RadioFresh RadioFresh Radio is a local radio station broadcasting to the Yorkshire Dales in northern England on two medium wave frequencies and three FM frequencies...
, in SkiptonSkiptonSkipton is a market town and civil parish within the Craven district of North Yorkshire, England. It is located along the course of both the Leeds and Liverpool Canal and the River Aire, on the south side of the Yorkshire Dales, northwest of Bradford and west of York...
, North YorkshireNorth YorkshireNorth Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county primarily in that region but partly in North East England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 it covers an area of , making it the largest...
After administration, Begbies Traynor
Begbies Traynor
Begbies Traynor is a firm specialising in corporate restructuring. They were formed in 1989, expanded through mergers and organic growth and were floated in 2004. The company employs over 500 people and has 45 offices around the United Kingdom.-History:The company was formed as Traynor & Partners...
sold five of Laser's stations to farmer and property developer John Roberts, who is also the owner of Exeter-based South West Radio Ltd. He bought Bath FM, Brunel FM, 3TR, and the two QuayWest stations.
South West Radio operations director Paul Roberts later confirmed that they had hired Nigel Reeve's company Nando Consultancy to aid their advertising sales. This prompted a group of former employees to write to 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...
, media minister Lord Carter, Begbies Traynor, Companies House
Companies House
Companies House is the United Kingdom Registrar of Companies and is an Executive Agency of the United Kingdom Government Department for Business, Innovation and Skills . All forms of companies are incorporated and registered with Companies House and file specific details as required by the...
, the House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee
Select Committee
A select committee is a committee made up of a small number of parliamentary members appointed to deal with particular areas or issues originating in the Westminster system of parliamentary democracy...
and MPs including Bath's Don Foster, asking that the relationship between Laser and SWR be investigated. In particular, they asked Lord Carter to request an explanation from Ofcom as to how both Laser and SWR passed suitability tests demanded by the regulator and posed the question "how a deal, which has given people with an association with Laser Broadcasting ownership of these stations, is in the best interests of all creditors."
Fresh Radio was acquired by Roger Tempest of Broughton Hall, Skipton and one of Laser's creditors, Sunshine 106.2 was sold to Murfin Music International
Murfin Music International
Murfin Music International and Murfin Media are companies run by Muff Murfin, and are based at The Old Smithy Studios in Kempsey, Worcestershire, England....
and both
Sunshine 855 and Sunshine 1530 were sold back to Murfin.