Regulator removes Dune FM’s transmitter

09/08/2012 - 15:29 | 14 Replies More

Southport’s Dune FM has stopped broadcasting after Ofcom had to physically remove the station’s transmitter.

The company which owned the licence was subject to a winding-up order on July 9th, meaning licence became void.

Ofcom rules state that a company which has been wound-up cannot own a broadcasting licence. The regulator had been in touch with the station recently to request they stopped broadcasting – a request which was apparently ignored by those in charge at Dune FM.

The station’s last owner was Southport Radio Limited, headed by Jon Jessop.

Creditors visited the station late last year and removed studio and office equipment and a previous owner Proud FM Ltd issued a winding-up order against Dune FM earlier this year.

The regulator told RadioToday.co.uk: “The Dune FM service was no longer being broadcast by the licence holder, which had gone into liquidation. As a result, Ofcom last week requested that the station come off air. The station did not comply by the deadline and Ofcom has subsequently removed the transmitter.”

It’s the first time Ofcom has had to physically remove a transmitter in order to stop the station broadcasting.

A message on the station’s website seems to think the station will be back on-air, saying: “Sorry due to a technical fault we are off-air. Our technical team are working hard and we hope to be back with you shortly!”

Dune FM commenced broadcasting in 1997 as an independent station, and has had various owners over the years including Forward Media and The Local Radio Company.

UPDATE: 7PM – Dune has returned online as Southport’s only commercial online radio station and is continuing with programmes as normal.


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Category: Industry News

  • roysand

    Remove OFCOM for ever. Let the air be free to broadcasters.

  • Radio Geordie

    I thought that OFCOM had to do the same thing to a station a few miles away called KCR (which then became The Rocket, then reverted back to KCR) when OFCOM revoked the licence only for it to return to the airwaves as Mersey 106.7. Wasn’t that service also pshyically removed from the airwaves?

  • DAB_Badboy

    With a bit of luck they will now be done for pirate broadcasting and therefore be disqualified from holding any UK radio licence for a long time …

  • D. Dolphin

    Well Done David Duffy! Another radio station killed, if you want the match ball send the bailiffs around

    • D Duffer

      Duffy’s already got the match ball… he takes his ball home every time he can’t make a radio station work…

  • D. Duffy

    They’ve got a match ball? Bailffs on way.

  • Jim Hacker

    Ofcom would have trouble doing that at my station. I’m the only one who knows how to access ours (& i’m the News Editor!)

  • SiGuy

    They are apparently broadcasting again on 107.9, albeit with a smaller reach…. They must like prison food….

  • JohnTudor

    It’s shame reading this about Dune Fm, I had some good time there, good luck to all that work there.

  • http://www.facebook.com/sara.mcgonigal Sara McGonigal

    Why take the best station in the area off the air surly somthing can be done!

    • Ormskirk man

      I agree it was a good mor station under David Duffy and Jon Coopers regin sadly tho as the only true independent station with all the competition it stood little chance. maybe if its TSA had been kept with Central (now the bee) it may have survived

  • amorr

    That reminds me of the night in August 1967 when all the pirate stations stopped broadcasting, a sad night, however, Radio Caroline South with Johnny Walker continued to broadcasting from off the Dutch coast, perhaps that Dune FM station remembers that night.

  • ormskirk man

    so sad that another station has gone albeit they are trying to carry on on-line. it was the only truly independent local station in the area. unfortunatley in the current economic climate it stood little chance with all the competition

  • Stu Taylor

    Apparently Ofcom are
    announcing next week that the licence is finally revoked. It was held open by the official receiver
    whilst bids were considered for the assets.

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