18 community stations cease broadcasting

30/10/2012 - 07:37 | 17 Replies More

Ofcom is marking the milestone of over 200 community radio stations now broadcasting around the UK, but many have failed.

From the first station in Melton Mowbray, to the latest to be awarded licenses in Kent and Dorset this month, community radio cover a range of areas and interests. But 18 stations have failed to continue broadcasting, mostly after running into financial trouble.

Stations such as Rossendale Radio and XS Wales proved popular but had to close due to unique way most stations are funded – all of which are run not-for-profit.

In addition to those groups lucky enough to win a licence, dozens more have been rejected.

Ed Richards, Ofcom’s Chief Executive, said: “Community radio is thriving and helping to bring together local communities across the UK. With more than 200 stations on air, community radio is enabling thousands of people to have a voice and help serve the needs of their local area.”

Christine Slomkowska, Managing Director of the first station to launch, 103 The Eye in Mowbray, says “Being a community radio station means 103 The Eye can keep the localness in radio and provide an information and entertainment service for our area which was under-served by other stations.

“Over the last seven years we’ve given a wide range of people the opportunity to produce and present radio programmes, offering training and airtime opportunities which have led to careers in the media and progression within the music industry.”

Kane FM, based in Guildford, was a pirate radio station but applied for a community radio station when new licences became available in the area. It wanted to become a community station so the people involved could start working with disadvantaged groups. Kane FM has an advisory panel consisting of local organisations such as the Police, Surrey County Council, Surrey Arts and Youth Justice.

Simon Foster, Director of Kane FM, said: “Since becoming a community radio station, Kane FM now has 100 independent local musicians and artists creating content and weekly shows, as well as over 130 volunteers.

“We want to turn around those people at the fringes of society and give them new skills and a sense of belonging; to strive forward and achieve for those who may otherwise be dismissed or ignored.”

All community radio stations involve volunteers working in various jobs, including presenters and producers. The average station has over 68 volunteers each year, who in total give more than 1,000 hours of their time a month to these community services. The average station broadcasts 91 hours of original content every week, 84 of which are live. Ofcom estimates that volunteers contribute more than 2 million hours per year to community radio.

Soo Williams, Community Radio Manager at Ofcom, said: “We are now into the third round of community radio licensing and there continues to be strong demand to set up new stations from all corners of the country.”


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Category: Community Radio News

  • AK

    What’s with the negative headline?

    200 community radio stations on air – 18 cease broadcasting. That’s a pretty low failure rate for something so new, if you ask me. What percentage of, say, new restaurants or web startups fail in the first five years?

    Poor show from Radio Today – not sure why you’ve got a downer on community radio this morning. Looks pretty healthy to me.

  • Peter

    But still it is a 91-93% sucess rate! (depends if they mean 18 out of 200 or 18 out of 218)

    • Peter

      *91-92%

  • Alex

    A badly misleading negative headline for what is actually a very positive story. Well done to the hard working managers and dedicated volunteers on all those stations – *including* those on the few that sadly have had to close.

  • John

    I agree this is a very negative headline and intro to what is in reality a good news story. Bearing in mind the current recession a 91-93% success rate is not bad at all. I voluntarily present a weekly programme on my nearest community station and I am very proud to be part of it – and of the management and volunteers whose hard work won us a new five-year licence and continues to provide a much appreciated local service.

  • http://www.facebook.com/martinphillp Martin Phillp

    How to spin a negative out of a positive. Was hoping for a slant on why those minority of CR stations have failed, yet it’s a spin of a positive Ofcom press release.

  • andy

    Really poor headline and opening line from Radio Today which was not reflected in the original Ofcom press release. What’s your motive for putting such a negative spin on this? You usually just publish press releases unaltered and let us make up our own minds.

  • andy

    For the record, here’s the opening few paragraphs of what Ofcom released:
    —————————-
    Over two hundred community radio stations are now broadcasting in locations across the UK, Ofcom announced today, after new services went live in Kent and Dorset.

    The milestone comes as the first community radio station to hit the airwaves – The Eye in Melton Mowbray – nears its seven-year anniversary.

    Since Ofcom awarded the first community radio licence in 2004, new stations have launched in areas all over the UK – from inner London to Orkney – each serving a particular community’s needs.

    Community radio stations typically cover small areas, generally up to 5km, and are run on a not-for-profit basis. They reflect a diverse mix of cultures and interests – some catering for whole communities, while others focus on particular areas of interest.

    Ed Richards, Ofcom’s Chief Executive, said: “Community radio is thriving and helping to bring together local communities across the UK.

    “With more than 200 stations on air, community radio is enabling thousands of people to have a voice and help serve the needs of their local area.”

    Community radio stations reflect the variety of cultures, demographics and tastes in the UK:

    Kane FM. Based in Guildford, Surrey, Kane FM serves young people aged 15-39 focusing on and supporting independent urban music and showcasing local artists. The station works to support services and agencies dedicated to reducing inequality and social exclusion.

    Garrison FM. Six community stations serving British Army garrisons in Great Britain, including Aldershot, Catterick and Edinburgh. The Garrison FM stations provide welfare and communication services to soldiers and civilians living and working within the army community.

    The Eye. The first community radio station to start broadcasting, 103 The Eye has been serving residents of Melton Mowbray since November 2005.

    Christine Slomkowska, Managing Director of 103 The Eye, said: “Being a community radio station means 103 The Eye can keep the localness in radio and provide an information and entertainment service for our area which was under-served by other stations.

    “Over the last seven years we’ve given a wide range of people the opportunity to produce and present radio programmes, offering training and airtime opportunities which have led to careers in the media and progression within the music industry.”

  • Warren

    18 out of 218, 200 still on air, hence the “200 on air milestone”.
    Why such surprise at the negative slant on a CR story. We surely have become accustomed by now at the “rest” of the industry looking down their noses at CR.

  • Radio Geordie

    Funny, I though that FOREST OF DEAN COMMUNITY RADIO was the first not only to be awarded a community licence, but also was the first to launch (after the Access Radio services).

    As to the 18 failures, yes lack of funds was the reason, but at the same time, it could be argued that the lack of funds was down to the way the station was run.

    • http://www.facebook.com/martinphillp Martin Phillp

      Agreed, I’d also add that some stations simply didn’t suit the market they served. There’s no point playlisting pop and prattle on a CR with the likes of Heart and Magic 105.4 doing it on a much grander scale.

  • Andy

    It’s “Melton Mowbray” or just “Melton” no one has every called it “Mowbray.”

  • Rob Harvey

    Good luck to all the stations who are managing some form of success in this age, and to the new starters – be bold and be realistic.

  • Pedant

    The first community station is in Melton Mowbray, not Mowbray. (Melton for short).

    It’s like saying that Signal Radio is from On Trent.

  • Mart

    Today Radio needs to be more positive in supporting Community radio in a very tough market for us all. Lets talk about the success.

  • Mike Terry

    A strange headline as surely the milestone of of over 200 community radio stations now broadcasting around the UK is to be aplauded.

  • djclewes

    i once read that community radio is failing due to the simple fact anyone can set them up with or without experience I am all up for learning but when learners take the money successful radio stations need that when a 10 year old station closes due to a station 6 months old. But i love community radio i just think the money should be organised more. Maybe in different levels or stages.

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