EXCLUSIVE: Local independent stations in Worthing and Burgess Hill, Splash FM and Bright FM, will join forces in a bid to survive in difficult trading conditions. Co-location at Worthing has been approved by Ofcom, but programmes will remain separate.
The decision followed three months of detailed analysis of the two businesses and how working together Splash FM and Bright FM can bring about best practice, strengthen each brand and reduce operating cost.
Managing Director of the new company will be Allan Moulds, currently MD at Bright FM. Joining Allan in the management team will be operations director David Cunningham, who will be leading the technical integration. The composition of the board of directors will be evenly drawn from the two companies and includes veteran broadcaster David Hamilton. Speaking of the development David said, “We are delighted to have someone with Allan Moulds’s track record at the helm of the new company and look forward to a prosperous future”.
Allan Moulds commented, “Bringing these two great local radio stations together presents a unique opportunity to improve performance and further enhance the service they provide to their respective local communities”
Chair of the new venture, James Brathwaite CBE said “The plans are very exciting; we now have a new model for local media. The combined business will provide the scale and resources to drive the sort of growth that neither business could do on its own. In turn this will lead to the launch of a range of new platforms in a phased expansion programme”
A sales office and full broadcast studio facilities will also be retained in Burgess Hill.
