EXCLUSIVE: Quaywest radio has new owners after parent put into administration

QUAYWEST 102.4 FM Radio was under new ownership this week after parent company Laser Broadcasting sold the Watchet-based station and four others in its stable.
It follows Laser going into administration last week to avoid a winding-up order which had been filed in the High Court by one of its creditors.
Business rescue specialist Begbies Traynor was called in to sell off the Laser’s assets, which included subsidiary Laser South West, the owner of the five loss-making stations.
Begbies Traynor quickly arranged for property developer John Roberts to buy the five Laser South West stations though his Exeter-based company South West Radio Ltd.
The news will be a blow for Quaywest station manager Dave Englefield, who had put together a rescue deal to temporarily run it along with Bridgwater sister station Quaywest 107.4, with a view to buying both once Laser’s affairs were straightened out.
Mr Englefield created Bridgwater Broadcasting Services to keep the two stations going and had teamed up with Bridgwater firm Southwest Media Consulting.
The other Laser stations sold to South West Radio were Bath FM, Brunel FM, and Warminster-based 3TR, all of which were only acquired by Laser in June of this year.
South West Radio spokesman Paul Roberts, son of John Roberts, said: “We are very excited.
“From a business point of view we really believe that the station can continue to be a vital part of the local community.
“We have some excellent skills already situated in the station and are working closely with the staff to help them out of the tough period that they have experienced recently under the previous arrangement.
“We aim to continue and improve on what works so well, maintaining quality local radio.”
In Bath, the Laser station was also being run temporarily by a local business, Triple Media, which said it was ‘looking after’ the station with a view to purchasing it.
Triple Media chief executive Gary Cottier-Jansen said he been running the station ‘on Laser’s behalf’ for the several weeks and that he still wanted to acquire it.
Other stations owned by Laser are Sunshine 106.2, Sunshine Gold, Sunshine AM, and Fresh Radio. There was no word on their future.

Rescue bid for troubled Quaywest radio stations

A BRIDGWATER company has stepped in with a rescue bid for troubled West Somerset commercial radio station Quaywest 102.4 FM and its sister station in Bridgwater, Quaywest 107.4 FM.
Dave Englefield (pictured), one of the founders of the Bridgwater station when it was previously known as BCR FM, has set up Bridgwater Broadcasting Services Ltd (BBS), of which he is a director, to take on temporary responsibility for running the two Quaywest brands.
It follows an application to the High Court by Quaywest parent company, financially-crippled Laser Broadcasting, to be placed into administration.
The Laser application, due to be heard in Leeds on October 24, pre-empted an application by a creditor to have the company wound-up.
Mr Englefield, the Quaywest station director, said: “We are thrilled and delighted to be able to bring the stations back into local hands.
“The radio stations are extremely important to the people of West Somerset and Sedgemoor, and an integral part of the community.
“We have an important role to play for our listeners and the local businesses, who have shown us a huge amount of support and loyalty, which, in turn, gives us a fantastic platform to build on.”
BBS has aligned itself with local media and marketing company Southwest Media Consulting in its bid to help save Quaywest and to ensure that the stations remained locally owned.
Mr Englefield said: “This is going to be a testing, but exciting time for us all.
“Both stations were born in Somerset and we intend to make sure they both continue to thrive and grow.
“We owe it to the public and their continued support to keep their own radio stations on air, and in local hands.
“We are looking forward to the challenge, and will be working hard with the staff to ensure we keep the stations running successfully.”
BBS is expected to keep the West Somerset and the Bridgwater Quaywest stations running while administrators deal with the winding-up of Laser’s affairs.
The Watchet station recently celebrated its 10th birthday, while the Bridgwater one has been on air since 2001.
They were originally independently owned before being sold to Watchet-based Choice Media, and then to Laser Broadcasting in 2006.
More information about the BBS rescue bid is available from Darren Horne or Lawrence Hebron at Southwest Media Consulting by calling 01278 434 231.

Future of Quaywest takes a twist in the High Court

THE fate of Quaywest 102.4 FM, West Somerset’s only commercial radio station, has taken another twist as its parent company applied to be placed into administration.
Laser Broadcasting, which owns nine stations nationwide, was facing a winding-up order in the High Court, in Leeds, yesterday.
But the company is understood to have applied for administration procedures before the court could hear the winding-up order.
Now, the application by Laser is due to be heard in the High Court on Friday, October 24.
The attempt to liquidate Laser was made by one of its creditors, Gateshead-based venture capitalist Capital North East No1 Ltd Partnership.
But Laser, based in Darlington, made a pre-emptive application of its own to be placed into administration.
Watchet-based Quaywest has continued to broadcast, although staff are understood not to have been paid since July, and its website and email facilities have been withdrawn.
Its sister station in Bridgwater, Quaywest 107.4 FM, previously known as BCR FM, has been in a similar position.
Laser Broadcasting’s other seven stations are Bath FM, Brunel FM, three Sunshine-branded stations in Ludlow, Hereford and Worcester, and Hereford/Monmouth, Fresh Radio, in the Yorkshire Dales, and 3TR, based in Warminster.
One of the founders of Laser in 2002 was Nigel Reeve, who was the launch sales and marketing director of Classic FM.
Nobody from Laser was available for comment.

Winding-up order for Quaywest parent could see radio station close

THE company behind West Somerset commercial radio station Quaywest 102.4 FM could be wound up in the High Court next week.
Parent company Laser Broadcasting Group has been suffering financial difficulties, despite operations director Stuart Linnell issuing a strong denial to The Post just five months ago.
As well as Watchet-based Quaywest, Laser runs nine stations nationwide, including a sister Quaywest station in Bridgwater.
Laser faces winding up proceedings after an application by a creditor, understood to be Capital North East No 1 Ltd Partnership, a venture capitalist firm based in Gateshead.
Quaywest continues broadcasting from its Watchet and Bridgwater studios, but may have to close unless an offer is made to take over the licences.
A spokesman for NEL Fundmanagers Ltd said: “As fund managers of the Capital North East investment fund, from which an investment was made in Laser Broadcasting in 2004, we have been working with Laser for many months in an attempt to find a way forward which would allow the company to trade within the terms of our investment agreement.
“However, these efforts have failed to result in a satisfactory outcome and we have therefore reluctantly had to seek a winding-up order against Laser Broadcasting, which will be heard in Leeds on October 14.”
Broadcasting regulator Ofcom said the petition to wind up Laser Broadcasting would be heard by a High Court judge sitting in Leeds on Tuesday, October 14.
A spokesman for Ofcom said: “We are monitoring developments closely.
“The company is keeping us fully informed, and is seeking to ensure the radio stations are able to continue broadcasting in the best interests of their staff and listeners.
“In these circumstances, until the winding-up order is heard by the court next week we are aware that the stations may not be able to fully comply with their format requirements.
“We do not propose to take any formal action against the licensees during this period.”
Darlington-based Laser was formed in 2002, and included among its founders Nigel Reeve, who was launch sales and marketing director of Classic FM.
Three of Laser’s other stations -Bath FM, Brunel FM, in Swindon, and Warminster-based 3TR - were only acquired from The Local Radio Co less than six months ago.
Laser also owns three Sunshine-branded stations in Ludlow, Hereford and Worcester, and Hereford and Monmouth, as well as Fresh Radio, in the Yorkshire Dales.
Nobody from Laser Broadcasting was available to comment.

Eviction threat for Quaywest over two years of unpaid rent

WEST Somerset radio station Quaywest 102.4 FM could be evicted from its harbourside studios in Watchet for failing to pay rent on the building.
The station, owned by Darlington-based Laser Broadcasting, has not paid its landlord, West Somerset Council, for the past two years.
The rent was fixed at a nominal £50 a week by the council while the station’s East Wharf location was to be redeveloped, with Quaywest assured of being re-homed once the new development was completed.
But Laser has not paid the council since 2006 and now the authority is taking legal action to recover the money which could end with Quaywest’s eviction.
In addition, the radio station is understood to be in arrears with its business rates, while staff are said not to have been paid since July, and its internet presence has been on and off at different times.
The Post reported in April how Quaywest was battling for its future in the face of financial troubles which were afflicting Laser, although the company strongly denied at the time that it was in trouble.
Council corporate information officer Tom Bown said: “Quaywest has not paid the council any rent since 2006, despite efforts to get them to do so and assurances by the station that it would.
“We feel it is not fair this company is expanding on a national level at the expense of the local taxpayers in West Somerset.
“With regret, we have been left no option other than to take legal action.”
Laser Broadcasting owns eight other stations around the country, including a sister Quaywest station in Bridgwater, formerly called BCR FM.
The others are Bath FM, Brunel FM, three Sunshine-branded stations in Ludlow, Hereford and Worcester, and Hereford/Monmouth, Fresh Radio, in the Yorkshire Dales, and 3TR, based in Warminster.
One of the founders of Laser in 2002 was Nigel Reeve, who was the launch sales and marketing director of Classic FM.
Nobody from Laser was available for comment.

Radio station battles to survive parent company's financial woes

STAFF at West Somerset’s commercial radio station, Quaywest 102.4 FM, were this week putting a brave face on its parent company’s financial troubles which threaten its future.
Both Watchet-based Quaywest and its sister Bridgwater station, formerly BCR FM but rebranded as Quaywest 107.4 FM, are owned by Laser Broadcasting, which has its headquarters in Darlington.
The West Somerset Free Press recently reported on how Quaywest’s Watchet telephone and fax lines had been lost for several days and listeners could only contact the station by email.
The station has also been without a website for several months - although it can still be heard over the internet – and staff had received late payments of wages.
Now, The Post has discovered that Laser Broadcasting has had a county court judgement entered against it for a £34,147 unpaid debt.
And a High Court petition for the winding up of one of Laser’s companies has also been presented by the Commissioners for HM Revenue and Customs.
The county court judgement was made in Leeds on March 17, and the winding up petition went to the London Companies Court on April 9.
The Revenue was seeking to wind up Fresh Radio Ltd, which Laser bought for more than £1 million only a year ago.
Laser also owns also owns Sunshine 855 in Ludlow and Classic Hits in Hereford and Worcester among its portfolio of six stations.
The move came after some staff at Fresh Radio quit amid claims they had not been paid. Staff at other Laser-owned companies around the country had also complained of late salary payments.
The problem of telephone, fax, and broadband connections being cut off has also struck a number of Laser’s stations.
In March, Fresh Radio suspended its live broadcasting in Skipton for several days and instead played a continuous loop of pre-recorded music.
The Post was this week twice told that Laser operations director Stuart Linnell would make a statement on the company’s position, but he had not done so at the time of going to press.
However, Mr Linnell has told other newspapers that Laser was forming a new company to run Fresh and was working hard to settle its problems and looked forward to a positive future.
Laser, which has invested £3.5 million in its stations in a 12-month period, has also set itself a target of owning 15 stations in three years.

Test cricketer to officially switch on new community radio station

SOUTH Africa test cricketer Charl Willoughby will help to officially launch Somerset’s newest radio station at a launch party in Wiveliscombe on Friday, February 8.
The cricketer, who plays for Somerset, was invited because some of the presenters on 10Radio are cricket fans and members of the county club.
He will officially throw the 10Radio main switch at 6 pm in the station’s purpose-built studio in Croft Way, along with Taunton Deane MP Jeremy Browne.
It is the first community radio station to run in Somerset and has been broadcasting on 105.3FM to Wiveliscombe and its surrounding nine parishes since January 21.
Also invited to the official launch are representatives of significant funding groups, local businesses, and the many skilled tradesmen who helped to set up and build the 10Radio transmitter site and studio.
The station is also opening its Croft Cottages studio - next to Wiveliscombe Community Centre - to interested people and well-wishers on Saturday, February 9, from 10 am to 4 pm.
There is also a 10Radio live concert with Jankie Fardal, one of Somerset’s most danceable bands, in the community centre on Saturday evening, starting at 8 pm.
A large number of presenter-led programmes is currently being run by 10Radio, including a breakfast show from 7 am to 9 am on Mondays to Thursdays.
From 7 am on Friday to midnight on Sunday there is a wide range of community and music-based shows with live presenters of all age groups from the local and surrounding community.
When a presenter is not available, there is the ‘10Radio Shuffle’ which provides a constant selection of music of all genres to make it fresh and interesting for the regular listener.
‘Listen again’ programmes are also repeated on most weekday evenings.
The station can also be heard via the internet at www.10Radio.org and it has already been receiving congratulatory messages from listeners from around the UK and all over the world.
The full running schedule can also be seen on the 10Radio website.
For more information on 10Radio, including how to become involved in running the station, call01984 624137 or email to info@10radio.org.

• Our photograph shows 10Radio organisers, presenters, and supporters of all ages outside the main studio at 1 Croft Cottages, West Street, in Wiveliscombe. Photo submitted.

Wiveliscombe radio station nears the big switch on

ORGANISERS of 10Radio have passed an important milestone with approval by Ofcom engineers to start test transmissions on the newly-allocated frequency 105.3FM for the Wiveliscombe area.
Although only broadcasting a test signal of music and voice messages about the new community radio station, the station has received a positive response from listeners.
The station also serves the surrounding nine parishes although reception is strong in and around the Wiveliscombe area.
It is now on schedule to start full-time broadcasting from 7 am on Monday, January 21.
The main studio in Croft Cottage, West Street, Wiveliscombe, has been converted by director Dave Meehan and a group of volunteers from the 10 parishes community, and other directors have been putting the finishing touches to the first schedule of programmes covering the opening three months of broadcasting.
The new community-led service will run full time 7 am to midnight on Friday to Sunday.
During the rest of the week there will be breakfast-style programmes from 7 am to 9 am with the remainder of the time featuring a representative selection of 10radio music and repeated output of the best bits from the weekend.
Director Eddie Gaines said: “We are very pleased with our radio signal and also how our presenter training, both youth and adult, has proceeded.
“We have a committed group of broadcasting trainers and presenters of all ages - all bursting with creative ideas for their programmes, great knowledge and passion for the local area, and, of course, tremendous knowledge of all kinds of music to suit everybody’s taste.
“10Radio will no doubt act as a central communication hub for Wiveliscombe and surrounding parishes which everybody will be proud of and able to benefit from.
“We will also be entertaining and, above all, fun to listen to.”
Help with building and equipping the station has come from Somerset Rural Renaissance Funding, Somerset Partnership Funding, and Kingsmead Community School.
However, as the station commences broadcasting, it anticipateslocal businesses and organisations will come forward to support the running of the station through sponsorship and limited advertising.
There is also a ‘Friends of 10Radio’ scheme to which the listening public can subscribe.
For more information about 10Radio and how to take part as a volunteer helper, presenter, friend, or business supporter, visit http://www.10radio.org/ or contact Julian Mellor on 01984 623104 or Eddie Gaines on 01984 624657.
The 10 parishes covered by 10Radio are Wiveliscombe, Milverton, Ashbrittle,
Stawley, Bathealton, Fitzhead, Chipstable, Huish Champflower, Clatworthy, and Brompton Ralph.

• Our photographs show (TOP) Members of the 10radio youth group in preparation for their 10Radio broadcasts, and (BELOW) Dave Meehan outside the Croft Cottage studio. Photos submitted.

BBC saves money by axing plans for Somerset

THE BBC has dropped plans to give Somerset its own dedicated full new radio station.
The cost-cutting measure follows a review of spending plans because of a lower than expected licence fee settlement..
However, the BBC is to start broadcasting its existing Somerset Sound station on its own FM frequency, 95.5 FM, from December.
In addition to improved sound quality on FM, BBC Somerset is also set to benefit from new broadband video investments over the next few years, subject to necessary approvals.
It would mean Somerset licence fee payers being given access to an increasing range of audio, video, and text information about what was happening in their area.
BBC Somerset editor Simon Clifford said: “For years now our listeners have been asking why we do not broadcast on FM.
“So this is great news and puts us on an equal footing with other BBC local radio stations by having our own FM frequency on 95.5.
“With the new frequency and our BBC Somerset mobile studio, which allows us to broadcast from virtually anywhere in the county, I am really excited about the way the station is developing.”
The FM presence will be made possible by changing BBC Radio Bristol’s FM frequency to an enhanced 94.9 FM service.
In turn, Somerset will have 95.5 FM as its main frequency and the station’s output will reach more of the county with a higher quality signal for its existing dedicated local programming

BBC Somerset will continue to be broadcast on 1566 AM and online at www.bbc.co.uk/somerset.

The Somerset programming currently splits from BBC Bristol at breakfast, mid-morning and for the drive programmes on weekdays, breakfast on Saturdays, and ‘Pick of the Week’ on Sundays.
More details are available by visiting www.bbc.co.uk/somerset, or the BBC Reception Advice website at www.bbc.co.uk/reception or by telephoning BBC Information on 08700 100 123.