L107
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| Broadcast area | Lanarkshire |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 107.5 & 107.9 MHz Online |
| Programming | |
| Format | Contemporary and new music |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | The Creative Media Group |
| Operator | Creative Broadcasting |
| History | |
First air date | 19 November 2005 - 29 October 2010 |
L107 was the Scottish independent local radio station which broadcast to Lanarkshire on 107.5 and 107.9 FM.[1]
History
L107 replaced '107 The Edge', which was originally launched as 'Clan FM' from 1999 until 2003, when it was saved from closure by the Kingdom Radio Group and rebranded. Within two years, the station was again saved from closure by former BBC Radio 1 and Radio Clyde presenter Mark Page (founder of the UK forces station Garrison Radio), who led its relaunch as L107, a full service local station.[2]
Alan Shields and Colin Lamont bought L107 from Page in August 2008, paying him £75,000 for the station, its licence, and equipment.[3] According to the Hamilton Advertiser, Lamont invested more than £62,000 into the business and guaranteeing overdrafts, ran L107's programming and broadcast on the station under his Scottie McClue persona.[3]
The station experienced financial difficulties during 2009. Lamont left the station, accusing Shields of not contributing his funding.[3] Hamilton businessman George Fulston attempted to oust the station's managing director, Alan Shields, from his position, after the station’s staff complained of delays in the payment of wages.[3][4]
The station closed at 10am on 18 August 2008 but was again saved and reopened at 9am on 26 August 2008 following a buyout and managed to continue broadcasting for yet another two years.[5] The station went off air for almost a week on 30 April 2010 when its main transmitter was removed from its Hamilton site.[6][7]
Transmission of regular L107 programming was interrupted again on Friday 29 October 2010 when the main transmitter was again interfered with from outwith the station. After a period of a week of dead air followed by several days of automated music & commercials, L107's licence was handed back to the broadcasting regulator Ofcom this attempt was unsuccessful and the licence remained in the hands of the rightful owners but after much discussion over actual ownership and without the agreement of all interested parties being in place yet another attempt at a handback was made which, after much deliberation, was eventually reluctantly accepted by the regulator on Thursday 11 November 2010 with the station's frequencies closing shortly afterwards.[8] Earlier that month, the regulator had recorded a minor breach of format against the station with regard to its provision of local news.[9]
References
- ^ OFCOM Radio Broadcast Update - December 2010
- ^ L107 leaves the airwaves, Radio Today, 18 August 2008
- ^ a b c d Rowbotham, John (Nov 5 2009). "L107 radio station owners in battle over control". Hamilton Advertiser.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Rowbotham, John (Nov 19 2009). "L107 boss Shields left 'trail of debt' in his other businesses". Airdrie and Coatbridge Advertiser.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Lanarkshire Station Saved from Closure". All Media Scotland. 2008-08-20. Retrieved 2008-08-22.
- ^ Thieves nick transmitter while radio station is on the air, Daily Record, 1 May 2010
- ^ L107 back on air after return of missing transmitter, Hamilton Advertiser, May 13, 2010.
- ^ L107 hands licence back to Ofcom, 12 November 2010
- ^ OFCOM Content Sampling Report - L107, 1 November 2010