More Radio (Swindon)
Encyclopedia
More Radio is a radio station which broadcasts on 107.7 MHz FM in Swindon
in Wiltshire
, England
and is owned by More FM Ltd (formally known as One Gold Radio Ltd
). Its is located from its Lime Kiln studios in Royal Wootton Bassett, near Swindon which at first originally belonged to former station Wiltshire Radio/GWR (now Heart Wiltshire) and launched in 1982.
lobbied for a second FM Radio Licence to be granted for Swindon, Ofcom
invited applications for the 12-year broadcasting licence for Swindon. The Local Radio Company applied for licence proposing a radio station called Now FM. After being awarded the licence they renamed the station to Brunel FM
, after Isambard Kingdom Brunel
whose railway network had converted to Swindon from a small village on the top of a hill, to an extremely large town. Brunel Radio was also the previous name for Classic Gold Radio (now DAB station Gold) when Wiltshire Radio /GWR-FM (now Heart Wiltshire) launched on FM. Brunel Radio was on the AM frequency however Brunel FM and Brunel Radio/Brunel Classic Gold have no connection other than name and where their studios are based.
For some weeks before its launch, the station was in test transmissions, allowing listeners a preview of the station launched at 10am on 2 September 2006 to the sound of many people from around the coverage area wishing the station luck.
In June 2008, Brunel FM was sold to Laser Broadcasting
along with sister stations Bath FM and 3TR FM. Following the buyout a number of the station's staff resigned, allegedly due to lack of payment.
In October 2008, Brunel FM was sold again to South West Radio Ltd, following the collapse of Laser Broadcasting, who went into administration.
In August 2009 South West Radio itself collapsed and was also placed into administration. Brunel FM was then acquired by YMC Ltd, along with Bath FM
, 3TR FM
, Quay West 107.4 and Quay West 102.4/100.8. YMC Ltd then ran the 5 licensed stations as a group, with local broadcasting throughout the day and some shared or "networked" programming over the weekend. On 24 March 2010, the 5 YMC Ltd stations were closed by administrators after muliple refusals on the part of regulator OFCOM
to transfer the the licences, following a number of financial issues at the stations following TLRC's sale.
(now More FM Ltd) breaking ties with the Cheltenham
based Total Star group, Storm Radio Ltd. This coincides with the Bath licence renewal not being taken up by the group. That particular licence was soon awarded to Celador
and started broadcasting as The Breeze from September 2011. Celador also purchased the licence for the Warminster/Frome area on 107.5 FM from November 2011 and is re-branded as The Breeze.
Following the relaunch of More Radio, former GWR-FM/Heart/Total Star presenter Howard Taylor has become More Radio's new Programme Manager.
Blunsdon transmitter
Swindon
Swindon is a large town within the borough of Swindon and ceremonial county of Wiltshire, in South West England. It is midway between Bristol, west and Reading, east. London is east...
in Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and is owned by More FM Ltd (formally known as One Gold Radio Ltd
One Gold Radio Ltd
One Gold Radio Ltd until July 3rd 2011 shared a network service with TotalStar radio station based in Cheltenham England.[1]TotalStar in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire - and the Total Star brand - is owned by Storm Radio Ltd.-2011 changes:...
). Its is located from its Lime Kiln studios in Royal Wootton Bassett, near Swindon which at first originally belonged to former station Wiltshire Radio/GWR (now Heart Wiltshire) and launched in 1982.
History
More Radio started off as a proposed station called Now FM around in early 2006 after The Local Radio Company applied for a new licence.Ownerships
In 2005,after the radio group Swindon FMSwindon FM
Swindon FM was a Local DAB radio station broadcasting to Swindon between 2003 and 2006, previously it broadcast as Swindon 107FM for two trial broadcasts in 2001 and 2002.-RSL broadcasts:...
lobbied for a second FM Radio Licence to be granted for Swindon, Ofcom
Ofcom
Ofcom is the government-approved regulatory authority for the broadcasting and telecommunications industries in the United Kingdom. Ofcom was initially established by the Office of Communications Act 2002. It received its full authority from the Communications Act 2003...
invited applications for the 12-year broadcasting licence for Swindon. The Local Radio Company applied for licence proposing a radio station called Now FM. After being awarded the licence they renamed the station to Brunel FM
Brunel FM
Brunel FM was a UK commercial radio station broadcasting to the town of Swindon and outside areas of close proximity.-Overview:Brunel FM was owned and operated by YMC Ltd, however it was a company in its own right....
, after Isambard Kingdom Brunel
Isambard Kingdom Brunel
Isambard Kingdom Brunel, FRS , was a British civil engineer who built bridges and dockyards including the construction of the first major British railway, the Great Western Railway; a series of steamships, including the first propeller-driven transatlantic steamship; and numerous important bridges...
whose railway network had converted to Swindon from a small village on the top of a hill, to an extremely large town. Brunel Radio was also the previous name for Classic Gold Radio (now DAB station Gold) when Wiltshire Radio /GWR-FM (now Heart Wiltshire) launched on FM. Brunel Radio was on the AM frequency however Brunel FM and Brunel Radio/Brunel Classic Gold have no connection other than name and where their studios are based.
For some weeks before its launch, the station was in test transmissions, allowing listeners a preview of the station launched at 10am on 2 September 2006 to the sound of many people from around the coverage area wishing the station luck.
In June 2008, Brunel FM was sold to Laser Broadcasting
Laser Broadcasting
Laser Broadcasting was a commercial radio operator based in Darlington in County Durham, England.-History:The group was founded in 2002 by Nigel Reeve—one of the launch directors of Classic FM and one time chief executive of London News Radio owners of LBC—and Nick Jordan, a media sales executive...
along with sister stations Bath FM and 3TR FM. Following the buyout a number of the station's staff resigned, allegedly due to lack of payment.
In October 2008, Brunel FM was sold again to South West Radio Ltd, following the collapse of Laser Broadcasting, who went into administration.
In August 2009 South West Radio itself collapsed and was also placed into administration. Brunel FM was then acquired by YMC Ltd, along with Bath FM
Bath FM
Bath FM was a local independent radio station based at the former Weston railway station in Bath, England. The station was launched in November 1999 and closed on 24 March 2010.The station broadcast to an area with a population of 104,000...
, 3TR FM
3TR FM
3TR FM was a radio station based in the ancient market town of Warminster, Wiltshire, United Kingdom. It broadcasted on 107.5 FM to the West Wiltshire, East Somerset and surrounding area, and online via Internet streaming...
, Quay West 107.4 and Quay West 102.4/100.8. YMC Ltd then ran the 5 licensed stations as a group, with local broadcasting throughout the day and some shared or "networked" programming over the weekend. On 24 March 2010, the 5 YMC Ltd stations were closed by administrators after muliple refusals on the part of regulator OFCOM
Ofcom
Ofcom is the government-approved regulatory authority for the broadcasting and telecommunications industries in the United Kingdom. Ofcom was initially established by the Office of Communications Act 2002. It received its full authority from the Communications Act 2003...
to transfer the the licences, following a number of financial issues at the stations following TLRC's sale.
Re-brand
In May 2011, it was announced that Total Star Swindon (along with "Total Star" sister stations in West Wiltshire & Bath) has been re-branded as More Radio from June 2011. This is due to the owners of the stations, One Gold Radio LtdOne Gold Radio Ltd
One Gold Radio Ltd until July 3rd 2011 shared a network service with TotalStar radio station based in Cheltenham England.[1]TotalStar in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire - and the Total Star brand - is owned by Storm Radio Ltd.-2011 changes:...
(now More FM Ltd) breaking ties with the Cheltenham
Cheltenham
Cheltenham , also known as Cheltenham Spa, is a large spa town and borough in Gloucestershire, on the edge of the Cotswolds in the South-West region of England. It is the home of the flagship race of British steeplechase horse racing, the Gold Cup, the main event of the Cheltenham Festival held...
based Total Star group, Storm Radio Ltd. This coincides with the Bath licence renewal not being taken up by the group. That particular licence was soon awarded to Celador
Celador
Celador is a global light entertainment company originally formed as an independent production company in 1983. It has produced a number of popular light entertainment shows and is probably best known for Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? and co-producing the film Slumdog Millionaire which collected...
and started broadcasting as The Breeze from September 2011. Celador also purchased the licence for the Warminster/Frome area on 107.5 FM from November 2011 and is re-branded as The Breeze.
Following the relaunch of More Radio, former GWR-FM/Heart/Total Star presenter Howard Taylor has become More Radio's new Programme Manager.
Presenters
- Howard Taylor
- Mike ReadMike ReadMichael David Kenneth Read is an English radio disc jockey, writer, journalist and television presenter.-Early life:...
- Darren Daley
- Andy Henly
- Millie Lewington
- Ian Timms
External links
www.moreradiooline.co.uk Official WebsiteBlunsdon transmitter