Skyline Community Radio
Encyclopedia
Skyline Gold is one of the "third tier" of UK radio stations licenced by Ofcom
, which launched in January 2006 as Skyline Community Radio. The station broadcasts on 102.5 FM from studios based in Hedge End
, Hampshire
, primarily to the villages of Hedge End, West End
and Botley
, although it can be received in other parts of the Borough of Eastleigh
. The transmitter is located by the golfing range in Hedge End next to the M27.
Skyline Community Radio was also threatened with legal action by a member of staff who had been hired to act as programme controller, and in doing so caused the departure of many volunteers who had been with Skyline from the start. Skyline featured in the Ofcom Broadcast Bulletin 107 due to one of their presenters causing a listener to complain to the regulatory authority about the content of his broadcast. No investigation into the complaint could take place as the radio station had failed to maintain a system to record its output and retain the recordings, which in itself is a matter treated very seriously indeed.
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...
, which launched in January 2006 as Skyline Community Radio. The station broadcasts on 102.5 FM from studios based in Hedge End
Hedge End
Hedge End is a town and civil parish located in Hampshire in England. It is situated to the east of the City of Southampton, adjoining the districts of West End and Botley. Hedge End lies within the Borough of Eastleigh and is part of the Southampton Urban Area.It is sometimes mistakenly claimed...
, Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
, primarily to the villages of Hedge End, West End
West End, Hampshire
The Parish of West End in Hampshire is situated within the borough of Eastleigh, and to the north east of the city of Southampton. As well as the village itself, the parish contains the Chartwell Green suburb of Southampton....
and Botley
Botley, Hampshire
Botley is a historic village in Hampshire, England that obtained a charter for a market from Henry III in 1267. The area has been settled since at least the 10th century....
, although it can be received in other parts of the Borough of Eastleigh
Eastleigh
Eastleigh is a railway town in Hampshire, England, and the main town in the Eastleigh borough which is part of Southampton Urban Area. The town lies between Southampton and Winchester, and is part of the South Hampshire conurbation...
. The transmitter is located by the golfing range in Hedge End next to the M27.
Previous ownership
The name Skyline dates back to a London pirate station from the 1980s, run by Mark Ellis & Steve Fox With David Algate, the original licencee of the community station as community liaison. There was also an RSL in Southampton in 1994 called Skyline FM, The community station has had a difficult time compared to some community stations, with owner and licencee David Algate attempting to sell the station in 2007 due to the ongoing costs of the station not being met by advertising or external funding. This attempt was unsuccessful, but did provoke a fair deal of discussion as to whether or not it was legal to sell a community station on various internet forums relating to the media. The station however did change hands in 2009 when it was sold to presenter Mike Green's company Bootlace Productions.Skyline Community Radio was also threatened with legal action by a member of staff who had been hired to act as programme controller, and in doing so caused the departure of many volunteers who had been with Skyline from the start. Skyline featured in the Ofcom Broadcast Bulletin 107 due to one of their presenters causing a listener to complain to the regulatory authority about the content of his broadcast. No investigation into the complaint could take place as the radio station had failed to maintain a system to record its output and retain the recordings, which in itself is a matter treated very seriously indeed.
Current ownership
Skyline Gold was born out of the ashes of Skyline Community Radio in 2010, when new management took over.
OFCOM granted a new 5 year licence in 2011 and also allowed the station to enforce its oldies format of playing mainly 50s-80s era music weekdays between 7am and 7pm, and to change its name to Skyline Gold. Specialist shows - country, rock, rock'n'roll etc continue to be aired during weekends and evenings
In its short existence Skyline Gold has directly, through publicity, found apprenticeships for over thirty young people (Carillion Construction Training), and helped raise thousands of pounds for charity, through publicising charitable events, including the charity soul events held at the Concorde Club in Southampton by DJ Paul Mico.
Current Presenters
- Mike Green
- Vernon Lepingwell
- Paul Baker
- Martin Malyon
- Dave Ward
- Sam Hill
- Tony Francis
- Tom O'Connor
- Nick Park
- Simon Carter
- Steve Ridout
- Steven Wills
- Gary James
- Angela Burrow
- Margaret Head
- Gary Jackson
- Andrew House
- John Richards
- Tom Bott
- Chris Walker
- Tony Pankhurst
- Andi C
- Dougie James
- Mike Mack
- Ray Butt
- Mike Whittingham
- Sean Bell
- Matt Aldous
- Dave Englefield