Thursday, August 09, 2012

UK: Regulator removes Dune FM’s transmitter

Southport’s Dune FM has stopped broadcasting after Ofcom had to physically remove the station’s transmitter.

The company which owned the licence was subject to a winding-up order on July 9th, meaning licence became void.

Ofcom rules state that a company which has been wound-up cannot own a broadcasting licence. The regulator had been in touch with the station recently to request they stopped broadcasting – a request which was apparently ignored by those in charge at Dune FM.

The station’s last owner was Southport Radio Limited, headed by Jon Jessop.

Creditors visited the station late last year and removed studio and office equipment and a previous owner Proud FM Ltd issued a winding-up order against Dune FM earlier this year.

The regulator told RadioToday.co.uk: “We have removed the transmitter. We had previously told the station to come off air, as the service was no longer being provided by the licensee, which had gone into liquidation.”

A message on the station’s website seems to think the station will be back on-air, saying: “Sorry due to a technical fault we are off-air. Our technical team are working hard and we hope to be back with you shortly!”
Dune FM commenced broadcasting in 1997 as an independent station, and has had various owners over the years including Forward Media and The Local Radio Company.

(Source: Radio Today, UK)

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