VOLUNTEERS at Lochaber’s local radio station are celebrating this
week after the station successfully gained a new “community” licence
from government regulator Ofcom.
It is hoped the new status, achieved almost a year after its
application was lodged, will give the station a much more secure future.
Award-winning Nevis Radio, which was established in 1996, has gone
from strength to strength over the years, growing from a seasonal “Ski
Radio” station to covering the whole of Lochaber and the Small Isles
with a range of entertainment programmes.
The station, based on the Ben Nevis Estate in Fort William, also
provides an important local source of emergency information on road
accidents and shutdowns, weather details and school closures.
Due to changes in UK broadcasting legislation, Nevis Radio was issued
with a Commercial Radio licence, putting it on the same footing as
large Independent Local Radio (ILR) stations such as those based in
large cities with highly paid presenters, whereas almost everyone on
Nevis Radio is a volunteer.
While the original company ‘Nevis Community Radio Limited’ continued
as a not-for-profit community enterprise, the designation ILR
immediately cut off the bulk of potential funders such as charitable
organisations or trusts, who were unable to fund a commercial radio
station.
The Ofcom announcement came last Thursday and has delighted everyone
connected with the station which over the years has been recognised at
national and regional awards ceremonies, with awards for programmes and
individual presenters.
Nevis Radio chairman Iain Ferguson, who co-ordinated the exhausting
Ofcom application process, told the Lochaber News: “I am delighted that
Ofcom have granted Nevis Radio community status, which I hope will be a
great help in raising funds to keep us operating.
(Source: Lochaber News, UK)
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