A Week in Radio...

Mike Brown's picture
Posted September 6th, 2008 by Mike Brown in
106.7 KCR FM

Howdy Radio Fans!

This blog is for the anoraks and media geeks out there, it contains news about the radio stations being sold and bought. I suppose in a way it highlights how difficult the radio market has become to survive in.

First, lets start our radio tour off in Merseyside, home to the troubled KCR 106.7. The station has been sold for the 4th time in as many years - after afternoon presenter Jon Jessop had originally announced he bought the station in July and was going to re-launch KCR as The Edge.

The commercial station, which was originally part funded by Chrysalis, and later sold to TLRC then back to founder Ray Ferguson, is now owned by Southport family company Polaris Media.

It seems to have been the week for sales, as Star 107.5 in Cheltenham was sold to Brett Orchard, and Steve Penk has bought The Revolution.

Yes! It's official, the former Key 103, Fox FM and Virgin Radio presenter and him off of TV Nightmares, Steve Penk has been allowed to purchase the Oldham based station 96.2 The Revolution.

The station launched with a pop and rock format, but in 2005 it changed to a more specialist rock and indie music, employing former Inspiral Carpets keyboard player Clint Boon as head of music. Boon later left for a rival, Xfm Manchester. The station format changed again recently without any explanation to the listeners, but Penk has said that he has "big plans for this station."

Only time will tell what those plans are and if the station survives, but it is nice to see a presenter who has made programmes for listeners at the helm, rather than men in a suits who cut costs while their pay packet seems to get bigger and bigger!

Meanwhile, two stations which were recently sold are to merge under one name. Ivel FM in Somerset and Vale FM in Dorset have been re-launched as Midwest Radio by new owner Chris Carnegy who bought the stations from The Local Radio Company.

Lastly, the owners of Virgin Radio have revealed that the station will now be branded as Absolute Radio. The new proprietors, Time India Group have have also announced that JK and Joel and Robin Burke will leave, the latter being replaced by Jo Russell from Trent FM's. The schedule changes will also see late night host Geoff Lloyd present a new drive-time show and the arrival of the controversial presenter Tim Shaw, previously with Kerrang!

I'm sure you'll agree, it's been an eventful week, I just hope some of it does some good.

Mike Brown - Radio Lover.

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