Star 107.9
Encyclopedia
Star 107.9 was a UK
Independent Local Radio
station centred on the area of Stroud
, in Gloucestershire
, also broadcasting to other localities including Cirencester
, Tetbury
and Stonehouse
, and Dursley
on a 107.3 FM relay (originally 107.2 FM). The station was owned by the UKRD Group
, and shared its programme controller, Brody Swain, and managing director Junie Lewis with Star 107.5
in Cheltenham
.
rebranded the station in 2002 as "Star 107", later becoming "Star 107.9" and then "Star Radio" in late 2005, based in premises in the Brunel Mall on London Road in Stroud.
, Ian Timms, Ben Williams, Jon Hands, Helen Sweetland, Wayne Nolan, Ben Stone, Marie Greenwood
to return the licence to the United Kingdom's broadcasting and telecommunications regulator, Ofcom
. UKRD
believed that it would be impossible for anyone to make the station profitable, which, according to figures, had been loss-making throughout its entire eight year history.
The last song played on the station was Boy Meets Girl's "Waiting For a Star to Fall".
The Paul Ellery website, http://www.birchbarn.co.uk has exclusive footage of the final words spoken on the station, as well as pictures from the last week of the license.
UKRD
had applied to relocate the station to share the same building with nearby sister station Star 107.5
in Cheltenham
and to introduce shared programming between the Stroud
and Cheltenham
stations in daytime hours. While Ofcom cleared the co-location of the two stations, it refused permission for programming sharing between the two stations, believed to be the catalyst for UKRD
's decision to close the station altogether.
Returning a licence to the broadcasting regulator had, until September 21, 2006, been unprecedented in the United Kingdom.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Independent Local Radio
Independent Local Radio
Independent Local Radio is the collective name given to commercial radio stations in the United Kingdom. The same name is used for Independent Local Radio in Ireland.-Development of ILR:...
station centred on the area of Stroud
Stroud, Gloucestershire
Stroud is a market town and civil parish in the county of Gloucestershire, England. It is the main town in Stroud District.Situated below the western escarpment of the Cotswold Hills at the meeting point of the Five Valleys, the town is noted for its steep streets and cafe culture...
, in Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
, also broadcasting to other localities including Cirencester
Cirencester
Cirencester is a market town in east Gloucestershire, England, 93 miles west northwest of London. Cirencester lies on the River Churn, a tributary of the River Thames, and is the largest town in the Cotswold District. It is the home of the Royal Agricultural College, the oldest agricultural...
, Tetbury
Tetbury
Tetbury is a town and civil parish within the Cotswold district of Gloucestershire, England. It lies on the site of an ancient hill fort, on which an Anglo-Saxon monastery was founded, probably by Ine of Wessex, in 681. The population of the parish was 5,250 in the 2001 census.In the Middle Ages,...
and Stonehouse
Stonehouse, Gloucestershire
Stonehouse, Gloucestershire is an urban area within the Stroud District, in the UK. It is home to a number of factories, such as Dairy Crest and Schlumberger. The town is close to the M5 motorway. Stonehouse railway station has a regular train service to London...
, and Dursley
Dursley
Dursley is a market town in Gloucestershire, England. It is under the North East flank of Stinchcombe Hill , and about 6 km South East of the River Severn. The town is adjacent with Cam which, though a village, is a community of double the size...
on a 107.3 FM relay (originally 107.2 FM). The station was owned by the UKRD Group
UKRD Group
The UKRD Group Ltd is a British media company which owns 16 commercial radio stations in the United Kingdom. The name originates from UK Radio Developments.-History:...
, and shared its programme controller, Brody Swain, and managing director Junie Lewis with Star 107.5
Star 107.5
Total Star Gloucestershire is a UK radio station based in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire in England....
in 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...
.
History
The station launched in 1998, originally known as "The Falcon". UKRDUKRD Group
The UKRD Group Ltd is a British media company which owns 16 commercial radio stations in the United Kingdom. The name originates from UK Radio Developments.-History:...
rebranded the station in 2002 as "Star 107", later becoming "Star 107.9" and then "Star Radio" in late 2005, based in premises in the Brunel Mall on London Road in Stroud.
Presenters
The line-up at the station's closure included Roger Noble (drivetime presenter), Paul Ellery (Breakfast presenter), Simon Hancock (News Editor), Adina Campbell (Journalist), Jon Beese, Chris Hanson and Neil MacDonald. Other presenters in the station's history include Dale Collins, Sally Atkinson, Matt Vaughan, Ben Weston, Tom LoweTom Lowe
Tom Lowe is a writer and filmmaker from Southern California. A decorated Gulf War veteran, Lowe is best known as the author of Spin , a roman à clef based on his experience working as a political operative in California...
, Ian Timms, Ben Williams, Jon Hands, Helen Sweetland, Wayne Nolan, Ben Stone, Marie Greenwood
Closure
The station ceased broadcasting on 29 September 2006 following a decision by UKRDUKRD Group
The UKRD Group Ltd is a British media company which owns 16 commercial radio stations in the United Kingdom. The name originates from UK Radio Developments.-History:...
to return the licence to the United Kingdom's broadcasting and telecommunications 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...
. UKRD
UKRD Group
The UKRD Group Ltd is a British media company which owns 16 commercial radio stations in the United Kingdom. The name originates from UK Radio Developments.-History:...
believed that it would be impossible for anyone to make the station profitable, which, according to figures, had been loss-making throughout its entire eight year history.
The last song played on the station was Boy Meets Girl's "Waiting For a Star to Fall".
The Paul Ellery website, http://www.birchbarn.co.uk has exclusive footage of the final words spoken on the station, as well as pictures from the last week of the license.
UKRD
UKRD Group
The UKRD Group Ltd is a British media company which owns 16 commercial radio stations in the United Kingdom. The name originates from UK Radio Developments.-History:...
had applied to relocate the station to share the same building with nearby sister station Star 107.5
Star 107.5
Total Star Gloucestershire is a UK radio station based in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire in England....
in 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...
and to introduce shared programming between the Stroud
Stroud, Gloucestershire
Stroud is a market town and civil parish in the county of Gloucestershire, England. It is the main town in Stroud District.Situated below the western escarpment of the Cotswold Hills at the meeting point of the Five Valleys, the town is noted for its steep streets and cafe culture...
and 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...
stations in daytime hours. While Ofcom cleared the co-location of the two stations, it refused permission for programming sharing between the two stations, believed to be the catalyst for UKRD
UKRD Group
The UKRD Group Ltd is a British media company which owns 16 commercial radio stations in the United Kingdom. The name originates from UK Radio Developments.-History:...
's decision to close the station altogether.
Returning a licence to the broadcasting regulator had, until September 21, 2006, been unprecedented in the United Kingdom.