Scottish Radio Station Hands Back Licence

River FM, a radio station based in Livingstone, has become just the second ever station in UK history to return its licence to Ofcom, after it failed to find a buyer.

The Scottish station stopped broadcasting yesterday evening having been on the air for three years.

Its owner, the Kingdom Radio Group, put it up for sale in December but was unable to find a buyer. Its website, riverfm.co.uk can no longer be accessed.

Kevin Brady, Kingdom Radio Group managing director, said: “We very much regret having to take this decision, but we have exhausted every option open to us to save River FM.

“Having invested in the station for over three years it does not make economic sense for the group to continue supporting this loss-making station.”

At the last RAJARs, for the thrid quarter of 2006, River FM had a weekly reach of 22,000 listeners, a 5.2% share of the market.

Quarter four 2006 RAJAR figures are released this Thursday, with NewsLine providing comprehensive coverage of all areas of the results.