Sam FM
(Swindon)
The last logo used by the station
Broadcast areaSwindon
FrequencyFM: 107.7 MHz
DAB: (Swindon)
Programming
FormatEasy listening
Ownership
OwnerBauer Radio
History
First air date
September 2, 2006 (2006-September-02)
Last air date
September 1, 2020 (2020-September-01)
Former names
Brunel FM
Total Star
More Radio
Jack FM
Sam FM

Sam FM Swindon was an Independent Local Radio station based in Swindon, England, broadcasting on the 107.7 FM frequency between 2006 and 2020.

The station was formed by The Local Radio Company, who wanted to create a local radio rival to GWR FM (now Heart). It started in 2006 as Brunel FM.[1] It would eventually be owned by One Gold Radio Ltd who renamed it to Total Star Swindon, and then More Radio a few years later. Celador purchased More Radio in 2012 and converted it into Jack FM Swindon which was later re-branded to SamFM Swindon.[2]

Due to financial issues and budget cuts at Celador, SamFM Swindon was merged into the Bristol sister station of the same name.[3] In 2020, SamFM was purchased by Bauer Radio, closed, and its frequency used to broadcast Greatest Hits Radio South West.[4]

History

Brunel FM

In 2005, after radio group Swindon FM lobbied for a second FM licence for the area, Ofcom invited applications for a 12-year broadcasting licence. The Local Radio Company applied, proposing a station called Now FM. After being awarded the licence, it was renamed as Brunel FM after Isambard Kingdom Brunel, chief engineer of the railway which had converted Swindon from a small village to a large town. Brunel was also the previous name for AM station Classic Gold Radio (now DAB station Gold) when Wiltshire Radio/GWR FM (now Heart Wiltshire) launched on FM. However, Brunel FM and Brunel Radio/Brunel Classic Gold did not have any connection other than their name and studio location.

Brunel FM launched at 10 am on 2 September 2006, and remained under control of The Local Radio Company until its sale to Laser Broadcasting in June 2008, along with sister stations Bath FM and 3TR FM. Following the buyout a number of the station's staff resigned, allegedly due to lack of payment.

In October 2008, Brunel FM was sold again to South West Radio Ltd,[5] following the collapse of Laser Broadcasting which went into administration.[6]

In August 2009, South West Radio itself collapsed and was also placed into administration. Brunel FM was then acquired by YMC Ltd, along with Bath FM, 3TR FM, Quay West 107.4 and Quay West 102.4/100.8. YMC Ltd then ran the five licensed stations as a group, with local programming throughout the day and some networked output over the weekend. On 24 March 2010, the YMC Ltd stations were closed by administrators after multiple refusals on the part of regulator Ofcom to transfer the licences, amid a number of financial issues at the stations following TLRC's sale.[7]

Total Star Swindon

Brunel FM and its sister stations – 3TR FM, Bath FM and the two Quaywest stations – were eventually bought by One Gold Radio Ltd. All five stations were rebranded Total Star as part of an agreement with Total Star 107.5 in Gloucestershire, owned by Storm Radio Ltd.

More Radio

In May 2011, it was announced Total Star Swindon (along with sister stations in West Wiltshire and Bath) would be rebranded to More Radio from June 2011, after owners One Gold Radio Ltd (now More FM Ltd) ended their partnership with the Cheltenham-based Total Star group.[8] The group also decided not to contest the renewal of the Bath licence, which was awarded to Celador – and was rebranded as The Breeze in September 2011. The company also purchased the 107.5 Warminster/Frome area licence, turning it into The Breeze in November 2011.

Jack FM

It was announced in April 2012 Celador had bought the final More Radio licence in Swindon.[9] Just over a month later, on 28 May 2012, the station was relaunched again as Jack FM Swindon.[10]

Sam FM rebrand and merger

Less than three years later, on 1 April 2015, the station was rebranded again to Sam FM.[11]

On 25 May 2016, OFCOM announced it had granted Celador permission to merge the station with its sister station in Bristol. The company said the Swindon station was not financially viable as a stand-alone service, having made a £50,000 loss in 2015.[12] The station's sole local programme – the weekday breakfast show That Swindon Thing – was axed, although opt outs for local news bulletins, traffic updates and what's on information will continue.

Defunct

Sam FM Swindon stopped transmitting on the 1st of September 2020 and the frequency was given to the Greatest Hits Radio national network.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Brunel FM appoints Programmer". RadioToday. 27 June 2006. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  2. ↑ "JACK fm to rebrand as Sam FM Thames Valley plus Bauer Media rumoured to take over French Radio Operator NRJ Group". RadioWorks. 21 August 2017. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  3. ↑ "Sam FM Swindon to merge with Sam FM Bristol". RadioToday. 25 May 2016. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  4. ↑ "Spire FM to be rebranded as part of major shakeup by owners". Salisbury Journal. 27 May 2020. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  5. ↑ "Five Laser stations sold". Radio Today. 29 October 2008. Archived from the original on 17 February 2012. Retrieved 5 November 2008.
  6. ↑ "Wiltshire radio station's owner goes into administration". Gazette & Herald. 28 October 2008. Retrieved 5 November 2008.
  7. ↑ Plunkett, John (25 March 2010). "Brunel FM among five other radio stations to close". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 April 2010.
  8. ↑ RadioToday: Total Star stations in Swindon and Wiltshire to become More FM
  9. ↑ RadioToday: Celador buys Swindon More licence: 16 Apr 2012
  10. ↑ RadioToday: Celador launches Jack FM in Swindon: 28 May 2012
  11. ↑ Radio Today: Celador's JACK stations to become Sam FM: 1 April 2015
  12. ↑ Sam FM Swindon to merge with Sam FM Bristol, Radio Today, 25 May 2016
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