Skip navigation

Gloucestershire Business News

Radio silence: Severn FM closes after 13 years

Internet-based radio station Severn FM is closing after nearly 13 years of service broadcasting to Gloucester and the globe.

Based in Hardwicke and a registered trademark of Ringtone.net Ltd, which has owned the brand since concept in 2011, the station will finally go off air on June 30th.

Andy Clarke, the owner of the station, told Punchline-Gloucester.com: "Despite our tireless efforts, we find ourselves unable to continue due to the constraints of time and financial resources."

Ringtone.net Ltd recently closed due to high operating costs.

Highpoints for the station have included celebrity interviews that included Jules Holland, Graham Goldman from 10CC, Cockney Rebel's Steve Harley who died last week) and many more.

Adding that he was "extremely sad to have to close the station", Andy stated: "We want to take this opportunity to thank all of our dedicated presenters and our listeners over the past 13 years."

Severn FM's news comes amid what is being seen as a harsh trading climate for local radio. 

In an earlier statement, the radio station said: "The current economic climate has made it impossible to continue with this plan and this, coupled with the lack of flexibility within Ofcom to look at sustainable FM delivery, despite the clear local demand, therefore restricting the ways in which people listen to the content, has resulted in the project running out of money with no plan to generate revenue.

The statement continued: "we have all invested a lot of time, energy, emotion and effort into creating a great station, however, we have had to be objective about the current situation and have had to make a very difficult decision but one that nevertheless needed to be made".

Looking at future plans, Andy said he is now focusing on developing his YouTube channel @thephobicflyer, where he shares his experiences of learning to fly despite a debilitating fear of air travel.

Related Articles

EXCLUSIVE: Key Gloucester site back on the market for £1.2m Image

EXCLUSIVE: Key Gloucester site back on the market for £1.2m

Indicative plans for a residential conversion have been prepared for potential buyers

University reveals delay to huge City Campus project Image

University reveals delay to huge City Campus project

Work is underway to transform the former Debenhams in Gloucester

Gloucester city centre car park to partially reopen  Image

Gloucester city centre car park to partially reopen

The multi-storey has been closed for eight months

Cavendish House opens to small traders Image

Cavendish House opens to small traders

A series of small businesses will be opening up in the former Cavendish House in Cheltenham.

Copyright 2024 Moose Partnership Ltd. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any content is strictly forbidden without prior permission.