THE boss of a new radio station exclusively for Glasgow has hit out at rival operations run by big networks.
As former Radio Clyde legend “Tiger” Tim Stevens was revealed as one of the directors behind GO – Glasgow’s Own – Radio, GO programme director Kevin Cameron panned other local radio stations for making big cuts in local content, and promised GO would keep it local.
GO will start broadcasting on DAB in late September, and will be available online as well as through radio apps for smartphones and tablets.
Cameron, a former Clyde 1 presenter, said: “GO is part of Glasgow. We understand that it’s the people that make Glasgow – GO will be their soundtrack for the city.
“Other radio stations here have English or German owners and have dramatically reduced local content over the last few years, beaming shows from south of the border or sharing programming with other stations in Scotland.”
He added: “A city as vibrant as Glasgow deserves its own radio station. We will always be in Glasgow for the people of Glasgow because we truly understand that people make Glasgow.”
Stevens, who left Radio Clyde five years ago, said: “We’re bringing Glasgow radio back for the people of Glasgow.
“Over the last few years, corporations have taken over radio stations and taken away Glasgow’s individual identity – it’s time to bring it back. GO is Glasgow’s own radio station.”
The station will broadcast from studios in the city centre, and claimed it would bring its listeners “the buzz of the city”.
Scotland has many local radio stations, but most are owned by Bauer Media or the Global Radio group. Much of the stations’ content is networked nationwide, which has led to listeners complaining they lack “localness”.
GO’s owners will be one of a small group of companies that between them have a handful of independent local radio (ILR) stations including Fife’s Kingdom FM, Central FM in Stirling, Wave 102 in Dundee and Original 106 in Aberdeen.
Adam Findlay, whose firm New Wave Media owns Central, Wave and Original, told The National: “Firstly I wish GO well in their new venture and on their philosophy of keeping it local at a time when other groups have taken to networking programmes from a central source.
“While I respect their choice, we have chosen not to go down the networking road and we believe strongly in maintaining the local aspect in our operations – keeping in touch with the local marketplace and listeners.
“This has been borne out by the improvements we have seen in our audience figures, especially in Aberdeen and Stirling which performed exceptionally well ... so we hope that philosophy works as well for GO as it has for us.”
GO’s directors have also decided that in keeping with their local ownership ethos, they will give Scottish investors a chance to be part of the company under the Government’s Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme.
Haines Watts Corporate Finance in Glasgow has been appointed adviser to the company.
Spencer Pryor, the founder of Eklipse Sports Radio who previously worked in Radio Clyde’s commercial department, will oversee the business side. GO Radio will reveal its presenter lineup in the coming weeks.
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