New owner for radio station

Aug 21 2008 by Graham Fraser, Hamilton Advertiser

A HAMILTON radio station which went bust earlier this week has found a new owner.

L107, the Lanarkshire station based in Bothwell Road, said an emotional goodbye live on air on Monday morning.

However, the Advertiser understands its licence has been snapped up by Gartcosh businessman Alan Shields.

It is believed that L107, which was owned by ex-Radio 1 DJ Mark Page, closed due to financial difficulties.

On Monday morning, presenter Grant Thomson thanked listeners and advertisers for supporting them since the station launched on November 28, 2005.

After playing Abba’s Thank You for the Music, Grant said: “At 10am, this will be it. Thanks for all your support over the last three years.”

The DJ then played out with the song which launched the station - Scottish Rain by The Silencers.

Alan Shields is believed to have contacted Mark Page when rumours of L107’s demise surfaced.

Shields, a former radio boss and advertising guru, is then said to have bought the broadcasting licence off Page for an undisclosed fee.

Shields has been spending the last two years running a company importing spectacles. Before that, he was the managing director in Scotland of The Wireless Group, which used to own radio stations Paisley-based Q96 and Dundee-based Wave102.

This week, a L107 insider said: “We only found out at the end of last week that Mark was intending to close the station.

“We were all very sad. Lots of people were in touch with messages of support.

“We just didn’t have enough advertising. It would have been a terrible loss for the community, but I am happy to learn that Alan Shields has decided to take over.”

Michael McMahon MSPsaid: “ I am delighted that L107 has found a new owner and a dedicated Lanarkshire radio station will continue.”