Scot FM

Scot FM logo (1994)

Scot FM was the name of a regional radio station, originally based at Albert Quay, in Leith, serving the Central belt of Scotland and originally co-owned by two regional ITV companies, Border Television & Grampian Television.

The station was billed as radio for Scotland's thinking classes but ws unable to create a clear identity for itself, while changing its format to focus on less speech and more music. The station was relaunched as Real Radio Scotland in January 2002 following a buyout by GMG Radio.

History

Origins

In early 1993, the Radio Authority invited applicants to bid for a new regional FM licence covering Central Scotland and serving a potential audience of 3.3 million listeners. Seven groups contested the franchise:

• Central Scotland Radio, a speech-based station backed by Border and Grampian television companies
• Radio Six, led by Tony Currie (broadcaster) with a 24-hour news and speech station
• Central Scotland Broadcasting Ltd with a easy listening and information service
• A company with Celtic/rock
• A company with contemporary rock
• A company with country music
• A company with Christian-biased programming

Central Scotland Radio was named as the preferred bidder on 10 December 1993 - the Radio Authority argued that the station would extend listeners choice and could demonstrate financial stability and professional qualifications appropriate to launching and maintaining the service during its eight-year licence period. The company's founding chairman Sir David Steel (a non-executive director of Border) pledged the majority of its programming would be a unique Scottish view of Britain, the world, and Central Scotland's place in it. We will be primarily a talk station with news, travel information, and weather reports. Sport, politics, and the arts will be covered and listeners will be heavily involved through regular phone-ins.

There was some disagreement and even questioning of the decision to let two television companies already running ITV franchises (albeit, outisde the coverage area) operate the new license.

1994 - 1996

Scot FM began broadcasting from studios in Leith on 16 September 1994, after two weeks of test transmissions.

Problems arose even before Scot FM made it to air - none of the 13 presenters listed in its original application schedule had made it to air and its target of 50% quality speech output at peak times could not be achieved. The station's news service was contracted out to Reuters Radio, leading to some confusion over how a station promising a unique Scottish view of Britain was carrying most of its news bulletins from London.

Complaints about the state of the station began to appear in the press, about the apparent problems with the new station. In dispensation, station management went back to the Radio Authority four times to ask for permission to vary its format to reduce its speech output obligations. Unfortunately, the station had limited resources with music as the station only had 1000 tracks on the computer, leadinng to some members of staff reportedly visting local music shops to buy CDs of artists who were appearing as guests on the station.

The first official RAJAR figures released in early 1995 revealed that the station had a weekly audience of 8%, far short of the target 13% share, making it one of the least successful UK radio stations in terms of audience share. Within seven months of the station going on air, five different presenters had hosted Scot FM's breakfast show and a programme controller had left owing to ill health.

A major overhaul of the station took place shortly afterwards with all of the original presenters being replaced. by new signings including Alison Craig, Robin Galloway and Scottie McClue (alias Colin Lamont). Despite the plethora of new presenters and a reported improvement in weekly listening figures to 350,000, a number of complaints regarding format and regulatory problems led to another shake-up at management level., The station's news operator Reuters Radio was replaced by an in-house news service, although this had limited resources and was reportedly under-staffed with inexperienced young journalists who were even forced to travel by bus to help cut costs. Within a few months in May 1995, Grampian Television bought out Border's stake in the company to become the sole owner of Scot FM.

In another attempt to improve its fortunes, Scot FM signed an exclusive commercial radio deal worth £155,000 a year with the Scottish Football League, to broadcast live match commnentaries. This caused even further problem when Northsound, who sponsored Aberdeen Football Club at the time and also broadcast live Aberdeen matches before the deal, complained as Scot FM did not cover the Aberdeen area.

After two years in the job, Scot FM's managing director Tom Hunter resigned, another programme controller became ill with stress, and most of the presenting line-up departed. In 1996, 'Scot FM reported losses of around £1 million.

1996 - 2000

In July 1996, Scot FM was sold to the Independent Radio Group for £5.25 million pounds. The new owners had been attracted to the station because of its large franchise covering central Scotland and the potential for continuing to grow its audience, and hoped to make its first profit by 1998.

In January 1997, the station's longest serving presenter Scottie McClue left when contract negotiations broke down - despite rumours of a financial package which would have made him the highest paid presenter in Scotland being finalised, other rumours of his desires regarding a managerial role at the station were rejected by IRG.

In 1997, a drop in audience share from 8% to 4% triggered another major reorganisation. News operations were overhauled and Glenn Campbell (broadcaster) was brought in to become head of news. By 1999, Scot FM had won a silver Sony Award in 1999 for its 'Lunchtime Live' programme.

In October 1999, Independent Radio Group was acquired by the Wireless Group for £21m deal. As the station was making a loss, the Wireless Group put the station on the market. An offer from Scottish Radio Holdings of £29m was rejected as it would have required Competition Commission referral due to the rival stations in Scotland and a bid from Chrysalis of £27.5m was turned down as it is believed to have been unable to put the financing for the bid together. In the end, the third highest bidder acquired Scot FM for £25.5m in cash and loan notes, or 13 times its annual revenues, in a deal that allowed them to clear all its debts quickly in June 2001. The company was Guardian Media Group.

Analysts were surprised that TWG sold Scot FM, widely regarded as one of its best assets, rather than disposing off some of its 18 smaller stations.

John Myers, chief executive of GMG Radio saidThe problem with Scot FM is that it has changed owners faster than I've changed coats. It was badly launched. They gave an impression that they were going to do Radio 4 type speech and then they went and hired Scottie McClue. For the first time Scot FM will have an owner that might actually give Scottish Radio Holdings a run for their money.

Following the acquisition, GMG Radio rebranded the station as Real Radio Scotland at 8am on 31st January 2002.

Advertising

Scot FM broadcast separate commercial breaks on both its Glasgow and Edinburgh frequencies (100.3 FM in the West and 101.1 FM in the East).

Presenters

Original line up

(from September 1994 - January 1995)

• Iain Agnew
• Bruce Findlay
• Brian Ford
• Haig Gordon
• Kenny Hutchinson
• Simon Lumsden

• Chris Mann
• Gerry Burke
• Ken Mitchell
• Paul Martin Davis
• Margo McDonald

Other Presenters

• Big Al
• Glenn Campbell
• Mhairi-Ann Corrigall
• Jay Crawford
• Jenny Farrish
• Robin Galloway
• Neil Henderson
• Alex Horsburgh
• Donny Hughes
• Steve Jack
• Dougie Jackson

• Joe Kilday
• Mike Riddoch
• Gary Marshall
• Mark McKenzie
• Scottie McClue
• Craig McMurdo
• Frank Pilkington
• Kenny Stevens
• Arlene Stuart
• Wee Fat Boab
• Bill Young