Community radio station Skyline Gold, for many years based in Hedge End, has announced its closure after nearly two decades.
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The station, originally just known as Skyline FM, broadcast on 102.5, and latterly on small scale DAB, enabling it to transmit to a much wider area of Hampshire.
It said in a statement: “After nearly 20 years on air, our funds, as we are a mainly voluntary group are now unfortunately insufficient to continue under the current circumstances.
“It’s been great to be on the FM airwaves and DAB across the southern parishes and South Hampshire for so long, bringing you the best music and some of the finest programming you will find on on your radio.
“All of us at Skyline have been really grateful for your warm messages and strong support shown by you, our listeners, across the years. We hope that you have enjoyed listening again to truly local radio
“We would love to continue, but that is just not possible at this time.”
The station thanked listeners, advertisers and those who had presented over the years and who “joined in with this incredible local initiative to deliver local radio”.
Many expressed dismay at the announcement on social media. One wrote on behalf of Portsmouth-based station Victory: “This is a very sad situation, and on behalf of all the team at Victory Online we wish all the management and presenters at Skyline the very best of luck and love in finding new outputs for their talents. We hope you find a way back on air soon. Radio needs stations like ours to offer an alternative to the 'big' stations purporting to be local.”
In response Skyline Gold thanked the poster, adding: “We will return soon and together deliver the best local radio to our area”.
Last year the station was reportedly forced to move from its long-term studio in St Johns Road in Hedge End following a dispute with the town council. It latterly gave its address as the Bugle Inn in Botley on social media.
The Skyline moniker has been (and still is) used by various stations over the years, notably by a pirate which broadcast seven days a week for a period from 1983-85 in south east London.
An American station was being relayed on Skyline’s TuneIn channel this week. We were unable to reach the station by phone for comment at the time of writing.
Previously
Community radio launches - bitternepark.info, 2005