Fresh faces uncertain future

9:50am Saturday 11th October 2008

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The future of Fresh Radio is in doubt after a creditor applied for a winding-up order against its owner.

A petition against Laser Broadcasting, which took over Fresh in January, is due to be heard at the High Court in Leeds on Tuesday.

And unless Laser, which owns nine local radio stations across the country, can settle the debt, it faces being put into liquidation.

Laser, jointly founded by one of the launch directors of Classic FM, has faced much criticism from former Fresh presenters since it took over the Skipton-based radio station.

But, in July, Laser chief executive Nigel Reeve claimed the company was being unfairly targeted by former Fresh people, who he labelled as “well-meaning anoraks”.

At the time, Mr Reeve said changes were being made to the station, including the introduction of networked programmes.

He said the station would shortly be moving from Firth Street to new offices at Broughton Hall.

Shortly afterwards, station manager Julian Hotchkiss failed to return to Fresh after an extended holiday.

The Fresh website is currently down, with promises of a re-design.

The creditor, Capital North East investment fund, said the decision to seek a winding-up order had been taken reluctantly.

A spokesman for NEL Fundmanagers Ltd said: “As fund managers of the Capital North East investment fund, from which an investment was made in Laser Broadcasting in 2004, we have been working with Laser for many months in an attempt to find a way forward which would allow the company to trade within the terms of our investment agreement.

“However, these efforts have failed to result in a satisfactory outcome and we have therefore reluctantly had to seek a winding-up order against Laser Broadcasting, which will be heard in Leeds on October 14.”

A spokeswoman for media regulator Ofcom said: “We are aware that a petition to wind up Laser Broadcasting is due to be heard next week and we are monitoring developments closely.

“The company is keeping us fully informed and is seeking to ensure that the radio stations are able to continue broadcasting in the best interests of their staff and listeners.

“In these circumstances, until the winding-up order is heard by the court next week, we are aware that the stations might not be able to fully comply with their format requirements.

“We do not propose to take any formal action against the licensees during this period.”

No-one from Laser was available to comment.