By Gerry McLaughlin

North West Radio has announced it will stop broadcasting on October 1.

But the station is to continue with its Supreme Court action against the
BCI.

And until this legal action is resolved incoming station Ocean FM cannot go
on air.

The end of the road came following a board meeting on Friday in Sligo when
it was decided that the station would cease broadcasting on the last day of
its current licence which expires on September 30.

The meeting also decided that the station will still go ahead with a Supreme
Court appeal against the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland's decision to
take away its licence.

The appeal has been listed for mention in the Supreme Court on October 8.

The station has already lost a High Court application for a judicial review
against the BCI's decision.

This means that Ocean FM will not be able to begin operating until this
appeal has either been heard or withdrawn.

If North West go ahead with their appeal then it could take until the end of
October to reach a conclusion.

The BCI will not sign a contract with Ocean FM while court proceedings are
pending.

When contacted yesterday evening (Monday), a North West Radio staff member
said he was not aware of their board's decision to go off air.

It is understood that redundancy talks have not yet taken place between
management and staff.

Meanwhile, Ocean FM station manager Robert Walsh said they are going ahead
with preparations to go on air on October 1. He said: What NWR says is of
none of my business. But it is my business to ensure we are ready to go on
air on October 1 and we are now busy with training of staff. And we are four
days ahead of schedule with this training".

The decision by NWR to quit marks the end of almost 14 years broadcasting in
the region.

North West Radio began operating from the Market Yard in Sligo on Friday
November 2, 1990.

This was exactly 12 months after the pirate stations closed down in Sligo.
And this was 13 months after Rosses Regional Radio won the original
franchise.

This grouping which included the Sligo Champion and the Leitrim Observer
handed the license back because they felt it was not profitable.

When this happened, NWR stepped in and launched Sligo's first legal local
radio station.

Most of the station's first shows like Ita McMorrow's "Airs and Affairs" and
Adrian Eames "Drivetime" have passed into history.

But others' like Tommy Marren's morning show are still an intrinsic part of
the station's programming, attracting tens of thousands of listeners every
morning.

Meanwhile, Ocean FM station manager Robert Walsh said they are going ahead
with preparations to go on air on October 1. He said: What NWR says is of
none of my business. But it is my business to ensure we are ready to go on
air on October 1 and we are now busy with training of staff. And we are four
days ahead of schedule with this training".

http://www.sligoweekender.ie/news/story.asp?j=19445