Jcom Radio

Infobox Radio station


name = Jcom Radio
airdate = 28 October 2007
frequency = 101.4FM (28 October 2007 - 23rd November 2007) Jcomradio.net (24 November 2007 - 31 August 2008)
area = London
format = Jewish
owner = Jewish Communications Limited
website = [http://www.jcomradio.net]

Jcom Radio is a London internet-based radio station owned by Jewish Communications Limited.

History

There is nothing new about the concept of Jewish Radio. Many companies have tried before and most have failed. Jcom Radio was formed by a group of people whose background is in radio. Jcom Radio was founded by six men who met through another Jewish radio station - Shalom FM (now defunct) they are Steve Newton, Jeremy Silverstone, Tony Honickberg, Mike Peters, Ronny Munster and Phil Dave.

Jewish Communications Limited was formed in March 2007. Endless weeks of planning and organizing went into the launch of Jcom Radio. It finally hit the airwaves on 28th November 2007 as an RSL (Restricted Service License). The RSL ran for 4 weeks, broadcasting every Sunday to Thursday 7am - 2am, Friday 7am - 3pm and Saturday 6pm - 2am. Listening figures reached over 100,000. It ceased broadcasting on 101.4FM on 23rd November 2007, continuing as an Internet Radio station, every Sunday to Thursday 6pm - 11pm.

Closure

Jcom Radio was forced to cease broadcasting on Aug 12 2008 when it lost a High Court libel case brought by George Galloway, MP for Bethnal Green and Bow. [ [http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/londons-jewish-radio-station-closes-after-galloway-sues-891492.html London's Jewish radio station closes after Galloway sues] . The Independent, 12th Aug 2008.] The case concerned a broadcast in Nov 2007, in which a character playing "Georgie Galloway", the station's "Middle East correspondent" cried out "Kill the Jews, Kill the Jews". Despite sacking the presenter, issuing an apology and offering Mr Galloway the opportunity to appear on the station, Mr Galloway was awarded £15,000 and c. £5,000 in costs. He said that the station's apology "fell short of the categorical retraction of the imputation of anti-Semitism that I insisted upon".

Notes