Archive for November, 2005
TLRC publish interim results
TLRC have published their Preliminary Results for the year ended 30th September 2005.
Highlights of the report include revenue up 21 per-cent, five licence wins and a joint venture with UTV in the sales department.
Pure Digital launch clock radio
PURE Digital presents the PURE CHRONOS DAB digital clock radio ? an advanced radio so cool it almost makes waking up for work a pleasure.
CHRONOS features highly configurable alarms to match listeners? lifestyles. Four alarms can each be set for weekdays, weekends, every day or just as a one-off. A simple interface makes it easy to change these settings at any time.
Stars attend Radio Forth awards
SCOTS singing diva Lulu was honoured for her contribution to music at the Radio Forth Awards.
The Radio Forth Awards, in conjunction with Black Horse Finance, not only honour the UK?s biggest music stars but pay tribute to a host of local heroes who have excelled themselves in community work, sport, education, tourism and the workplace.
L107 Lanarkshire has launched
Six years ago it was Clan FM, then 107 The Edge. Let’s hope it’s third time lucky for this licence as L107 has taken to the air at 8:30am today.
On-Air, it was a low key affair, with breakfast presenter Mark Page opening the station by announcing the weather, playing a (Bespoke Music Company) Jingle then into another track.
Ribble Valley Radio goes live
Clitheroe and the Ribble Valley in Lancashire are tuning into their new community radio station from today.
Ribble Valley Radio, operating on a 28-day RSL licence is the result of almost 12 months of fundraising efforts by local people. This will be the first time that the Ribble Valley has had a locally dedicated radio service.
Promotion for UTV Radio MD
Scott Taunton, Managing Director of UTV Radio (GB), has been appointed as an executive director to the Board of Ulster Television plc (UTV).
Aged 34, Scott was previously the Business Development Director at UTV, responsible for radio and new media. An Australian, he has been working in the UK for a decade.
Pure Dance up for sale
The management of digital dance music radio station Pure Dance have announced this week that, following a board meeting on Tuesday 22nd November 2005, they have decided to put the station up for sale.
Pure Dance was launched in June 2004 on the Sky Digital service, and since then has steadily built a regular audience of nearly one million listeners every month, primarily in the 16-30 year old age group.
Pure Digital Sponsors Student Awards
PURE Digital is proud to support the next generation of radio stars by sponsoring the 2005 Student Radio Awards.
The Student Radio Awards are the benchmark for Student Radio talent in the UK. They showcase the next generation of big name presenters and programmers who will be shaping the future of British radio.
Massive fine for Key 103
Following listener complaints about content during the James Stannage Phone-in, Ofcom have fined Manchester station Key 103 for 125,000 pounds.
Listeners complained that the following broadcasts contained:
- offensive jokes and comments about the death of Kenneth Bigley (10/10/04);
- offensive references to and treatment of Muslims (19/10/04);
- alleged incitement to racial hatred (05/11/04); and
- a racist comment (23/11/04).
Also on reviewing the station?s output Ofcom was concerned about a broadcast which:
- gave undue prominence to the presenter?s views during a discussion on a matter of political controversy (10/10/04).
Ofcom explain community awards
Ofcom’s Radio Licensing Committee made decisions relating to a total of ten applications for community radio licences at its meeting on 7th November 2005.
Seven community radio licences were awarded and the reasons for award in each case are summarised below. The remaining three applicants were not awarded a community radio licence.
GCap Media announce new strategy
The headlines: Capital Radio set for a make-over, Beat 106 and The Storm to be re-branded as Xfm, Capital Gold and Capital Life to combine and nine analogue stations to be sold.
The stations facing the axe are former Marcher Group stations in the Northwest and North Wales: MFM, Buzz 97.1, Coast FM and Champion FM. Stations in the Southwest which do not fit with the key geographic regions are Gemini FM, Plymouth Sound, Orchard FM, Lantern FM and South Hams Radio.
New appointments at Ofcom
Philip Graf appointed as Deputy Chairman of Ofcom
Philip Graf has been appointed as the Non-Executive Deputy Chairman of Ofcom.
Philip Graf joined the Liverpool Daily Post and Echo in 1983, which became Trinity International Holdings in 1985. He subsequently became Chief Executive in 1993. He became Chief Executive of Trinity Mirror Group when the company merged with the Mirror Group in 1999 – a position he held until September 2002. In 2003 he was asked by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport to carry out a review of the BBC’s online activities. He is a Partner with the executive coaching firm Praesta and a Trustee of the homelessness charity Crisis. He received a CBE for services to regional newspapers in the Queen’s birthday honours in 2003.
Former Radio Shropshire editor dies
Tony Fish, a former Editor of BBC Radio Shropshire, has died suddenly at the age of 54. Tony worked for the BBC for 32 years and retired in 2002.
Despite his strong family ties with the North East, Tony spent his first 30 years in Surrey.
Tributes to John Timpson
Tributes have been paid to John Timpson, former presenter of BBC Radio 4′s Today programme, who has died at the age of 77.
Jenny Abramsky, BBC Director of Radio and Music, said: “John was one of the greats of radio broadcasting. His partnership with Brian Redhead was one of the great broadcasting duets.
Rother FM prepare application
Following on from the advertisement of the new local radio licence for Rotherham, Lincs FM-backed Rother FM have confirmed they will be applying for the licence.
The closing date for applicants is 8th February and it is expected Rother FM will be in competition with at least two other applicants.
Ofcom explains Swansea award
Ofcom have today announced why the local radio licence for Swansea was awarded to Swansea Bay Radio.
In the usual Ofcom trend, they mention that when considering the applications they noted the success of neighbouring services owned by the investors in Swansea Bay Radio.
Ofcom explains Northallerton award
Ofcom have announced why they awarded the local radio licence for Northallerton to BTN FM.
As this was a smaller licence more emphasis was on the need to substain the service rather than extending listener choice in terms of format. Ofcom explains that the backing of TLRC gives BTN FM a strong degree of financial stability.
Industry enjoys 30th SBES
For two days a year, the UK radio industry’s leading annual event plays host to a wide range of people from within the industry and those with an interest. Today the show celebrates it’s 30th, at the NEC in Birmingham.
Born from the ILR Chief Engineers Conference in 1975 the SBES has grown to be one of the most significant events in the calendar for anyone involved in sound broadcasting.
TM Century hire UK producer
TM Century in Texas USA has named 28-year-old Chris Stevens to the newly created position of Creative Director for the Dallas-based production house.
Chris was most recently an imaging producer for BBC Radio 2 in London. Prior to his work with the BBC, Stevens was Group Head of Production for the Guardian Media Group, overseeing the sound of Real Radio and Smooth FM, leading the multiple Sony nominations.
Belfast's U105 is live
It was March 7th 2005 when UTV won the Belfast licence, beating off competition from ten other groups.
Then this morning at 6am the station finally went live after a 105-day countdown on their website with the strapline ‘U105 – where great music lives’. A ?2million marketing campaign also kicks off this week.. The first song played was Wavelength by Van Morrison.
Canterbury Student Radio goes live
Canterbury Student Radio (CSR FM) will be on air from 14th November across Canterbury on 106.5FM until Sunday November 20th.
New Smooth Breakfast for London
David Prever is set to return to the breakfast airwaves as the new host of 102.2 Smooth FM’s flagship morning show.
David, who was breakfast host of, and one of the voices that launched, Heart 106.2, and will take up his new position with Smooth FM in the 6-10am slot on Monday 21st November.
Ofcom advertise Rotherham licence
Ofcom today advertises a new local FM commercial radio licence to cover Rotherham – with an expected coverage area of 200,000.
Known bidders at this stage include Rother FM which is backed by the Lincs FM Group who operate other radio stations in the area. The proposed frequency is 96.1 MHz FM, subject to international agreement on radio spectrum usage.
Another boost for Community Radio
Ofcom today announces the award of seven new community radio licences. This brings the total number of community radio licences awarded to date to 55.
Community radio is a new sector of radio being introduced in the UK. It will become the third tier of radio which will complement the mix of services already provided by the BBC and commercial radio sectors.
Click here for our community radio database.
Radio Clyde sponsor IMAX
Radio Clyde is proud to announce its sponsorship of Glasgow Science Centre?s IMAX cinema to coincide with a special first screening of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.
The fourth instalment of the Harry Potter series will be shown at the Radio Clyde IMAX Cinema at Glasgow Science Centre from Friday 18 November for the first time at one minute past midnight. Kids can catch the film after school with early evening screenings at 4.30pm and 7.30pm.
A Real good award for GMG
Real Radio, the brand owned by the Guardian Media Group?s radio division, has picked up a top accolade for Marketing, at the Marketing Employer of the Year 2005 awards.
Real Radio received the award for Best Marketing Department for Leadership and Brand Values at the showbiz ceremony presented by Ruby Wax at London?s trendy Sketch bar.
Four applications for Shrewsbury
Four applications have been submitted to Ofcom for the local radio licence to serve Shrewbury and Oswestry.
The Radio Business (Extra FM), Muff Murfin (Radio Shrewsbury), NMA Broadcasting (Shrewsbury FM) and Laser Broadcasting (Shrewsbury Local Radio) are all hoping for some good news when the licence is awarded in February 2006.
GMG Radio raise half a million
GMG Radio?s annual fundraising day has this year raised a record ?250,000 for children?s charities across the country.
More than 1000 companies across Britain took part in Real Radio?s Bring a ? To Work Day, in which staff were simply asked to donate ?1 of their salary on the day. While on-air auctions on Smooth FM in London and the north west raised thousands for items such as a meet and greet with Rod Stewart, Katie Melua?s signed guitar and holidays to Canada.
TLRC win Northallerton licence
The Local Radio Company, under the application name BTN FM beat off local competition from two other groups to win the new local radio licence for Northallerton.
Rival bids came from Hambleton Radio which was backed by Fresh Radio and RSL group Laser Broadcasting and Northallerton FM, owned by Garrison Radio Ltd in Catterick Garrison.
Swansea Bay Radio win licence
The local commercial licence for the Swansea area has been awarded to Swansea Bay Radio, backed by investors behind other local stations including Radio Pembrokeshire and Bridge FM.
They fought off competition from Diamond FM, backed by ex-Emap boss Tim Schoonmaker and SA-FM (Swansea Local Radio) backed by Laser Broadcasting and local broadcaster Binda Singh.
