Archive for February, 2007
Redican is new MD at RAB
Simon Redican has been appointed as managing director of the Radio Advertising Bureau. He joins the organisation from News International where he was media account director of The Times solutions team. It follows the recent appointment of Martina King as RAB non-executive chairman.
SMG terminates merger talks
Merger talks between UTV and SMG have been terminated. One of the reasons for the breakdown in discussions has been reported as a result of differing views over the level of SMG's pension liabilities. At the same time, Richard Findlay has been appointed as the new Chairman of SMG.
Evening show for Bam Bam
Former heavily-fined Kiss 100 DJ Bam Bam is set to take over the evening show on Capital Radio London from March 12th. He was released from his Emap contract last year after attracting the largest ever radio fine whilst hosting the Kiss 100 breakfast show.
Hertbeat FM revamps website
Hertfordshire radio station Hertbeat FM have re-launched their website, with the help of G Media. The site enables visitors to listen live, browse a local business directory and find out everything they ever wanted to know about the radio station.
Afan FM to cover film festival
Local radio station Afan FM is reaching for the stars after being named the official radio station of the Swansea Bay Film Festival 2007. Afan FM will provide coverage of the event to its listeners both on line and on air during the festival that takes place between 29th May and June 10th. The community station is also sponsoring the award for Afan FM Young Film Maker 2007.
Kiss make mess of mash
Emap-owned Kiss are having to apologise to radio listeners and refund some of them the cost of entering their £10k "Mash for Cash" competition after a mix up by a producer at the station.
New PR push for Xfm Scotland
GCap Media's Xfm Scotland has unveiled its latest marketing plan to promote itself as the country's radio station for new music. Material Marketing have been appointed to look after the station's PR.
Capital Gold promotes England
Capital Gold stations in London, Birmingham, Manchester, Kent, Sussex and Hampshire have joined up with VisitBritain’s official website for tourism in England, enjoyengland.com in a one year media partnership deal to promote activities and short breaks in England.
Mansfield 103.2 football deal
Radio station Mansfield 103.2 has signed a unique deal with Mansfield Town Football Club to take-over full control of the club's sales and marketing operations. As reported by RadioToday.co.uk last year, bosses from the two companies have been trying to strike a deal for some time.
BBC Radio 1 heads to Lancashire
The annual Radio 1 Big Weekend will be hosted in the newly created City of Preston this year. Jo Whiley announced the news during her show today, which was broadcast live from the National Football Museum. It will take place on May 19th and 20th at Moor Park which has a capacity of 30,000.
Lea joins Richard on Gaydar
Former Big Brother contestants Lea Walker and Richard Newman are joining forces to host a new Sunday morning show on digital station GaydarRadio. The show, which will start on March 11th, will run from 10am till 1pm will be known as the Dicky and Dolly Show.
Plans submitted for Media City
The BBC move to Salford Quays has taken another step closer today with the land owners Peel Holdings submitting planning applications to Salford council. It is thought work could start on the site, pictured below, within months. About a quarter of the site will be home to the BBC, including national radio staton Five Live.
Kev Seed wind-up goes too far
The Kev Seed breakfast show on Radio City in Liverpool has received a slap on the wrists from Ofcom because of a wind-up phone call. Peggy, a 90 year old woman voiced by Kev called a halal butcher, repeatedly asking if they do pork, whilst telling the owner she wouldn't mind a nice bit of meat.
Chrysalis management buy-out?
The chief executive of Chrysalis PLC is understood to be considering a management buyout of the company's radio division. Richard Huntingford has held discussions about organising a buyout which would involve senior management, including radio boss Phil Riley.
New appointments at TLRC
The Local Radio Company have appointed two new Programme Controllers within its South West region. Tim Lewis joins Bath FM from Hertbeat FM, whilst Brunel FM drive-time jock Craig Rance has been promoted to take over from Tony Dibbin at the end of this month.
Cumbria stations extend news
Local radio in Cumbria dropped regular programming after a fatal rail accident in the county yesterday evening. Local commercial station Lakeland Radio was live into the night with on-the-scene accounts from passengers and news updates, whilst BBC Radio Cumbria broadcast local news reports every 30 minutes rather than networked bulletins from Newcastle..
SMG UTV merger problems
Speculation is mounting that City specialist Hanover Investors are attempting to stop the merger between UTV and SMG. The rumour comes after Hanover increased their shares in SMG from 5.4 per-cent to 12.6 per-cent. Hanover has a history of making changes to companies which are underperforming.
DJ swaps breakfast for boozer
Cliff Brooks, until recently the breakfast presenter and programme controller at East Lancashire's 2BR, is quitting radio to start his own pub company. "Brooksy" says he has plans to open a new wine bar in Burnley as well as refurbish an existing pub.
Kearney to host World at One
Martha Kearney is to take over as presenter of BBC Radio 4's The World At One as permanent replacement for the late Nick Clarke. Kearney is currently the political editor and presenter of BBC Television's Newsnight programme and also a regular host of Woman's Hour on Radio 4.
Heart to cross-promote LBC
Heart 106.2 is set to launch an on-air campaign – for LBC 97.3. Whislt the decision to encourage listeners to try another of their stations is a new approach for Chrysalis , it has been tried before for other stations such as talkSPORT on local Wireless Group stations and the BBC.
BBC to close high street shops
BBC Shops across the country are being axed due to difficulties in making a profit. The flagship store in Norwich is closing, along with Kingston-Upon-Thames, Tunbridge Wells, Belfast and three stores in central London. The shops are all operated by BBC Worldwide and will close on March 31st.
Radio 1 DJ joins Asian Network
Nihal Arthanayake, a regular presenter on BBC Radio 1 is set to join the BBC Asian Network to take-over the mid-morning phone-in each weekday. He will replace Anita Rani, who will move to The Asian Network Report which airs each Monday evening at 6:30pm.
Dene dumps Magic for Smooth
Long-time London jock Graham Dene is leaving Emap station Magic 105.4 and joining GMG Radio's soon to be re-launched Smooth Radio. Graham will host breakfast on the new station. Previously he spent a decade on Capital Breakfast and six years at Virgin.
Ofcom explains recent awards
Ofcom recently awarded six community radio groups a five year licence each. As with all licence awards, Ofcom releases details of why they were successful. The new licences cover Blaenau Gwent, Swansea, Devon, Somerset and Cornwall.
Brendan heads to Burnley
Congratulations to Brendan Kearney who has joined 99.8FM 2BR in East Lancashire as new breakfast host.
DJ gets 40 hours for 40 years
Peter Gordon, breakfast show presenter at 96.4 Eagle Radio in Surrey is currently broadcasting for 40 hours non-stop to help celebrate his 40th birthday. Special guests are joining him during the show, to help raise money for local respite care.
Virgin Classic Rock hijacked
Mercedes-Benz is set to take-over Virgin Radio Classic Rock for 2000 hours, via an online and on-air promotion to highlight the 2000 refinements of the Mercedes-Benz New Generation E-Class.
Peak FM host releases song
UTV Radio station Peak FM is teaming up with Chesterfield group Ovacast to release a single for a helpline that benefits thousands of women each year. Breakfast co-host Becky Measures is featured on the song, which will be available for download from Monday.
Why GMG Radio won Manchester
The 2nd new licence for the city in as many years. No one could have thought both licences would be awarded to 'rock' stations. Firstly GCap's Xfm, and now GMG Radio's RockTalk. 24 hour local news mixed with Classic, Heavy, Soft and Popular Rock from five decades will occupy 106.1FM within two years.
RSL helped Laser win licence
Ofcom has released details of why Laser Broadcasting won the recent licence in Herefordshire and Monmouthshire. The regulator was impressed by Laser's track record of running similar stations in the area, and experience of running an RSL in each of Hereford and Monmouth.
