Archive for October, 2008

Wheatly steps down from TLRC

Richard Wheatly is stepping down as executive chairman of The Local Radio Company to take up the same position at Jazz FM.

He will now become a non-executive director of TLRC, whilst finance director Alistair Mackenzie will assume responsibility for the day to day management as chief operating officer.

Wish FM stays put in Wigan

UTV Radio has abandoned plans to create a super-broadcasting centre in Newton-le-Willows to house Wish, Wire and Tower FM.

Instead, a plan to modernised Wish FM's home in Orrell Lodge, Wigan will be put in to operation and will see Wire FM will move from Warrington and Tower FM from Bolton.

Key's £10k two-day giveaway

Key 103 in Manchester has given away a single prize of £10,000 just two days after a major station competition started.

Douglas quits, Ross suspended

BBC Radio 2 controller Lesley Douglas has resigned from her position over the broadcast of the answerphone messages left for actor Andrew Sachs by presenters Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross

Brand has already resigned from his radio show, while Jonathan Ross is to be suspended without pay for 12 weeks.

Essex FM's publicity stunt

Management at Essex FM have found themselves in trouble after a recent unauthorised publicity stunt involving Martin and Su's Breakfast Show.

Essex FM's owner Global Radio has issued a statement to RadioToday.co.uk after we contacted them to find out why the breakfast duo were suspended last week.

The Coast 106 launches

The Solent area's newest radio station The Coast 106 launched this morning, taking over the frequencies previously used by Original 106.

Programming execs depart UTV

UTV Radio's group programme director John Dash is leaving the company as part of a restructuring within the group, RadioToday.co.uk can reveal.

Radio Today also understands that deputy group programme director Simon Walkington has also been 'let go' but UTV were unable to comment at this stage.

Five Laser stations sold

Five of Laser Broadcasting's nine stations have been sold after the company was recently put into administration.

Bath FM, Brunel FM, 3TR and two QuayWest stations have been snapped up by property developer John Roberts, owner of South West Radio Ltd.

Take That in Century and Smooth

Manchester band Take That took time out on Wednesday to visit the studios of Century Radio and Smooth Radio in Salford Quays.

BBC suspend Brand and Ross

The Director General of the BBC has announced that the corporation has suspended all programmes presented by Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross in the wake of the "prank phone call" row.

[b]UPDATE[/b]: Russell Brand has now resigned from his position – Jonathan Ross remains suspended.

UTV Radio to sell Talk 107

Edinburgh's speech station Talk 107 is officially for sale. Owner UTV has announced plans to concentrate on talkSPORT and local music stations in the north west of England and south Wales.

KCR locked out from premises

Merseyside's 106.7 KCR FM has been evicted from its Huyton premises, it has been revealed.

Bailiffs have changed the locks on the beleaguered station's studio building, in Paramount Business Park on Wilson Road [i](pictured)[/i], after the company "persistently breached its lease".

PHOTOS: NAB Europe Highlights

For three days, radio management, programmers, consultants and suppliers from all over the world meet somewhere in Europe and work out how to best improve on the radio industry.

This year it was London's turn, so we decided to pop along and blog on the whole event and take some pictures for you.

Essex suspends breakfast duo

The managing director of Essex FM has broadcast an announcement stating that breakfast presenters Martin Day and Su Harrison have been suspended due to an incident on Friday's programme.

Comments apparently involving Boy Scouts were made which led to the suspension of the pair.

KCR 106.7 hit with yellow card

Troubled Merseyside station KCR 106.7 has been slapped with a Yellow Card by Ofcom after playing a continuous loop of music and jingles for several days.

AUDIO: Brand and Ross clip

The obscene voicemail message Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross left for Andrew Sachs has been making headlines around the UK, including on the BBC's own television news.

Global appoints commerical boss

Global Radio has appointed former News Group Newspapers deputy managing director Mike Gordon as its new commercial director.

ENCO to include Google Ads

All future versions of the playout system ENCO DAD will include support for Google's Adsense for Audio, starting with version 5.3a.

More rule breaching at GCap

GCap Media station BRMB has been warned by regulator Ofcom for breaking two more licence rules during a recent breakfast show.

In the show, one of the regular presenters blind-tested products from the supermarket chain Aldi, comparing them against branded groceries and constantly plugging the store.

FRS bags Planet Rock contract

Planet Rock has appointed First Radio Sales to handle all advertising deals for the independent digital-only station.

More advertising for City Talk

A second generation of City Talk 105.9’s advertising campaign will go live across Merseyside on Monday, again featuring quotes from presenters.

Central Radio's Robbie reveal

106.5 Central Radio's recent interview with Syd Little reveals how Robbie Williams dreams about the little and large comedian.

John Myers to step down

GMG Radio chief executive John Myers is to take semi-retirement next year, leaving current deputy chief executive Stuart Taylor to take over the running of the 13-station group.

"It has been a great privilege and pleasure to lead GMG’s radio business for the last decade, which has been one of excitement, expansion – and tremendous fun," John said this morning.