Archive for August, 2011
End of the road for Traffic Radio
Digital station Traffic Radio has ceased broadcasting online and on DAB multiplexes after its funding from the Highways Agency ended.
The station – which has been run by GTN for the last three years – provided region-specific traffic and travel news, designed for journey planning and live reports.
Radioplayer now available on Facebook
The industry-wide UK Radioplayer has launched a Facebook app to allow listeners to online radio to better share what they’re listening to and chat about the content.
Radioplayer has more than 250 stations onboard and this step is part of plans to add online listening to other platforms including mobiles and web-connected TVs.
Jazz FM leaves regional DAB multiplexes
Regional DAB transmissions from Jazz FM in the West Midlands, North West, London and Glasgow have now ended.
The station had been duplicating coverage in these areas since appearing on Digital One in March this year, and will now be replaced by GMG’s rock station Real XS.
Sonys best small station search starts
The process to recognise the UK’s best small radio station for 2012 has begun, with the Radio Academy announcing details of this year’s Nations and Regions Awards.
They’re open to commercial, community and BBC stations with a broadcast area that has a population of under 300,000.
Sara Cox joins search for Mum of Year
Former Radio 1 breakfast presenter Sara Cox is to be an ambassador for next year’s Tesco Mum of the Year competition.
The 36-year old, currently covering on Radio 2′s celebrity panel show Hot Gossip, is a mum to three young children who are all under 7 years old.
talkSPORT kicks off DAB giveaway
talksSPORT and Roberts are giving away 100 digital radios from today as part of the build-up to the station’s coverage of the Rugby Union World Cup next month.
The promotion from the Sony UK Station of the Year sees one being given away online every 80 minutes until the kick off of the tournament in New Zealand on 9th September.
Community station simulcasts with RSL
East Dorset community radio station Forest FM is linking up with a temporary 10-day station that’s on air to cover a local Steam Fair.
Steam Radio, now in its ninth year, will share the drivetime programme with Forest FM for the rest of this week.
Half-year profits down at UTV Radio
talkSPORT owner UTV Media has seen an increase in both revenue and profits in their latest figures for the whole company, but the GB radio division’s profits are down £900,000 compared with 12 months ago.
Revenue for the six months to 30 June 2011 among talksport and the local radio network remained steady at £25.2m, with an operating profit of £5.8m.
New push to up radio listening at work
A new campaign is starting today to encourage more people to listen to digital radio in the workplace and on their way to work.
It begins as new research show six in ten listeners at work say they control the radio – with only 6 percent having to put up with what their boss chooses to tune in to.
Classic FM counts down movie music
Global Radio’s national station Classic FM has been counting down listeners’ favourite movie themes, with The Lord of the Rings coming out on top.
Composers John Williams and John Barry both have two pieces in the Top 10 too – with Barry’s music receiving additional interest following his death earlier this year.
Stuart Grant joins Heart Surrey and Sussex
Former Vibe FM programmer Stuart Grant is joining Global Radio as Programme Controller for Heart Surrey and Sussex.
Grant has spent the last 14 years at what is now Kiss in the East of England, most recently presenting breakfast until the all programmes became shared with the London Kiss station earlier this year.
BBC North recruitment to end next month
The BBC’s external recruitment drive for opportunities at their new northern base at MediaCityUK is to close in just over two weeks’ time.
As teams from departments including Radio 5 Live and BBC Radio Manchester move into the new facilities, we’re told around three quarters of the total vacancies at the Salford site have been filled.
Audioboo tie-up for GMG Radio brands
Social audio platform Audioboo has announced a partnership with GMG Radio which will enable listeners to provide content for broadcast as well as use online.
The group’s Smooth and Real-branded stations will also use the sharing mechanism to easily put their own content out to audiences through channels such as Facebook and Twitter.
Fergie back on 5 Live and BBC locals
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson will be heard again by listeners of 5 Live and BBC Radio Manchester, after the football boss agreed to lift his ban on talking to the corporation.
Sir Alex has refused to give interviews to BBC journalists since 2004 after allegations were made about his son Jason in a TV documentary.
Praise for community radio despite struggles
Media regulator Ofcom has told Radio Today they continue to be impressed with how many community radio stations are managing their resources despite the tough economic climate.
It follows news this week of another impending station closure in the sector, and reports several more could fold because of funding problems.
Entries wanted for radio interview award
Entrants are being sought for the fourth annual Nick Clarke Award, which celebrates the best broadcast interview of the year.
Journalists and programme makers from across the BBC, commercial radio and independent production are eligible to enter – as are those from community, student and Hospital Radio stations.
Audio: Bob Harris talks to Radio Today
The start of a major new series on Radio 2 tonight marks another big milestone for broadcasting legend Bob Harris. Already in the last 12 months he’s been inducted into the Radio Academy’s Hall of Fame, turned 65 and been awarded the OBE.
Later this year he’ll feature as one of the star turns at the Radio Festival but ahead of that there’s the small matter of a landmark set of programmes to mark the 40th anniversary of music TV show The Old Grey Whistle Test, the first of which airs this evening.
Mike Huston appointed boss of Island FM
Tindle Radio have announced Mike Huston as their new Station Director for Island FM in Guernsey.
He joins the station from Bauer where he was most recently Sales Director at Viking FM, and has previously been at stations including Capital and KMFM.
Post-riots London campaign for Premier
Premier Christian Radio and Premier Gospel have launched a new advertising poster campaign which they say they hope will inject a positive message into riot-torn boroughs across London.
Areas including Croydon, Hackney and Ealing will be targeted with a marketing strategy that includes straplines like ‘Hope and inspiration’ and ‘Re-discover family values’.
Ibiza uncovered… on BBC Radio 4
Radio 4 is to air a special programme on an unlikely topic – the influence of the island of Ibiza on British youth culture.
The documentary, produced by radio indie Made in Manchester, will air this weekend and features an appearance from Radio 1 DJ Pete Tong.
New breakfast show at BBC Radio Suffolk
Former presenter Terry Baxter is returning to BBC Radio Suffolk after a decade to take over as host of the breakfast show from next month.
Current breakfast presenter Mark Murphy moves to mid-mornings, replacing James Hazell who’ll be part of the station’s weekend line-up.
R4 boss and ex-Magic MD join #radfest11
BBC Radio 4 Controller Gwyneth Williams and former Magic 105.4 Managing Director Andria Vidler are the latest names added to the line-up for this year’s Radio Festival at Salford Quays.
Williams only took over the role heading up Radio 4 and what is now 4 Extra last year, while Vidler now works in the music industry as MD of EMI Records.
Tributes after death of Marc Verhoeven
The Global CEO of radio advertising sales and training firm New Revenue Solutions has died after complications during an operation on his shoulder.
50 year old Marc Verhoeven didn’t regain consciousness after the surgery in Australia on Friday.
One Direction take over The Hits Radio
Bauer’s digital station The Hits Radio is being taken over by X Factor boyband One Direction this coming bank holiday weekend.
Each of the five members of the group will present their own hour-long slot on the station and the band will also be interviewed by Hits presenter Chris Younie.
Six community stations found ‘in breach’
Six community radio stations have had breaches recorded against their licences – for going off air, failing to supply recordings of output or not sending an annual report to Ofcom.
Boundary Sound in Newark has received two notices of being ‘In Breach’ – one for closing down in June and indicating that it may return to the air but giving no fixed date, and the other for failing to provide an annual report.
Bauer Radio puts local content on apps
Kiss and Magic owner Bauer is to use new technology to create smartphone apps that’ll mean listeners can be targeted with location-based content.
The move comes through a partnership with tech firm Screenreach and means advertisers will get real-time updates on the effectiveness of campaigns.
LBC and Smooth support riot-hit firm
Several London radio stations are airing free adverts for a Croydon furniture shop which was burnt to the ground in the recent riots.
Global Radio’s LBC 97.3, GMG’s Smooth Radio and Radio Jackie have given House of Reeves a free two week campaign to help the business get back on its feet.
BBC apologises for F-word on Radio 4
The BBC has issued an apology after a guest used an expletive during a newspaper review on Radio 4.
Comedian Mike McShane uttered the F-word just before 10am yesterday morning (Sunday) on the show Broadcasting House, live from the Edinburgh Festival.
Hobbs goes nightly in Xfm shuffle
Xfm is giving former Radio 1 presenter Mary Anne Hobbs the weekday evening show as part of a shuffle of the schedule at the station.
The changes – from 5 September – also see Ian Camfield move to mid-mornings in both London and Manchester and Eoghan McDermott take over a networked drivetime show.
Norfolk community radio station to close
Norfolk’s Wayland Radio is to cease broadcasting at the end of this week – exactly two years to the day since it launched.
Bosses at the community station have told Radio Today the decision was taken because of a lack of money in the bank and the increasing difficulty to get grants because of the public sector cuts.
