GaydarRadio owner QSoft Consulting is leaving the radio business and handing over its DAB licenses to Manchester community station Gaydio.
As a result of the transfer, GaydarRadio will cease broadcasting from its Twickenham base and all programming for the London and Sussex areas will be controlled by Gaydio from Manchester.
The community station will now operate three broadcast licenses; Manchester FM, London DAB and Sussex Coast DAB. Most programming will be shared, but FM will split at times to continue offering more speech-based programming and specialist music shows. A revised schedule and new on-air sound will launch on Monday morning at 7am.
As part of the agreement between Gaydio and QSoft Consulting, the Gaydar dating brand will continue to be supported by on air editorial programming and advertising support.
GaydarRadio began broadcasting in 2001 as an internet only radio station before winning its DAB licences. The station has won numerous industry awards including Sony Radio Academy and Arqiva awards.
Gaydio began broadcasting with a part time licences in 2006, before winning a full time FM and licences in 2008. Gaydio began broadcasting on air and online on a full time basis in June 2010 and is the UK’s first FM gay radio statio.
Trevor Martin, CEO of QSoft Consulting, said: “Everyone associated with GaydarRadio should be immensely proud of what the station has achieved. The station has devoted an extraordinary amount of time to help social causes within the LGBT community as well as supporting talent within the music industry. The transfer of the DAB licences to Gaydio will ensure that the time and money invested in GaydarRadio will continue to live on and be supported in an appropriate way, with the support of the Gaydio FM licence.
“The challenges of the DAB radio sector have been well documented and were increasingly holding QSoft Consulting back from investing in its core dating business, which continues to expand in the UK and internationally.”
Toby Whitehouse, Station Director and Co-Founder of Gaydio, stated: “This is great news for the UK’s LGBT community as this will create a unified and stronger programming opportunity on the FM, DAB and online broadcasting platforms. Gaydio and GaydarRadio have shared many similarities in terms of the programming mix and our dedication to promoting LGBT causes. We are really excited to be the forging the biggest LGBT media outlet in the UK.”
The transfer of the licences will enable QSoft Consulting to focus on its core business interests which includes the Gaydar.co.uk and GaydarGirls.com dating sites, mobile sites and apps.
GaydarRadio currently reaches 750,000 listeners per month (RAJAR/IPSOS MORI) through its DAB licences , mobile apps and online sites.
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Posted on Thursday, January 3rd, 2013 at 11:30 am by RadioToday Staff