A compilation of British news jingles produced by myself with the assistance of a friend:
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The BBC is to launch new temporary local output in Wolverhampton and Sunderland as the country continues to deal with the COVID crisis.
BBC Radio Wolverhampton and BBC Radio Sunderland will provide more localised news and information to people living in the two cities. It follows the launch of BBC Radio Bradford, which began broadcasting last month.
The new temporary output in Wolverhampton and Sunderland will be live on DAB radio and online, weekdays from 6am-2pm and offer local content for both communities.
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What will the local content be about?
“Our new temporary local output in Wolverhampton and Sunderland means listeners will get more localised news and information from the BBC. They will get a better sense of what is happening in their area and will feel more in touch with their community even as they stay at home.”
As well as news, both will provide sport coverage, reflect life in each city, and celebrate the good news happening in communities.
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Bauer radio have announced plans to replace Absolute Radio on FM in London with Greatest Hits Radio. Absolute Radio will continue on AM and DAB across the UK.
It’s disappointing but probably not a big surprise with GHR being on FM in other large cities in the UK and Absolute only on FM in London.
Also while the DAB ratings for Absolute are pretty good the FM ratings in London are not amongst the top stations. It’s probably a little too niche these days. Also Virgin radio on DAB has a pretty decent following and probably taking a few listeners too.
But at least it’s continuing on DAB.
GHR is pretty bland too so I wonder how it will go. I’m a bit surprised they would put it up against sister station Magic in London as I would think that GHR might pull more listeners away from Magic than Absolute did.
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Fascinating move here. Radio X on 104.9 might see a slight boost in the next RAJAR as a result.
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Yeah forgot about Radio X. I think they will see a boost.
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I started reading the consultation paper - but its amazingly long
Interesting to note that Bauer claim that their listenership in London is doing it via digital means over analogue
You don’t have to read many of the UK industry sites and forums to know that Ofcom is viewed as being quite anachronistic, but there are plenty of valid points raised here - especially regarding Radio X’s format compared with Absolute’s.
Since the respective Formats require Absolute Radio to provide some programming that Radio X is not required to provide, we consider there would be some reduction in the range of programmes in this area, particularly in relation to classic rock-orientated album tracks. So the issue is whether this is offset by a broadening of the range of programmes provided under the proposed revised Format, taking into account relevant services offering similar programmes.
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It’s not like the format (or the station for that matter) is disappearing, it’s just dropping off one form of broadcast
Makes me wonder whether Ofcom have ever had such a request before
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All the time. Bauer has made heaps of similar requests recently to change formats of their stations across the UK (mainly to either The Hits Radio or Greatest Hits Radio).
If you read the comments on radio sites in the UK the consensus is that they are rarely questioned and always approved. “What Bauer wants they get” and Ofcom is basically just going through the motions, but approves nearly every request.
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As somebody who lost their local station to Bauer, I agree. In terms of local radio, I have a “choice” between the local BBC station and it’s mix on oldies, or Greatest Hits Radio and it’s mix of oldies. The station which GHR replaced used to have a mix of local news and information, entertaining local hosts and a variety of music from the 70s to today. Now, it’s crappy presenters, a bland playlist of music from before I was born, and “local content” that’s produced outside the transmission area in a city that’s 90 minutes away.
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Ofcom have since approved the format change for 105.8FM London
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GHR is a bit dull but does at least still play a lot of 70s, which is becoming a rarity on FM these days.
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Virgin Radio has secured another commercial deal that allows a show to go ad-free - with Waitrose and Graham Norton’s weekend shows.
I’m surprised no one has tried this here
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It sounds like it will be an infomercial.
It will be interesting to see how it works - they have a similar arrangement for Chris Evans’ breakfast show with Sky that appears to deliver some decent content (interviews, regular contributors, competitions), they certainly dont leave you guessing that Sky sponsor the show too
Interestingly going ad free doesnt really result in more music, rather Chris tends to have longer interviews/features instead.
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Presenters at a local West Yorkshire radio station in England have walked away after being told there isn’t sufficient income to sustain the service.
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I noticed that yesterday, BBC R1 was playing lite classical music, and instrumentals of current pop songs. All of their specialist dance music shows were cancelled.
Capital fm cancelled their Friday night version of the Capital Weekender which is 10 hours of dance mixes. This was replaced with soft pop tunes and no dance music.
Capital fm is now back to normal programming again with their Saturday night Capital Weekender. BBC R1 is also back to normal with their specialist Saturday night dance music shows too.
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