LATEST RADIO NEWS

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'Urgent need' for a Welsh IRN - Mon, 18, Aug, 2008

Ofcom’s advisory committee in Wales has called on the regulator to “urgently” look into finding someone to set up a Welsh alternative to news provider IRN. ...read on

L107 ceases broadcasting - Mon, 18, Aug, 2008

Lanarkshire's local radio station, L107, has become the fifth commercial radio station to cease broadcasting in the past two years. The station, which launched as Clan FM in 1999, closed down on Monday morning. It follows other closures from Star Radio in Stroud, Fen Radio in Cambridgeshire and River FM in West Lothian. Austalian investment bank Macquarie also handed back its licence to Ofcom for Plymouth station Diamond FM before it launched. ...read on

BBC “deception” cost licence payers £1m - Fri, 08, Aug, 2008

The BBC has been forced to part with almost £1.0m since it owned up to what has been described as a series of “repeated instances of pre-meditated, deliberate deception” by regulator Ofcom. A record £400,000 fine will be added to the £500,000 already spent on the emergency re-training scheme for programmers “Safeguarding Trust”. ...read on

Van Outen goes - Fri, 08, Aug, 2008

Six months into her 12 month contract, Denise Van Outen has left the Capital Radio breakfast show and co-host Johnny Vaughan. ...read on

New stations hit GMG radio profits - Fri, 08, Aug, 2008

As profits fell from £3.5m to just £100,000 last year GMG Radio have said that the launch of Smooth Radio in the north-east and Rock Radio Manchester has hit profits. GMG Radio posted an increase in turnover of 37 percent and has pledged to “take advantage of any opportunities that arise” from consolidation of the commercial radio industry. ...read on

BBC fined £400,000 for code breaches - Wed, 30, Jul, 2008

Ofcom has fined the BBC £400,000 for a series of broadcasting code breaches - including £225,000 for radio programmes which faked winners to competitions or misled audiences.

The radio shows fined were the Liz Kershaw Show, Russell Brand Show and Clare McDonnell Show on 6Music and Jo Whiley on Radio 1. ...read on

James Whale for LBC - Wed, 30, Jul, 2008

James Whale, the veteran radio presenter who was sacked from TalkSport in the run-up to the London mayoral election, has been signed by London radio station LBC.

Whale joins the news and talk station on 17 August, where he will present a week of programmes on a trial basis, standing in for late-night host Clive Bull.

The LBC programme director, Jonathan Richards, said: "James Whale is a class act who appreciates the art of great conversation and revels in a commercial radio environment." ...read on

Canwest sells Original - Fri, 25, Jul, 2008

Canwest, the Canadian owner of three Original radio stations in the UK has sold their Aberdeen station for an undisclosed sum. The radio operator had already announced its intention to withdraw from the UK market. Station directors Jonathan Arendt and Richard Johnson have bought the station in a management buyout. ...read on

BBC locals face off-air threat - Fri, 25, Jul, 2008

Four BBC local radio stations are running the risk of “falling off air” said the controller of nations and regions Andy Griffee. Radios Gloucestershire, Northamptonshire, Three Counties and York are in need of urgent refurbishment it was revealed. ...read on

GCap axe falls - Fri, 25, Jul, 2008

London stations Capital, XFM and Choice are seeing big job cuts. Among the causalities is Choice FM managing director Ivor Etienne. At Capital and XFM producers, marketing and PR bosses and administrators have been made redundant. ...read on

“Mistaken” threat over more BBC localness - Fri, 25, Jul, 2008

The BBC’s director of nations and regions Pat Loughrey has said that commercial radio is mistaken to think that plans for online local video will be a threat. Calling the RadioCentre’s claims “dramatic” he added: “A BBC video news broadband offering is unlikely to affect listening to the largely music-based services offered by commercial local radio.” But Andrew Harrison of the RadioCentre said it would have a “devastating market impact.” ...read on

Jason’s breach over Boris - Sat, 12, Jul, 2008

Jason Donovan’s networked Sunday evening show on GCap’s One Network has been rapped for appearing to endorse Boris Johnson in the recent London mayoral race. Regulator Ofcom which last month fined the One Network £1.1 million cited the incident as a “clear breach”. Presenters on BBC 6Music and TalkSPORT were also pulled up for lack of impartiality. ...read on

BBC concerned over “no breakthrough” DAB - Sat, 12, Jul, 2008

The BBC Trust has expressed concern that their digital-only radio services have yet to breakthrough with awareness of their stations remaining low. The corporation also spoke of growing concern about the future of DAB within the commercial sector. ...read on

Clash over DAB migration aims - Sat, 12, Jul, 2008

Radio 2 controller Lesley Douglas has clashed with RadioCentre boss Andrew Harrison over the timetable to switch off the Radio 1 & 2 signal. Douglas rejected Harrison’s suggestion that R1 & R2 should become digital only ahead of competing commercial radio operators. She said such a move could cripple the industry. ...read on

FESTIVAL SHORTS: Media Q & A - Wed, 02, Jul, 2008

Radiocentre chief executive Andrew Harrison has said commercial radio's troubles are due to there being too many stations in the UK. "There's too many radio stations out there chasing too little revenue," he told the Radio Festival. ...read on

FESTIVAL SHORTS: Evan Davis in conversation - Wed, 02, Jul, 2008

The newest addition to Radio 4's Today programme, Evan Davis, has said he is looking to stay beyond his initial one-year term. "I think it will be difficult to go back to the previous job," he said. "There's no going back." ...read on

FESTIVAL SHORTS: Diversity - Wed, 02, Jul, 2008

In one of the Radio Festival’s first sessions on employment diversity it was suggested that both the BBC and commercial radio could improve. While the BBC may have taken the lead in implementing policy on of the panel, Lorna Clarke said the fewer but better initiatives would lead to a more authentic approach. ...read on

FESTIVAL SHORTS: Future of Music Radio - Tue, 01, Jul, 2008

Music radio will remain strong believes George Ergatoudis - Head of Music for Radio 1. Time has replaced money as the contraint for young people to access new music. Radio is "the ultimate music filter" so the listener doesn't have to devote lots of time discovering new tracks. That can be done by DJs and production teams. ...read on

FESTIVAL SHORTS: DAB - Tue, 01, Jul, 2008

The Digital Radio Working Group is looking into the possibility of tax breaks for DAB sales. Board member Laurence Harrison said suspending VAT on receiver sales would give take-up the boost it needed. ...read on

FESTIVAL SHORTS: Migration - Tue, 01, Jul, 2008

GMG Radio's Scottish programme director, Jay Crawford, has argued that the BBC should switch to digital before the commercial sector. "We would be able to pick up some listeners and get a return on the millions of pounds we've invested so far," he said. ...read on

FESTIVAL SHORTS: PRS - killing radio? - Tue, 01, Jul, 2008

The music copyright agencies have been accused of killing radio by pursuing individual listeners who do not have a licence to broadcast radio in their offices or shops. The Radio Magazine understands that the RadioCentre has received a number of complaints from stations, whose listener numbers have suffered as a result. ...read on

THE RADIO MAGAZINE AT THE RADIO FESTIVAL - Tue, 01, Jul, 2008

Glasgow 1st & 2nd July. Watch out for headlines and festival highlights over the next 24 hours ahead of next week's edition of the magazine which will carry a full round-up. ...read on

FESTIVAL SHORTS: Profitable Podcasting - Tue, 01, Jul, 2008

Guardian digital content director Emily Bell has said the newspaper's podcasts will make money "in two to three months". The Guardian is moving to new premises later this year which will include "a massive suite of studios", she said. ...read on

Ofcom fines GCap £1.1m - Thu, 26, Jun, 2008

GCap Media has been fined £1.1m by Ofcom over misconduct in its Secret Sound competition - the highest fine ever levied on a radio broadcaster.

Ofcom's investigation found that the network of 30 stations deliberately put to air text entrants with incorrect answers in order to prevent the prize from being won too soon. ...read on

11 years of life left for analogue - Mon, 23, Jun, 2008

The Government department the DCMS has released the Digital Radio Working Group’s interim report which recommends that the signals on AM and FM broadcast transmitters should be switched off by 2020 and in some parts of the country – sooner.

It what it describes as a mixed ecology all national, regional and larger local radio stations – BBC and commercial, would cease analogue broadcasts and be DAB only from between 2012 and 2015.

FULL REPORT IN THIS WEEK'S MAGAZINE ...read on

One networks, and presenters fall - Thu, 19, Jun, 2008

GCap Media has parted company with long-serving late night presenter Graham Torrington and has also said farewell to recent signing Ryan Seacrest as the broadcaster unveiled a new line-up. Many local stations which comprise the One Network will have only two main local daytime shows as the slot between 10am and 1pm is to come from London with Capital Radio host Philippa Collins. Several dozen presenters are expected to be out of a job. At GCap’s Brighton FM station Southern FM; breakfast show host Nick Keig-Shevlin has announced her decision to quit after 21 years at the station. ...read on

AOL follows GCap to offer missing radio feature - Thu, 19, Jun, 2008

Web giant AOL has followed GCap’s lead by unveiling an application that allows iPhone users to listen to the radio. While Apple revealed its second-generation iPhone, it has not bowed to consumer pressure to incorporate an FM or DAB radio into the product. The new device will allow users to stream live radio. ...read on

R1 & R2 sell off: a disaster for commercial radio - Thu, 19, Jun, 2008

The privatisation of Radio 1 and Radio 2 would be disastrous for commercial radio a report published by Enders has concluded. “Far from alleviating the current problems of the existing commercial radio players [it] would provide them with a different, potentially more lethal set of problems” the report said. ...read on

DAB boss calls it a day - Fri, 13, Jun, 2008

Digital One’s chief executive Quentin Howard is to step down in just two weeks time leaving operations director Glyn Jones to run the show until a replacement is found. Speaking recently at the Radio 3.0 conference he acknowledged that in its present form DAB was “bloody and bruised” and “needed fixing”. He is the latest of the old regime from GWR to go, following GCap chief executive Ralph Bernard, and Steve Orchard and Dirk Anthony. Digital One’s biggest shareholder is GCap (63%). GCap’s new chief executive Ashley Tabor is tipped to fix the national multiplex as one of his top priorities. ...read on

“Weak” Welsh radio hindered by Ofcom - Fri, 13, Jun, 2008

Radio in Wales could be improved if the regulator and its one size fits all policies took a back seat, says a new report funded by the Welsh Assembly. The research document encourages a fuller review into radio licensing and how small commercial radio stations and community radio stations will sit side by side in ten years time. ...read on

Imagine: a station for sale - Fri, 13, Jun, 2008

UTV Radio has said it will hand back the licence for Imagine FM in Stockport if it cannot find a buyer over the next two weeks. The station has a TSA of over 460,000 – larger than some county-wide heritage ILRs but has lost an average of £115,000 every year since 1990. Last month Ofcom rejected UTV Radio’s request to move the station into shared premises in Warrington 23 miles away. ...read on

BBC Trust urged to investigate stars’ salaries - Fri, 06, Jun, 2008

The BBC Trust has been urged to carry out a fuller investigation into the amount it pays some of its best known broadcasters. A report by Oliver & Ohlbaum questioned why the corporation paid such high rates while commercial broadcasters did not. Sir Michael Lyons the Trust chairman said: “I do understand that many people will continue to question the salaries paid to some BBC performers…when wages elsewhere (including in other parts of the BBC) are under pressure”. ...read on

AM rocker loses virginity in £53m deal - Fri, 06, Jun, 2008

After more than a year of uncertainty at Golden Square, Virgin Radio has finally been sold but without its name. Times of India together with Absolute Radio have bought the national radio station from SMG for £53.2 million. In three months time the station will have to change its name and a £15m re-branding budget will be put in place. Virgin Radio’s executive chairman Richard Huntingford, will step down on completion of the deal which is expected to receive shareholder approval during June. ...read on

Planet Rock sold - Fri, 06, Jun, 2008

GCap media has agreed a deal to sell Planet Rock but one time front runner – guitarist Brian May is out of the equation. Writing on his website he said that GCap had just wasted his time. The rival bidder, entrepreneur millionaire and rock fan Malcolm Bluemel has acquired the DAB radio station along with support from Tony Iommi, Ian Anderson, Gary Moore and Fish. ...read on

XFM sold - Fri, 30, May, 2008

GCap has sold XFM South Wales to Town and Country Broadcasting. The station will be renamed Nation Radio and will move from Cardiff to

Neath. ...read on

MP Galloway accused of email breach - Thu, 22, May, 2008

TalkSPORT has confirmed it has launched an investigation into claims that presenter George Galloway used listeners’ email addresses to promote Respect – his political party. The practice, if proven falls outside Ofcom’s broadcasting code remit. ...read on

TLRC put co-location on hold - Thu, 22, May, 2008

The Local Radio Company have said that although it has been granted permission from Ofcom to co-locate four pairs of stations (Arrow – Hastings, Mix 96 Aylesbury, 3TR – Warminster and Vale – Shaftesbury with Sovereign Radio, Mix 107, Spire FM, and Wessex FM) it has “no specific plans” to go ahead with such moves yet. “We believe passionately in local broadcasting” said chief executive Richard Wheatly. ...read on

Hazlitt & Eyre to step down - Thu, 22, May, 2008

GCap chief executive Fru Hazlitt, chairman Richard Eyre and five non-executive directors are to leave the company in the coming days. The acquisition of GCap Media by Global Radio is expected to be formalised on June 6th at which time the directors will leave the company. GCap will be run by Ashley Tabor and Charles Allen of Global, who to comply with requirements from the Office of Fair Trading will temporarily step down from their jobs at Global. These will be filled by Richard Park and Don Thompson. ...read on

GCap to sell Sky Digital slots - Thu, 15, May, 2008

GCap Media is looking to sell two of its slots to bidders as the group continues its withdrawal from digital broadcasting. The slot used by theJazz and the slot understood to be Fun Radio’s are up for sale. ...read on

Sony Awards 2008 - Thu, 15, May, 2008

Wins for both the BBC’s Network stations and its presenters and for commercial radio including Radio City, Forth One, Radio Aire, Magic and Key 103 which picked up two gongs. The Chris Moyles Show won breakfast show of the year and Brian Matthew, pictured, won the Sony Gold Award. ...read on

Unique to sell off commercial division - Thu, 15, May, 2008

UBC Media, provider of traffic and entertainment news to over 250 radio stations looks set to change hands as the operator commences its withdrawal from this market. Global Traffic Network the Aussie owned company is expected to pay around £15 million for the division. Unique will carry out a review of its operations as is expected to de-list itself from the Stock Exchange. ...read on

RAJAR results - Thu, 08, May, 2008

Full listing of headline data, station-by-station and year-on-year in this week’s issue of our print on paper magazine.

366,000 more people listen to UK radio than a year ago

Record gains for Radio 1

Gap between commercial radio and BBC widest ever

Kiss 100 in London gets more listeners than Capital Radio

Classic FM and Radio 3 suffer ...read on

DAB: offering choice is the driver - Thu, 08, May, 2008

In a speech at Radio Reborn, Ofcom radio boss Peter Davies announced that the regulator’s role was “not to save DAB” but suggested that choice was the most important driver to the success of the platform. Over the last year commercial radio has closed DAB services and steadily withdrawn from the platform. Commercial radio’s decision to scale back on its investment has been branded as “shortsighted” by soon to retire BBC boss J