Bauer Reduce Sound Quality on Many Of Their Local DAB Services

Wohnort.com is starting to report several changes to the sound quality (bit rates) of many of Bauer Media’s local services. Many of the Hits Radio and Greatest Hits Radio network stations have dropped from 128 to 112 kbps. A more extreme example is the newly launched Manchester version of Greatest Hits Radio which is now…Read moreRead more

Virgin Radio Adds Two Spin-Offs

The Wireless Group have added two Virgin Radio spin offs to their portfolio. Virgin Radio Anthems is an extension of the Anthems feature on the main station, and plays classic guitar led rock tracks. Virgin Radio Chilled plays acoustic tracks. Both stations are now broadcasting on the SDL national DAB mutliplex, using the DAB+ format…Read moreRead more

Mango Vibe to Rebrand

Digital only station Mango Vibe is to rebrand on the 21st December to Atmosphere.Radio. The station broadcasts on the trial Portsmouth small scale DAB multiplex, as well as a variety of online platforms. The station specialises in classic and modern dance music.

Virgin Radio UK to Join Sky

Virgin Radio UK is to shortly join the Sky satellite television platform, enabling some listeners to listen through their TVs. This will provide an alternative platform for listeners who don’t have DAB reception of the station. The station will be available free to air, and test transmissions have already commenced. Virgin Radio can also be…Read moreRead more

DAB Developments

Following the recent rebranding of Cyber Hot Hits to Cyber Radio (reflecting a more varied playlist), the station labels are being update on the small scale DAB multiplexes that the station broadcasts on. The station has confirmed that the relabeling will take place once the relisting process is complete. On the Bristol (main) multiplex SoulTrain…Read moreRead more

Greatest Hits Radio DAB Coverage Plans

Details have been revealed on the locations that will have Bauer’s new sort of but not really national DAB station Greatest Hits Radio. The following areas will lose an existing service and gain a localised version of Greatest Hits Radio: Birmingham (replacing Free Radio 80s) Coventry (replacing Free Radio 80s) Hereford & Worcester (replacing Free…Read moreRead more

Bauer to Make Yet More Changes

Bauer are changing their second tier of stations, by launching Greatest Hits Radio. The existing ‘Greatest Hits Network’ will lose local names in England, adopting the Greatest Hits Radio brand name. Scottish stations are to retain their local names. The service will take over the 105.2 FM frequency from Absolute Radio, and will also take…Read moreRead more

More DAB Changes following SDL Expansion

Following the expansion of the Sound Digital DAB multiplex, the UKs second commercial national multiplex, a further two stations have left local multiplexes. Fun Kids has left the Suffolk multiplex. Listeners in Suffolk will now need a DAB+ radio, as Fun Kids on Suffolk used the original format of DAB, but the national version uses…Read moreRead more

Changes to Wireless Group Services in Aberdeen

With the Sound Digital national multiplex expansion programme having been recently completed, Talk Radio, Talk Sport 2 and Virgin Radio are leaving the Aberdeen local DAB multiplex. These have been rel-labelled retune 2, retune 3, and retune 1 respectively, and presumably will be carrying on-air announcements to make listeners aware of the required retune. These…Read moreRead more

Absolute Radio to Further Reduce Analogue Coverage

Absolute Radio will cease broadcasting on 105.2 FM in the West Midlands. Ofcom have approved a proposal from Bauer Media to switch the license to broadcasting a ‘greatest hits’ format station, the identity of which is yet to be revealed. This follows a significant cut back in Absolute Radio’s MW (AM) national service. Meanwhile, Free…Read moreRead more