Recently launched digital station Smooth Chill has now joined the D1 National DAB multiplex, extending coverage of the station beyond London. The station is using DAB+ at 32 kbps stereo, meaning relatively poor sound quality, and some older DAB radios will not receive the station. Smooth Chill launched in London in September 2019, partially replacing…Read moreRead more
Global
Smooth Chill Goes National
Connect FM Binned as Station is to Merge with Smooth East Midlands
National station Smooth Radio will take over Connect FMs frequencies, as Ofcom has given permission for Communicorp to merge the station with the East Midlands version of Smooth Radio. Although bordering the Smooth Radio coverage area, Connect FM broadcasts via two licenses to Peterborough, Kettering, Corby, and Wellingborough in the East region. An Ofcom consultation…Read moreRead more
Quidem Becomes Franchisee
Quidem has agreed a franchise agreement with Global Radio, which will see the loss of the Touch FM, Rugby FM and Banbury Sound brands across the Midlands. It is yet to be confirmed which of Global’s brands will be used, although it seems likely that the Capital brand will be used on at least some…Read moreRead more
Global Monopoly Expands Again
The dominant monopoly that is Global Radio has expanded its presence on DAB. National duplicates of Capital, Heart and Smooth have been added to the Lincolnshire DAB multiplex and the Hereford and Worcester DAB multiplex. These services are already available on the D1 national multiplex. Capital UK has a national 80 kbps mono slot, as…Read moreRead more
Gold to Return to AM In Peterborough and Northampton
Gold will take over the 1332AM Peterborough and 1557AM Northampton frequencies from Smooth Radio. The change will take place when Connect FM is merged into Smooth Radio’s FM network. Connect FM was acquired by Communicorp earlier this year, who decided to merge the station into their Smooth East Midlands franchise. As yet, a date for…Read moreRead more
Gold to Launch on D1 National
Global Radio’s Gold is to launch on the D1 National DAB multiplex on Monday (10th June). The service is expected to use DAB+, and occupy some of the space vacated when Heart Extra and Smooth Extra switched to DAB+ earlier this week. Despite some reports suggesting that the service has already gone live, Gold is…Read moreRead more
Heart Extra and Smooth Extra Switch to DAB+
Global Radio has switched Heart Extra and Smooth Extra to DAB+. Both services operate on the D1 National multiplex. Whilst both stations are now in stereo, a number of listeners will loose access, as many older DAB radios are not compatible with the newer DAB+ format. Heart Extra is using a bit rate of 32…Read moreRead more
Capital Cymru Goes 100% Local
Capital Cymru has opted to drop networked programmes, and instead provide a 100% local service. Dafydd Griffith joins the staion to present a new 10am to 2pm show, alongside existing breakfast and afternoon shows presented by Alistair James and Kev Bach respectively. The Big Top 40 will still run, but all other networked shows have…Read moreRead more
2BR Ends Ahead of Extension of Capital Manchester
2BR has now ceased broadcasts, ahead of the extension of Capital Manchester to form Capital North West. All programming will now be from Manchester. Despite the programming sharing, Capital North West will be know as Capital Manchester and Capital Lancashire on air. This is despite the Lancashire part having no local programmes, and the Manchester…Read moreRead more
Bauer Ditch Big Top 40
Bauer have opted to cease broadcasting the syndicated Big Top 40 Chart show when the contract expires in December. A ‘This Weeks Biggest Hits’ show will be networked from Hits Radio instead. This will likely fuel rumours that Bauer will ditch local station names. Global Radio, who produce the Big Top 40, have now chosen…Read moreRead more