Ipswich 102 will take over the 102 FM frequency from Town 102 on Friday, bringing back locally produced radio to Ipswich. The station will be locally produced 24 hours a day, 7 days week. Presenter led programming will air from 5am to 11pm each weekday. Ipswich 102 is already broadcasting on DAB on the Suffolk…Read moreRead more
Ipswich 102 to Launch on FM on Friday
Total Star Reappears
DAB station Total Star has returned to the Gloucestershire local DAB multiplex, after a brief absence. There have been no details released by the station, and it’s not clear why there was a brief suspension in transmissions.
Connect FM Returns to DAB, but Total Star’s Future is Unclear
Connect FM is returning to the Northamptonshire and Peterborough local DAB multiplexes. The stations had previously left DAB due to a large increase in costs. At the time it was believed that this could provoke an Ofcom investigation, as the commitment to DAB was part of the license renewal agreement. Meanwhile, it has been reported…Read moreRead more
UKRD Launches Pirate 80s
UKRD have launched a new 80s radio station called Pirate 80s. This follows the launch of Eagle 80s, and will share the same syndicate programmes. Pirate 80s carries news and information bulletins specific to Cornwall. Pirate 80s is available on DAB across Cornwall and parts of Devon, replacing Pirate 70s which moves online only.
DAB Changes
Some DAB updates to bring you: On the Leicestershire multiplex, LRB Digital has ceased. On the Trial Manchester small scale multiplex, XS Manchester has joined, broadcasting using DAB+ at 48kbps. Penky Wind-Ups has left this multiplex, but continues online. The Beat, a digital spin off from MKFM appears to be ceasing. The service has been…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
Encore Radio Reduces Coverage
Encore Radio, the national station dedicated to fans of musicals, is reducing its DAB coverage to focus on online streams. Herts, Beds, Bucks, Essex and Kent are losing coverage, leaving the station only on the South London & Surrey multiplex. The station had already briefly joined and left the North Yorkshire DAB multiplex. The move…Read moreRead more
Heart Extra Plays Song with Offensive Language
An explicit version of Kendrick Lamar’s song all the stars, found its way into Heart Extra’s automated playlist. The song was played 7 times during automated hours between 9am and 4pm. The offending track has since been removed from the system, but only after a complaint from a listener. Ofcom have also found Heart Extra…Read moreRead more
Virgin Radio Schedule Changes
Chris Evans is leaving BBC Radio later this year to take over hosting Virgin Radio’s breakfast show. The current hosts, Sam and Amy, are staying at the station but are moving to present a new overnight show. This means, that for the first time, Virgin Radio (in its current form) will broadcast for 24 hours…Read moreRead more