On DAB+ Heart Extra and Smooth Extra have been replaced by national versions of the main Heart and Smooth stations. Global have announced that this is to improve access to the stations, a move which appears counter productive, giving the earlier switch to DAB+, a newer version of DAB, which older digital radios are unable…Read moreRead more
Heart
Heart and Smooth Changes
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 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
Ofcom Revices Cumbria/Lancs DAB Plan
Ofcom have revised plans for Cumbria and North Lancashire local DAB, based on feedback from stakeholders. Instead of two multiplexes, three frequency blocks will be used. It will be up to applicants to decided how the frequencies should be used. The move is unusually, as the previous proposals allowed for DAB to mirror the FM…Read moreRead more
Bob FM No More
Communicorp have acquired Bob FM in North Hertfordshire. The station will be rebrand at Heart Hertfordforshire, and will merge with the Watford franchise that Communicorp recently purchased from Adventure Radio along with Connect FM. Upon rebrand, the station will only have 3 hours locally programmes on weekdays, with none at weekends. Note: This station now…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
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
Global Acquires 2BR
In the past few days, it has been announced that Global Radio have acquired Lancashire local radio station 2BR from UKRD. 2BR currently broadcasts in Central and East Lancashire on four FM frequencies, from studios in Hyndburn. The station also broadcasts on Lancashire DAB (64kbps mono), and recently celebrated being on-air for 18 years, having…Read moreRead more