Absolute Radio to switch off all AM transmitters across the UK

Absolute Radio to switch off all AM transmitters across the UK - Printable Version

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Absolute Radio to switch off all AM transmitters across the UK - Dadeki - 10-01-2023

Quote:Bauer is removing Absolute Radio from Medium wave this month as it turns off all AM frequencies for the station across the country.

Absolute Radio launched exclusively on AM (as Virgin Radio) 30 years ago in 1993 using predominantly 1215 kHz along with fill-in relays on 1197, 1233, 1242 and 1260. Some of these have been turned off in recent years in places such as Devon, Merseyside and Tayside.

Whilst this is a historic milestone for the radio industry, it shouldn’t affect many listeners as just two percent of all radio listening currently takes place on AM.

Absolute Radio also lost its FM frequency in London in 2021 in favour of the ever-expanding Greatest Hits Radio network.

The move makes Absolute Radio a digital-only service, broadcasting nationally on DAB and online.

1215 kHz – or 247 meters, was previously used by BBC Radio 1 when it launched, and later, BBC Radio 3. Prior to 1967 it was used by the BBC Light Programme.

In addition, Bauer has also announced licenses carrying Greatest Hits Radio in Staffordshire and Cheshire, Bradford & Huddersfield and Teesside will also be turned off.

GHR is available on FM in West Yorkshire and will soon be available on FM in Staffordshire and Cheshire.

Radio Today

RE: Absolute Radio to switch off all of its AM transmitters across the UK - London Lite - 11-01-2023

It appears to be a perfectly sensible decision, 2% of Absolute Radio's audience listen on AM and with the cost of electricity to power the national AM network increasing, it's clearly no longer a viable option when Bauer pay Arqiva for national coverage on the Digital 1 DAB multiplex.

RE: Absolute Radio to switch off all of its AM transmitters across the UK - Stooky Bill - 11-01-2023

It's a bit sad for Absolute going from being a big notable national analogue broadcaster, to just another brand in Bauers portfolio of brands.

But that's how broadcasting has gone. Virgin 1215 was a big deal when it launched. Now there's loads of national commercial radio services that didn't have to go through the same hurdles they did back in the early 90s

RE: Absolute Radio to switch off all AM transmitters across the UK - Omnipresent - 14-01-2023

Yes, it's certainly the end of an era.

I remember the launch of Virgin 1215 in 1993. The station did receive a good critical reception. They did claim to have invested in improving the signal and shortly added a number of relays. In advance Radio 1 started running slightly patronising trailers pointing out they broadcast in FM Stereo.

Radio 1 had to give up its own AM frequencies on 1053/1089 shortly afterwards, which didn't help its already tumbling audience figures following the Bannister revolution, to make way for the original Talk Radio UK.

Atlantic 252 also became popular at that time, but did suffer from a lot of interference at night.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsRBodJu1hQ

RE: Absolute Radio to switch off all AM transmitters across the UK - Stooky Bill - 14-01-2023

If you're not near a MW radio and are curious how they're telling their listeners, here's what Absolute's ad breaks on MW sound like at the moment:

https://youtu.be/8o1QJmfR7Zs

I hope they give it a good send off. Someone on DS mentioned that they replaced the above with a special message for a listener in Germany so they're obviously able to do something different on MW to other platforms.

The songs I always associate with 1215 are two that they used on the test loop: Walking on Broken Glass by the Eurythmics and See Emily Play by Pink Floyd

1215AM (Absolute, ex Virgin) closes tonight - Steve in Pudsey - 19-01-2023

I don't know if anybody has the means to capture AM broadcasts but it sounds like they're not just going to quietly fall off air tonight

https://twitter.com/northern_munkeh/status/1616134007220994048

RE: 1215AM (Absolute, ex Virgin) closes tonight - James2001 - 19-01-2023

Seems quite sad really, I do have a fondess for AM radio, Longwave, MW and SW, and it does seem quite sad to see it all rapidly vanishing. Though fully understandable considering the costs of transmitting and the falling numbers of people using them, you can't keep paying millions for nostalgia alone.

RE: Absolute Radio to switch off all AM transmitters across the UK - i.h - 19-01-2023

listening through one of the websdrs right now (absolute turned off the TXes where I am a few years ago). very echoey (presumably it's picking up several transmitters and they're not all perfectly in sync), and of course its fading in and out.

as much as people malign DAB audio quality, it's much further ahead than this is.

RE: Absolute Radio to switch off all AM transmitters across the UK - London Lite - 19-01-2023

(19-01-2023, 11:51 PM)i.h Wrote: listening through one of the websdrs right now (absolute turned off the TXes where I am a few years ago). very echoey (presumably it's picking up several transmitters and they're not all perfectly in sync), and of course its fading in and out.

as much as people malign DAB audio quality, it's much further ahead than this is.

Try the Grimsby SDR instead which has Absolute from Boston, Lincs on 1242.

http://grimsbysdr.ddns.net:8073/

RE: Absolute Radio to switch off all AM transmitters across the UK - i.h - 20-01-2023

(19-01-2023, 11:55 PM)London Lite Wrote:
(19-01-2023, 11:51 PM)i.h Wrote: listening through one of the websdrs right now (absolute turned off the TXes where I am a few years ago). very echoey (presumably it's picking up several transmitters and they're not all perfectly in sync), and of course its fading in and out.

as much as people malign DAB audio quality, it's much further ahead than this is.

Try the Grimsby SDR instead which has Absolute from Boston, Lincs on 1242.

http://grimsbysdr.ddns.net:8073/

didn't see this in time lol. still using the other SDR - seem to be hearing foreign stations in the silent gaps in the retune audio loop. not sure if that's an artistic flair or interference