[DeMarkay]

That’s because we maintain standards at Global. We don’t let things slip into public knowledge until we are ready.

[Brekkie]

Still a fault of regulation though - arguably if the commercial sector hadn't been able to significantly reduce local output then the BBC wouldn't have followed either. Both benefit from the other being stronger, and I do wish rather than going for 43 hours to 15 that the commercial broadcasters had been forced to maintain another 3 hour daily show to offer a minimum of 30 hours a week, but with the ability to vacate the breakfast slot to allow the flagship London shows a nationwide airing.


I do think the biggest problem BBC Local Radio has is it is always going to struggle to bring in that younger audience that's never listened to it. At 40 outside of sport I've probably only turned to Radio Wales in the last couple of years, but that's only in the car and only when I'm avoiding Jeremy Vine really - and even then I go to R1 or Capital first.

[Ash101]

Don't agree with everything there, I know we are going back a bit but Radio City in Liverpool is a far cry from what it was in the mid 90s and early 00s and the output on hits network I do find a bit sloppy. It is always the same intro from the presenter "this is Radio City (local vt) then into the main hits link) I also find them playing out the wrong jingles on Rock FM from time to time.

To be fair, I didn’t mention the Hits Radio Network in my examples as I don’t feel it’s as well executed as the Networks with the same name.

I do agree with the hypocrisy mentioned in the above posts though. Would’ve been nice to hear some more criticism of takeovers of local commercial stations over the last however long. 

I’m not sure I quite agree with this level of deregulation either. Wasn’t it a sweet spot having all stations provide local breakfast and drive?

[Stooky Bill]

It was interesting and amusing to hear Chris Moyles address this very subject yesterday morning when he was talking about Radio Xs good Rajar fugures. Something along the lines of.....

'we're doing really well considering Radio X only goes out on FM in some of Manchester and a few miles of South London, the rest is all digital. Compare that to Heart and Capital on FM everywhere, Ashley (Tabor, head of Global) bought up loads of heritage stations, literally bulldozed them and replaced them with Capital or Heart'  

You could hear how uncomfortable his produced was while he said that. I think Ashley is an old friend and former flatmate so hopefully took it in good spirit

[DeMarkay]

They are old flatmates and very good friends. It’s the reason why he relaunched XFM into Radio X just for Chris Moyles.

[AaronTV]

That’s because we maintain standards at Global. We don’t let things slip into public knowledge until we are ready.

Apart from the signings of Andrew Marr, Emily Maitlis and Jon Sopel to Global all being widespread knowledge before they were officially announced…

It was also pretty widely speculated that Huw Edwards was in advanced negotiations with Global before deciding to sign a new BBC contract instead…

Every organisation has leaks and gossip, even more so in the entertainment industry, and so frankly it’s silly to pretend otherwise.

[BBI45]

For anyone who is interested, the final two hours of JACK fm has been uploaded to Soundcloud. It also includes the handover to GHR, Andy Crane and the 10pm news bulletin which didn't materialise for some listeners...

soundcloud.com 

Stream 106 JACK FM Oxfordshire "The Final Fling" 29th October 2023 by …
Stream 106 JACK FM Oxfordshire "The Final Fling" 29th October 2023 by …
  Source: soundcloud.com

[lookoutwales]

GHR’s AM frequencies in Scotland are closing by the end of the year, along with those in the North East of England (ex-Metro / Great North Radio) and South Yorkshire (ex-Hallam)

Downtown Radio are also closing on MW shortly.

radiotoday.co.uk 

Bauer to turn off AM services in Scotland, Ireland and northern England – …
Medium-wave services carrying Greatest Hits Radio in Scotland will be turned off…
  Source: radiotoday.co.uk

[lookoutwales]

Radio City and Rock FM will both share a breakfast show from January, coming from Liverpool.

Quite a bit being made about the last local output going on Rock, but in reality, it's a sad but inevitable ending for both stations, really - reduced solely to news and traffic opt-outs.

And at the least, the shared breakfast will probably be only a temporary thing if the new Media Bill, which includes further deregulation, becomes law before the next election.

radiotoday.co.uk 

Rock FM to lose last local show as new shared breakfast show launches – Ra…
The current single breakfast shows for Rock FM and Radio City will end in Januar…
  Source: radiotoday.co.uk

[Ash101]

Radio City and Rock FM will both share a breakfast show from January, coming from Liverpool.

Quite a bit being made about the last local output going on Rock, but in reality, it's a sad but inevitable ending for both stations, really - reduced solely to news and traffic opt-outs.

And at the least, the shared breakfast will probably be only a temporary thing if the new Media Bill, which includes further deregulation, becomes law before the next election.

radiotoday.co.uk 

If indeed the plan would be to network Fleur East to every station, then yes this seems like a strange move. Considering they could've kept with the current for another 12 months.

Strange that Bauer would do this, as Global have decided Liverpool is enough of a special case to keep its own Capital Drive show, despite being allowed to share that with Capital Manchester.