[Newshound47]

I don't understand this, why a DAB BBC Radio 2 Gold won't be allowed to happen? I mean many other broadcasters have such stations in their portfolio, just look at RTÉ Gold in Ireland, launched in 2008, focuses only on music from the 50s to the 2000s and it's one of RTÉ's most successful and beloved stations, heck when they announced the closure of the Irish DAB network due to budget cuts, the station (alongside all of the other RTÉ DAB Radio stations) was going to be closed with it, yet there was a huge outcry from listeners and the station was saved. If the BBC ever decides to make it's version of RTÉ Gold on DAB, I just don't understand why they would not be allowed

It's to do with protecting the commercial radio sector as any new BBC station would have to pass a test to see if it'd affect different commercial sectors. 

A BBC 'Gold' station would affect the revenues of Bauer's Greatest Hits, Smooth and Gold from Global and the independent Boom Radio which has made real strides to accommodate older disenfranchised Radio 2 listeners.

Since 1996, Radio 2 has evolved with the times gradually which is why the likes of Steve Wright were introduced to the station to target former Radio 1 listeners as those who listened to the likes of Perry Como under former controller Frances Line were decreasing due to age. 

This time round, older listeners have plenty of alternatives when R2 targets the next generation of listeners.

Through considering everyone pays the same license fee shouldn’t all age groups be equally covered by the BBC?

[Jon]

It's to do with protecting the commercial radio sector as any new BBC station would have to pass a test to see if it'd affect different commercial sectors. 

A BBC 'Gold' station would affect the revenues of Bauer's Greatest Hits, Smooth and Gold from Global and the independent Boom Radio which has made real strides to accommodate older disenfranchised Radio 2 listeners.

Since 1996, Radio 2 has evolved with the times gradually which is why the likes of Steve Wright were introduced to the station to target former Radio 1 listeners as those who listened to the likes of Perry Como under former controller Frances Line were decreasing due to age. 

This time round, older listeners have plenty of alternatives when R2 targets the next generation of listeners.

Through considering everyone pays the same license fee shouldn’t all age groups be equally covered by the BBC?

Well that will be the argument. Of course you could argue all the other age groups have commercial radio stations targeted at them in addition to a BBC service. I guess in reality the argument here is BBC Local stations in England at least should be catering for the older market, but I think that’s going increasingly younger too.

[London Lite]

Through considering everyone pays the same license fee shouldn’t all age groups be equally covered by the BBC?

Well that will be the argument. Of course you could argue all the other age groups have commercial radio stations targeted at them in addition to a BBC service. I guess in reality the argument here is BBC Local stations in England at least should be catering for the older market, but I think that’s going increasingly younger too.

Yes, LR is also being programmed as a 'Radio 2 Lite' and is itself going through drastic changes with increased networking being introduced this year.

It's not just radio, the BBC when they publish local stories have to link to local newspaper websites and also share local democracy reporters with newspaper groups so it's not considered anti-competitive.

Back to radio and one of the reasons why BBC LR stations don't have full websites and just a link to the radio stream and schedule is also due to competition fears on a local level.

[Steve in Pudsey]

That was the argument about the gap between Radio 1 and Radio 2's target demographics, to give the commercial sector a chance with a market that allegdley has some disposable income and who advertisers want to talk to.

[London Lite]

That was the argument about the gap between Radio 1 and Radio 2's target demographics, to give the commercial sector a chance with a market that allegdley has some disposable income and who advertisers want to talk to.

Radio 1 and 2 also have to be distinctive from commercial competitors. So you have R1 with extended Newsbeat and PSB programming especially at weekends with Life Hacks, while R2 has a daily current affairs programme and specialist programming off-peak, which allows the commercial stations to play the hits with some local news.

[chinamug]

I actually think he’s right, that it’ll be perception rightly or wrongly from alienated listeners. It’s also likely how the press will report it.

At this stage a DAB Radio 2 Gold is almost needed to cater for those who are too old for Radio 2 but there isn’t an obvious BBC offering for, although it won’t be allowed to happen. This general direction is good news for Boom Radio though.

I don't understand this, why a DAB BBC Radio 2 Gold won't be allowed to happen? I mean many other broadcasters have such stations in their portfolio, just look at RTÉ Gold in Ireland, launched in 2008, focuses only on music from the 50s to the 2000s and it's one of RTÉ's most successful and beloved stations, heck when they announced the closure of the Irish DAB network due to budget cuts, the station (alongside all of the other RTÉ DAB Radio stations) was going to be closed with it, yet there was a huge outcry from listeners and the station was saved. If the BBC ever decides to make it's version of RTÉ Gold on DAB, I just don't understand why they would not be allowed

I wouldn't be using RTE Gold as an example. It's not a beloved station. It has a tiny group of vocal fans and that's about it. It's an Automatic Jukebox 18 hours a day during the weekdays. It's not even the most popular Digital RTE station. It's handy to rebroadcast between 3 and 5.30 am. That's about it. Most people I know in the age group 35-55 in Ireland aren't listening to it or are even aware of it. They're listening to BBC Radio 6 or...BBC Radio 2! as well as the huge selection of Gold-like stations from around the World. Before they closed down the DAB in Ireland the RTE Digital Stations had a market share of 3% and that was between 7 or 8 Digital Radio Stations.

I would agree with you other broadcasters have a Gold-like station in their portfolio that are successful.

[South]

I remember last year when the BBC announced that Radio 3 would move to Salford and Radio 2 would leave Wogan House, they stated that key daytime parts of Radio 2 during the day would be broadcast from Salford, could this be part of this change, if so, I would imagine OJ may get the slot unless there is a another presenter based in the North that would be enough of a name to attract the demographic.

[Newshound47]

twitter.com 

The headline is actually a bit misleading and it ends up predicting a lot of his listeners will switch off radio to alexia streamed music rather than switch to his new show.

[all new phil]

I think (hope) Trevor Nelson will be in with a shout of taking over. He’s covered it before and is pretty much bang on for the demographic. His current shows are great.

[eyeTV]

And what about Eurovision? Will Scott Mills do Radio 2?

A shame he didn't have a proper Eurovision send off, didn't he do almost as many years as Wogan?