[VMPhil]

That sort of regulatory thing seems so archaic nowadays. Selling off Virgin on FM when they've now got 5 FM London licenses and Classic FM

I suppose, but I think it only seems that way because we now have so much choice.

Back then the commercial choice for the listener was usually restricted to the ILR local stations, the regional stations that launched in the 90s, and the three national licences - only one of which was on FM.

In that context, stricter regulation of competition and fair choice for the listener makes more sense.

Now we have the capacity for dozens of DAB national, regional, local and hyperlocal/small-scale stations, plus internet radio and podcasts, so the likes of Global don’t need to be kept on as tight a leash.

And local radio can still work as long as the product is good and appealing. Here in Liverpool we have the great In Demand Radio which is the spiritual successor to Juice FM and the past era of Radio City.

[London Lite]

Yes, it appears to have disappeared altogether - it was cut back to Sundays only but that appears to have gone now. Usually carried an English-only playlist at the end.

One schedule oddity remains - instead of Debbie Mac's non-regional afternoon show from Manchester, they carry Tony Wright's show for the South West stations from Bristol (presume he occasionally does the odd split link for South Wales?)

Wright also does Saturday breakfast on Pirate - wouldn't be surprised if Pirate's FM frequencies end up carrying his weekday GHR show (Sunday mornings on Pirate have also been produced from outside the TSA, so to speak)

Nope, Cornwall is getting their own afternoon show after the flip. Two shows will go out from the Pirate studios, breakfast on Hits Radio with the current Pirate FM breakfast duo with the GHR afternoon show TBC.

[lookoutwales]

And local radio can still work as long as the product is good and appealing. Here in Liverpool we have the great In Demand Radio which is the spiritual successor to Juice FM and the past era of Radio City.

In Demand's an interesting example - it's certainly established itself as one of the more successful DAB-only local stations (and there are a few of those in Liverpool) and signing Scott Hughes after his departure from City was probably the one worst kept secret in radio than Jordan North joining Capital.

Although it has a strong ex-City presenting line up, it feels a lot more like Juice in sprit (City was similarly well known for its specialist dance programming on Fridays and Saturdays - often live from Concert Square, IIRC)

They've been running a Make the Switch campaign of late, but to be honest, it's probably asking a bit of City listeners to go from mainstream 'hits and throwbacks' to a rather more niche dance-led format (Scouse house at breakfast, anyone?)

It probably trades a little too much on clubland being 'the' identity of Liverpool rather than being just a part of it.

Nope, Cornwall is getting their own afternoon show after the flip. Two shows will go out from the Pirate studios, breakfast on Hits Radio with the current Pirate FM breakfast duo with the GHR afternoon show TBC.

Ahh, I see. I presumed that because Pirate / GHR Cornwall's licence allowed for it - think it was last revised a few years ago - they could simply carry the regional show from Bristol if they wished (of course, GHR in Lincolnshire has its own local afternoon show as well)

That said, with the Media Bill in progress, such non-news obligations will soon be on their way out.

[lookoutwales]

GHR Cornwall's afternoon show will be both local and double-headed.

Scott Temple from mids ('Daytime in the Duchy') is being paired up with Holly Day from Drive.

www.falmouthpacket.co.uk 

Pirate FM's Scott Temple and Holly Day Greatest Hits Radio | Falmouth Packet
The pair are joining the likes of Simon Mayo and Ken Bruce when Greatest Hits Ra…
  Source: www.falmouthpacket.co.uk

So really, about the only departure from the local line-up is Johnny Cowling off Drive (and the off-peak presenters, though we've established they're based outside Cornwall)

Bit of a surprising but decent compromise on Bauer's part (even if this turns out to be a stop-gap before further deregulation) - the surf report is being kept, too.

[nwtv2003]

As this seems to have turned into a default radio/Bauer thread, it’s been announced by Frank Skinner himself this morning that his contract has not been renewed.

x.com 

Poor decision from Bauer in my view, his show is the exception on Absolute in terms of banter and the music played, ie being less repetitive and more originality. One would hazard a guess his poetry podcast will also end, at least in its current form.

[Brekkie]

As this seems to have turned into a default radio/Bauer thread, it’s been announced by Frank Skinner himself this morning that his contract has not been renewed.

x.com 

Poor decision from Bauer in my view, his show is the exception on Absolute in terms of banter and the music played, ie being less repetitive and more originality.

I think you've probably highlighted why they've made that decision.

[Spencer]

I’m disappointed to hear that. Frank’s show is pretty much the only thing I bother to listen to on Absolute these days. I’ve always found him very entertaining.

I hope he finds a home on another station. Virgin could be quite a good fit for him – maybe taking over Graham Norton’s recently vacated slot.

[JMT1985]

I’m disappointed to hear that. Frank’s show is pretty much the only thing I bother to listen to on Absolute these days. I’ve always found him very entertaining.

I hope he finds a home on another station. Virgin could be quite a good fit for him – maybe taking over Graham Norton’s recently vacated slot.

I think Frank would make an excellent replacement for Graham

[lookoutwales]

There’ll be a farewell tribute programme on Wave 105 tonight at 9.40pm, ahead of the switch to GHR with Andy Crane at 10pm.

[Josh]

Lovely montage going into the final song on Wave 105 - Say Hello, Wave Goodbye by Soft Cell. Currently in station limbo at the moment with no official GHR/Wave imaging - officially launches tomorrow at 10.