Radio Category
July 5th, 2010 by FrequencyCast in Radio
It looks like radio station BBC 6 Music is set to survive.
Plans to close the music station were announced by BBC bosses in March, but today, the BBC Trust has announced that plans to shut the station are to be shelved, and the station will carry on.
Not so lucky is BBC Asian Network, which appears set to close.
The saving of 6 Music has been widely regarded as a good move, and will come as great news to the various campaigners and lobby groups who’ve been applying pressure to the BBC online and offline.
The station now has 1 million listeners (up from 600,000 prior to the threatened closure), with many people tuning in for the first time to hear what all the fuss was about.
A result all around, and the station’s gained a huge amount of press coverage, awareness and listeners – a cynic could even remark that this has been a very successful BBC marketing campaign. But not us.
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June 23rd, 2010 by FrequencyCast in Radio
Back in 2008, we reported that Global Radio were scrapping many of their local radio station brands to form a network of 33 statations all branded as Heart?
Well, that number is set to shrink to 15.
Following recent rule-changes announced by regulators OfCom, Heart stations will be merged into what’s being called “Super Stations”, in some cases forming what are effectively regional radio stations. Mercury FM (Crawley) and Ten17 (Harlow) will also form part of nearby Heart super stations.
It’s expected that up to 200 jobs will be axed as a result of these changes.
Also, their Gold services will be affected. At present, there are 26 “Gold” branded stations with some local programming, but these will be scrapped to be replaced with a national “Gold” network with no local programming, from next week.
Another dark day for “local radio” in the UK…
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June 15th, 2010 by FrequencyCast in Podcast, Radio
Today marks ninety years since the first ‘real’ radio broadcast in the UK. On the 15th of June 1920, one of the world’s most popular voices took to the microphone in Chelmsford, Essex and sang to the world using the Marconi system we now know as radio.
Pete from FrequencyCast was at the celebrations to mark the historic broadcast, and was able to secure an interview with John Bower, the chairman of the Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society. In the interview, John looks back at the events of 1920, talks a little about today’s radio amateur, explains that the moon is in our grasp, and looks at issues such as the troublesome Powerline adapters and DAB radio.
Anyone with even a casual interest in radio should find this a fascinating interview, and we’d love you to take a listen.
You can download the 20 minute interview, or listen online, at www.frequencycast.co.uk/historyofradio.html
Take a listen and let us know your thoughts.
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June 1st, 2010 by FrequencyCast in Freeview, HD, Podcast, Radio
Hot off the audio press, a brand new FrequencyCast – lots of hot news, a busy Focus, plus loads of your feedback. Here’s what we cover in FrequencyCast Show 52:
- News Updates: BBC1 HD, Freeview HD, DAB Amnesty and new iPhone.
- Focus: Getting more from your digital photos
- Hands-on: A tech-tech keep-fit bug
- Your comments and questions on BT Vision and the BBC iPlayer
You can download Show 52 direct to your MP3 player or listen online at http://www.frequencycast.co.uk/latest.html.
If you have an iPod or iPhone, get shows faster by signing up via iTunes.
Links:
We hope you enjoy this packed show. If you like what you’ve heard, please spread the word…
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May 25th, 2010 by FrequencyCast in Announcement, Radio
A reminder that today is “Towel Day“. We hope our listeners all have their towels or modified face flannels stowed in their satchels today.
No idea what we’re talking about? Shame on you! A towel is probably the most handy thing you can own. “A man who can hitch the length and breadth of the galaxy, rough it, slum it, struggle against terrible odds, win through, and still knows where his towel is, is clearly a man to be reckoned with”.
Today is marked by fans of the wholly remarkable radio series, The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, as Towel Day. The date commemorates two weeks after the author, Douglas Adams, ascended to the Restaurant at the End of the Universe, on 11th May 2001.
In searching to see which of the newspapers have mentioned Towel Day, the Telegraph referred me to an article written by Douglas in 1999 – It’s well worth a read: How to stop worrying and learn to love the Internet.
We’d also like to point to a rather good deal on the radio series (the original and best Hitchhikers version) – All five series of the radio series can be purchased for £36 (saving £44), from Play.com. There’s a bonus CD of extras and behind-the-scenes stuff too. Free postage and packing all the way from Ursa Minor.
Once again, happy Towel Day to you all, and Don’t Panic!
HHGG fan? Add a quote below…
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May 10th, 2010 by FrequencyCast in Announcement, Radio
Do you own an Internet radio set, such as one of the Pure, Revo or Roberts radios? You may be able to tune in to FrequencyCast.
We now have a ShoutCast stream on FrequencyCast, which includes our current show, as well as a selection of recent Focus features. Internet radio receivers make use of a database of streaming radio stations, and we should be listed on many of those databases. If you have an Internet radio, take a look and see if we’re listed.
If we’re not listed, you may be able to add us manually – here’s our Shoutcast feed address: http://lush.wavestreamer.com:3680/listen.pls
Fnd out more about our streaming service, see our FrequencyCast Radio Station page.
Can you get FrequencyCast on your Internet radio? Let us know which model you’ve found us on, as a comment.
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May 1st, 2010 by FrequencyCast in Broadband, Digital TV, Podcast, Radio, iphone
The first of the month means a new episode of your favourite TV and Tech Podcast. FrequencyCast Show 51 is a bumper edition, looking at the following topics:
- News Updates: New iPhone details leaked, 3D TV is here, HD news and HomePlug hassle.
- Focus: How the rushed-through Digital Economy Act affects you, TV, radio and the Internet
- Hands-on: We get to go outside and play with a few sets of walkie talkies
- Your comments and questions on catch-up TV, MP3 players, ITV 1 HD and more
You can download Show 51 direct to your MP3 player or listen online at http://www.frequencycast.co.uk/latest.html.
If you have an iPod or iPhone, get shows faster by signing up via iTunes.
Links:
We hope you enjoy this packed show. If you like what you’ve heard, please spread the word…
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April 4th, 2010 by FrequencyCast in Gadgets, Radio, Technology
Do you Joggle?
You may recall the TV ads for the o2 Joggler screened last year? Or our podcast coverage of this device? At the time, o2′s home communication device carried a £149 price tag.
o2′s shocked us by slashing this down to under £50, which now makes the Joggler hard to ignore for that price.
What does it do? How’s this:
- Internet Radio
- JPG photo frame
- MP3 and video player
- Shared online diary
- Live travel news, weather, news and sport
- Games
- Audio streaming
- SMS text messaging
- … with more apps on the way soon via the new App Store.
All this from a full-colour, wireless touch-screen device that has a USB slot for expansion.
We’re not sure how long o2 will be able to offer this device at under £50, but it won’t be for long.
For more on the Joggler, check out our review in Show 41… or to get one, go to shop.o2.co.uk/joggler before the half-price offer ends.
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March 2nd, 2010 by FrequencyCast in Radio
It seems that the writing is on the wall for the BBC’s alternative music station 6 Music, as well as the BBC Asian Network, and the services may vanish next year.
Director General Mark Thompson announced the proposed closure as part of a strategy review released today. There will also be a cull of a sizable chunk of the BBC online content, reported job cuts, and a number of other cutbacks.
You can read the full report, and also “Have Your Say” to the BBC Trust: BBC Strategic Review.
The proposals now undergo a 12 week public scrutiny period.
The “Save 6 Music” Facebook Group now has over 91,000 members.
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February 27th, 2010 by FrequencyCast in Radio
As has been widely reported in the media in the last 24 hours, rumours are that the Beeb is considering axing digital music station 6 Music as well as the BBC Asian Network.
According to the last audience survey, 6 Music pulls in 695,000 listeners a week (0.4% of all UK radio listening). Amongst those that do listen, the station has a strong following, and we’re already seeing petitions and a “Save 6 Music” Facebook group and petitions popping up, in an attempt to stop the Beeb from closing the station.
Commercial station Absolute Radio (the station formerly known as Virgin) has been quick to leap in, apparently offering to buy 6 Music from the BBC, and run it more efficiently that the BBC has been doing. (Source: The Times)
At the moment, the future for 6 Music remains unclear…
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November 16th, 2009 by FrequencyCast in Gadgets, Radio
Remember the o2 Joggler? The home device that o2 pushed in May of this year as a replacement magnets on the fridge door as a way to keep the family in touch?
Two bits of news out today are set to make this device that little but more desirable.
The o2 Joggler is already a powerful device – digital pictureframe, wireless media streamer, Internet-connected News, Sport, Travel and Weather browser, text message device and online diary… but today, it’s become an Internet radio.
An over-the-air update has added DAB radio experts Pure’s “Lounge” Internet radio application, allowing an initial 100 free streaming stations to be accessed on the Joggler.
An app store is promised by the end of the year, and the Joggler platform is open to developers to create applications.
Also, best of all, o2′s just slashed the price to under £100.
We reviewed the o2 Joggler in FrequencyCast Show 41. If you want to get a Joggler at the new low price, go to shop.o2.co.uk/joggler
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October 19th, 2009 by FrequencyCast in Radio
Our website of the day…
The tech team at Absolute Radio has released a nifty site that allows the world to peek into the playlists of UK radio stations. Their site robot monitors the “Now Playing” information transmitted by radio stations, and uses this to work out the number of songs on a station’s playlist, and how frequently songs get repeated.
Feel you’re hearing the same songs on your commercial radio station? You probably are, and this site proves it.
The site highlights that Capital FM has played 8,800 or so songs in the last 30 days – but that’s made up of the same 223 tracks… a pretty small playlist. Artists JLS, Beyonce and Lady GaGa clock in with over 350 plays a month.
Go to comparemyradio.com and see how your station compares.
“The needle returns to the start of the song, and we all sing along like before…”
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September 23rd, 2009 by FrequencyCast in Radio, Random Stuff
American comedy TV series WKRP in Cincinnati is finally available in the UK.
If you’re not familiar with the series, it was first shown in the late 1970s, and it’s a US sitcom based at a commercial AM radio station. The largely dysfunctional staff show how not to run a station – the first episode shows how the station switches from elevator music to Rock-n-Roll.
The crew includes Breakfast Jock the burnt-out Dr Johnny Fever, stunning receptionist Jennifer Marlow, vegetable-obsessed newsreader Les Nessman, Programme Director Andy Travis, salesman Herb Tarleck, plus the spineless boss, Arthur ‘Big-guy’ Carlson.
The show was shown here in the UK now and again in the 80s and 90s on ITV, but has not been available here for quite some time. DVD releases have been an issue due to copyright royalty issues arising from the show’s use of original rock and roll tracks.
WKRP Series 1 is now available in the UK, after a long wait by the series fans. It’s available for download from iTunes. The 22 episodes will cost you just over £20. Some music tracks have been edited or altered to overcome the copyright issues. 
Thanks to listener and forum member Speedrite for letting us know.
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September 7th, 2009 by FrequencyCast in Nostalgia, Radio
The Boat That Rocked DVD is out on DVD today. If you haven’t got a copy yet, why not?
If you didn’t get to see the film at the cinema when it was released in April, you may want to watch the DVD. From the pen of Richard “Four Weddings” / “Notting Hill” / “Love Actually” Curtis, this BritCom is set aboard the floating pirate radio ship “Rock Radio”.
Our Carl and Pete love it – Pete saw it 3 times, apparently, and the film gets top marks from FrequencyCast.
The DVD is out today – available from Amazon or with free delivery from Play.com
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June 17th, 2009 by FrequencyCast in Broadband, Digital Switchover, Radio
The Digital Britain report is finally out. On the 16th of June, Lord Carter’s long-awaited report into plans for our digital future were revealed.
There’s been lots of media chat about this already, but in case you’ve missed it, what we think are the three headlines are as follows:
1. Analogue Radio off by 2015: The intention here is to get national FM services and existing local services over to DAB by 2015, freeing up space for what’s being called “ultra local” stations on FM. Listeners would need to migrate from FM to digital by 2015. There are also targets proposed to get digital radio listening up to 50% by 2013, a somewhat ambitious target, and a target of DAB-only car radios in new cars by 2013. AM stations also need to shift to DAB.
2. Broadband tax: To help achive the Government’s “every home must have at least 2Meg broadband by 2012″ pledge, a stealth tax of 50p per month on all landlines is proposed to improve the infrastructure.
3. Internet piracy. The target is for UK ISPs to reduce online file-sharing and piracy by 70% within a year, with measures ranging from warning letters, speed throttling, to details being passed to copyright owners. Ofcom will be given the power to enforce this.
For the full report, see http://www.culture.gov.uk/what_we_do/broadcasting/5631.aspx
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April 27th, 2009 by FrequencyCast in Radio
According to a report on Brand Republic, the third and final round of Global Radio owned local radio station re-brands to “Heart” are set to be complete by the 22nd of June 2009.
By this date, the following stations will lose their local name, and become part of their “Heart” brand:
2CR
Buzz 97.1
Coast 96.3
Champion 103
Essex FM
Invicta FM
Marcher Sound
Ocean FM
Southern FM
That’ll take the number of Heart re-branded stations to 33
Details of first round of Heart re-brands and the second round of Heart re-brands.
Let us know your thoughts…
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December 16th, 2008 by FrequencyCast in Radio
As reported recently, Global Radio is planning to scrap a bunch of local radio station names, replacing them with the generic “Heart” brand.
Phase 1 of the re-brand kicks in at the start of January. The following nine stations will be “Heart” by Monday 5th January 2009:
Chiltern FM, Bedford – Heart 96.9
Chiltern FM, Dunstable – Heart 97.6
Hereward FM, Peterborough – Heart 102.7
Horizon Radio, Milton Keynes – Heart 103.3
Northants 96 – Heart 96.6
Radio Broadland, Norfolk – Heart 102.4
SGR FM, Suffolk – Heart 97.1 & 96.4
SGR Colchester – Heart 96.1
Q103, Cambridge – Heart 103
Hmmm
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December 14th, 2008 by FrequencyCast in Radio
As we’ve covered in recent podcasts, all is not well with DAB in the UK – specifically with commercial radio stations on DAB.
The commercial national multiplex, owned by Digital One, is sounding decidely empty since the departure of the GCap stations, and with Channel 4′s decision not to launch the Channel 4 Radio stations… the multiplex is half-empty.
To help out the struggling multiplex, it looks like the BBC is considering lending a hand. The Beeb is considering shifting some of its digital channels to the commercial multiplex – this would allow space for more BBC channels, or to allow improvements to the quality of BBC stations, which are running on a low bitrate.
Good to see the BBC pushing on with DAB – just a shame that commercial radio can’t make a go of DAB
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December 8th, 2008 by FrequencyCast in Nostalgia, Radio
Rock and Roll on May 2009… there’s a Britcom about Pirate Radio coming soon.
“The Boat That Rocked” is a comedy film based on a 1960′s pirate radio station ship moored off the UK coast.
The film’s from the makers of Four Weddings, Notting Hill and Love Actually, with an all-star cast, and if the trailer’s anything to go by, this could be a top film. The radio station’s called Radio Rock, and is a clear hat-doff to Radio Caroline and the good ships Ross Revenge and Mi Amigo.
You’ll find the FrequencyCast boys in the front row at a cinemaplex near you in May 2009. While you’re waiting, check out the movie preview… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XnQc3lO4JDs
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November 4th, 2008 by FrequencyCast in Digital TV, Radio
Good news for Virgin Media customers. The Sky channels withdrawn from Virgin are set to return after an 18 month absence.
It seems that Sky and Virgin have met, and resolved their differences, and the following channels are set to return to the Virgin platform: Sky 1, Sky 2, Sky 3, Sky News, Sky Sports News, Sky Arts and Sky Real Lives.
Channels are expected to return on the 13th of November.
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