NME Goes National

NME Radio has become the sixth radio station to launch on the Digital One DAB multiplex. The station launched at 7:00 (Western European), but began broadcasting on the multiplex seven hours earlier. NME Radio is trialling for eight months.

The station broadcast an interview with Julian Casablancas of The Strokes at 10:00 this morning. Throughout the week, NME will broadcast sessions by Casabian, Bat For Lashes, The Temper Trap, and The XX

NME Radio has been on DAB since May in Greater London, and the station’s managing and programming director is pleased about the expanded coverage.

• NME Radio is passionate about the music it plays,




• Being able to share that passion with a wider audience will make it all the more worthwhile.

UCB UK Leaves Multiplexes

UCB UK has been replaced by UCB Gospel on regional DAB digital radio multiplexes in Northern England, the West Midlands, and South Wales and the Severn Estuary. UCB Inspirational has replaced UCB UK in Greater London, where Premier Gospel is expected to launch next year. The station has also replaced UCB UK on the Stoke multiplex. The changes occurred on Friday.

Two Swearing Incidents On BBCNational Radio

The BBC has apologised for two incidents of swearing which occurred within sixteen hours of each other.

At 9:00 (Western European) on 5 Live Breakfast, Rage Against the Machine swore during a live performance from Los Angeles (California) of their song Killing in the Name. They repeated the line “fuck you I won’t do what you tell me”. Presenter Shelagh Fogarty was heard saying “Get rid of it” before the song was faded down. The swearing could still be heard at a low volume as Shelagh Fogarty explained that though 5 Live were expecting the band to swear, they had been asked not to. She told listeners to “buy Joe’s records”. Shelagh Fogarty appeared to be frantic after the song was faded down, but presenter and former Radio 1 DJ Nicky Campbell seemed to be amused by the incident.

Meanwhile in an interview with Chris Evans, who will replace Terry Wogan at breakfast on Radio 2in 2010, George Michael appeared to be unaware he was live when he said: “other than the fact I’d be afraid of coming last on that fucking”. The singer said “I’m sorry everybody” then said “I said fecking”.

Stations Expand

Two radio stations expanded their coverage on DAB digital radio to Great Britain, by joining the Digital One multiplex on December 1st.

UCB UK is the second Christian radio station to join the multiplex. The station is still available on regional multiplexes but eventually it will only be available on the Digital One multiplex.

Panjab Radio, which could only be heard in and around Greater London, in the West Midlands and western West Yorkshire is now available on Digital One. The station is managed according to Sikh values and broadcasts some Sikh programmes. It is still available on the Bradford and Huddersfield multiplex.

Absolute 80s replaced Absolute Xtreme on the Greater London 2 multiplex, and on television platforms on Friday evening. Dabbl, which is still available on the Greater London 3 multiplex between 19:00-6:00 (Western European) is also available on the Bristol and Bath, Reading and Basingstoke, Swindon and Southend and Chelmsford multiplexes.

209 Radio Saved

209 Radio was due to close down tonight because it didn't have the funds to continue broadcasting. However, as a result of the generocity of the listeners, the station has survived.

209 Radio needed £28000 to survive. Earlier on Monday £13485 had been donated.

An event at the studio had been organised leading up to the closure, but it turned into a celebration, as it was revealed that 209 Radio had secured the £28000 it needed.

Amazing Radio Continues And Grows

Amazing Radio founder Paul Campbell has announced that the station will continue to broadcast on the Digital One DAB multiplex after the six month trial period, and now that the station knows it has a future on DAB, it plans to enhance its output.

The output will be enhanced with genre-specific shows, and the addition of presenters on evenings and weekends. There will be a more Amazing choice, with the launch of high definition online radio stations, the first of which is Amazing Ambient.

To sustain Amazing Radio, the station is in negotiation with sponsors but as it is nearly Christmas, charities can get free publicity for a month on Amazing Radio, and Amazing Radio will create their adverts free of charge.

Freeview Users Retune For Five

Freeview users must retune their Freeview boxes today, so they can continue to watch Channel Five. Half a million homes will be able to receive Five on Freeview for the first time following the upgrade, as it is moving to a public service multiplex in line with government requirements.

Meanwhile, 460000 homes will no longer be able to receive ITV 3 and ITV 4. Most Freeview users however, will be able to receive Quest, a new channel from Discovery providing entertainment, factual and lifestyle programming on channel 38 between 10:00-2400.

Premier's Prayers Answered

Premier Radio has began broadcasting on the Digital One DAB multiplex. The station replaced the second Digital One test just before midnight on Sunday.

Premier Radio is additionally still carried on the Greater London 3 multiplex. The Greater London service splits with the national service from two hours from 23:00 (Western European). Gospel Tonight can be heard in Greater London, but a late night discussion show which features some music and is presented by Cindy Kent is broadcast on all of Premier’s national platforms.

Premier Radio is grateful for the thousands of donations it received to get it to air on national DAB.

Global Stations Moving Multiplexes

Ofcom has given Global Radio permission to move XFM London to the Yorkshire and Humberside DAB digital radio multiplex. The Arrow will move to the Leeds multiplex where it will replace XFM Manchester, and the South Yorkshire and Humberside multiplexes where it will replace XFM London.

Chill is being replaced by LBC on the Edinburgh and Glasgow multiplexes. Chill is being removed from the Coventry and Wolverhampton multiplexes.

BBC Provides More Football Commentaries

BBC Radio Bristol is to provide commentary of every Bristol City and Bristol Rovers match. When one team is away and the other is at home, the away team’s match will be on 94.9 FM, and the home team’s match will be on DAB. Regular programming will continue on other frequencies. Meanwhile, all of Yeovil Town’s matches will be on BBC Somerset 95.5 FM. 1566 AM will broadcast commentary on away matches involving Bristol City and Bristol Rovers.

BBC Radio Humberside has won the rights to Grimsby Town matches. When Humberside’s three professional teams are in action, Hull City’s matches will be on FM, Scunthorpe United’s matches will be on AM, and Grimsby Town’s matches will be on DAB.

BBC Radio Suffolk will provide commentary on all Ipswich Town’s matches. Heart has pulled out of commentaries.

Coventry City’s matches can be heard on Mercia FM as well as BBC Coventry and Warwickshire.

As a result of Burton Albion being promoted to League Two, their matches will be on BBC Radio Derby AM when Derby County are playing. Derby County’s matches will be on FM.

BBC Essex will broadcast commentary on every Colchester United match on 95.3 FM, and every Southend United match on 103.5 FM.

Bradford City will not let any radio station broadcast commentary on the club’s home matches. Commentary on home matches in League Two, the League Cup and the JP Trophy will only be provided on the Bradford City website, except if Bradford City play Huddersfield Town in the League Cup or the JP Trophy, in which case Radio Leeds will provide commentary on the match, because the station has the Huddersfield Town home and away commentary rights. Due to an agreement between the BBC and the FA, BBC Radio Leeds can provide radio commentary on Bradford City’s home FA Cup matches. Commentary on all Bradford City’s away matches can be heard on BBC Radio Leeds and The Pulse. Bradford City have said BBC Radio Leeds and the Pulse weren't prepared to pay the amount of money Bradford City charge (£430 per match, a 66% increase on last season) for home match commentaries rights.

The Pulse will broadcast commentary on every Huddersfield Town home match.

Minster FM have renewed their agreement with Yorkshire Radio, to simulcast Yorkshire Radio's Leeds United commentaries.