Radio News

BBC local radio switches to news-led AM output

BBC local radio stations will switch to a more news-led service during breakfast and mid-morning shows, opening phone lines and airing expert advice for local communities between 6am and midday. The move comes as the BBC announces the extra measures it will be taking to offer more information and content during the coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak. Under the umbrella Make A Difference, every local radio station will join up with local volunteer groups to help co-ordinate support for the elderly, housebound or at risk, making sure people know what help is available in their area...

These radio presenters are now working from home

The magic of radio, (and recent changes in regulation) means programmes can be broadcast from anywhere there is an internet connection. And because of the coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak, a number of presenters are either choosing to, or are being forced to host their shows from home. We’ve noticed a number of you are tweeting your home set-ups, then Steven McIntosh went and made a fabulous thread about it. If you are a presenter and need to work from home – the basic tools you’ll need is a decent microphone...

The Radio Academy postpones Radio Festival 2020

This year’s Radio Festival will not take place on May 18th due to the coronavirus. The Radio Academy was booked into the British Library for another day of industry insights, presentations and interviews but now the event will move to a different, as yet unannounced date. The Radio Festival was part of Radio Audio Week – which includes the Radiocentre Tuning In event (which is currently still scheduled to go ahead) and the British Podcast Awards (now postponed till 7th July)...

New logo and transmitter for Downtown Radio

Downtown Radio is marking its 44th year on the air with the launch of a brand-new FM transmitter and new visual logo. The new frequency will broadcast from Carnmoney Hill on 103.4FM and will complement the stations existing FM network across Northern Ireland. Downtown can now be heard on 96.4FM, 96.6FM, 102.3FM, 102.4FM, 103.1FM, 103.4FM and 1026AM plus DAB. Also, former Cool FM DJ Glen Pavis is joining Gary Myles on the Downtown Breakfast Show whilst Owen Larkin is crossing over from Q Radio for a new afternoon programme...

Radio 2’s OB from C2C now a studio based show after festival cancellation

Following the cancellation of C2C at London’s O2 tomorrow (Saturday 14 March), BBC Radio 2’s live outside broadcast from the event won’t be happening. The global pandemic of COVID-19 has forced the organisers of the Country to Country Festival 2020 to postpone it. They say that they hope to reschedule it at a later date. Radio 2 was due at the event to broadcast the full headline set from Darius Rucker plus music and interviews from Old Dominion, Old Crow Medicine Show and Runaway June...

The Young Audio Awards event has been postponed

The upcoming Young Audio Awards event at the BBC Radio Theatre has been postponed following the latest government advice on the coronavirus. The awards for young people in radio and audio was scheduled to take place on Match 27th in London. The ceremony would have been hosted by awards’ ambassadors Matt Edmondson and Mollie King from BBC Radio 1, and KISS FM’s Swarzy and Tyler West...

Smooth Extra and Heart extra replaced on Digital One

Global has closed Smooth Extra & Heart extra and replaced them with Smooth UK & Heart UK respectively. Smooth Extra joined the national DAB multiplex D1 at the end of 2014 and had a strapline of Your Refreshing Music Mix – making it slightly different from the main station playing Your Relaxing Music Mix. The ‘Extra’ tag made it distinguishable from Smooth stations around the UK, but carried mostly the same playlist and shared some programmes with Smooth London. Heart extra launched nationally at the same time and also carried some of the same programmes as Heart London including Breakfast...

UK radio stations start restricting guests and visitors

The BBC has implemented a new policy for all visitors to the BBC requiring visitors, guests and contributors to declare themselves fit before entering its buildings. The corporation is also taking preventative measures to allow more flexible or home working, and has increased the number of cleaners. A dedicated Coronavirus Support Line is launching today for staff and team leaders who might need advice. In the commercial sector, Global is limiting guests to its buildings, and trialing a remote working operation for a number of employees...

Roman Kemp and Greg James retain TRIC awards

Roman Kemp has retained the Radio Programme award for Capital Breakfast whilst Greg James is once again voted best Radio Personality at the TRIC Awards. It’s the second year in a row both radio presenters have won the same award – see last year’s article. Roman’s dad Martin Kemp surprised Roman for his award him by presenting it to him on stage. 5 Live’s The Peter Crouch Podcast won Best Podcast. Television & Radio Industries Club event was held the Grosvenor House Hotel in London on Tuesday afternoon, which also handed out a number of awards for television programmes and personalities...

Sara Cox & Frankie Wells host equality podcast series

BBC Radio 2’s Sara Cox and podcaster Frankie Wells are the hosts of a new series of podcasts to celebrate International Women’s Day. Each for Equal, produced by PodcastWorks, brings together women from the worlds of journalism, business and entertainment; including Katie Thistleton, Mariam Khan, India Willoughby, Shola Kaye, and Helen Lederer. To celebrate International Women’s Day, each episode will focus on a particular issue, deemed most relevant by each guest, concerning female equality in 2020...