2006 - most recent month at top of page
JANUARY TO JUNE IN REVERSE ORDER BELOW
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28th June 2006
Waffler
I caught the end of the Tom Lodge show on Radio Caroline today. He has his son on the show as well - and he certainly does not enhance the programme. Tom was mentioning that he had written a book about life on Caroline North and South. I will look into that and report in due course. I have a feeling that the show must be repeated on Wednesday mornings from a weekend broadcast. The music he played was very good, and many mentions of life on board Caroline
If you are interested in learning all about the Uk commercial radio stations visit the site of the Commercial Radio Companies Association, there is a copy of their forthcoming year book for download as a pdf file there http://www.crca.co.uk/index_ok.aspx?width=99%
News from other sources
From the Sealand site - http://www.sealandgov.org/
Recent newsAfter nearly 40 years of completely independent economic, social, political, and geographic independence in the North Sea the Principality in late June of 2006 suffered a devastating fire which has crippled its infrastructure significantly. In common with other island countries, our resources here are limited; the difficulties this disaster presents are compounded by the effects upon our population and industries.
Knowing the loyalty shown by those across the globe who have supported the Principality, we have added a 'donation' option for persons who might wish to contribute to the reconstruction required. Preliminary estimates put the figure at approximately a million dollars. Any help which can be offered will be most appreciated by those of us who live here and those who hope some day to be able to visit and to share, however briefly, in our way of life.
26th June
Radio Netherlands have posted a report on the demise of the REM broadcasting Island at
From East Anglian Times on Sealand - looks like the end?
A FORMER wartime fortress which
is now a self-proclaimed independent state has been left devastated after a
fierce blaze tore through the structure.
The so-called Principality of Sealand, seven miles off the coast of Felixstowe
and Harwich, was evacuated at lunchtime yesterdayafter a generator caught fire.
Thames Coastguard, Harwich RNLI lifeboat, Felixstowe Coastguard rescue teams,
firefighting tug Brightwell, the RAF rescue helicopter from Wattisham and 15
Suffolk based firefighters from the National Maritime Incident Response Group (MIRG)
were all called into action to tackle the blaze.
One man, believed to be a security guard, was airlifted from the scene and taken
to Ipswich Hospital with smoke inhalation but no one else was on the Second
World War gun emplacement.
Emergency services were first alerted to the drama just after midday when
eyewitnesses noticed huge clouds of black smoke billowing out of the concrete
structure, which is owned by self-styled King Roy Bates.
Brian Ironman, who was fishing just off Sealand along with his dog Rosie, said
he noticed something was wrong around 11.30am.
“I'd been fishing nearby since 7am for smoothhound and tope and just before
lunchtime I noticed there was a lot of smoke coming from the back end of the
tower,” he said.
“I immediately thought something was wrong and called the coastguard straight
away. They were here fairly quickly and there were about five or six
extinguishers trying to put the fire out.
“The helicopter also arrived and I think it picked up one person who was on
the platform.”
Andrew Beal, a council worker from Trimley who watched events unfold from his
beach hut at Brackenbury, said: “There was thick black smoke billowing out of
the gun emplacement. Air sea rescue was heading out at high speed and hovered
over the platform and appeared to be taking someone off.
“There were several other vessels heading out, including a lifeboat, and there
was a boat out there hosing it down. The smoke was hundreds of feet high in the
air.”
Rod Markham, who runs angling trips out of Felixstowe Ferry in his boat Tracy
Jane, was able to see the excitement from his house.
“At first I just thought they were stoking up the generators because there is
always a bit of smoke - I never realised it was on fire,” he said.
“But when I looked back after I'd messed about a bit in the garden I saw there
was a big deluge of black and that's when I saw the lifeboat and tug were
there.”
Firefighting tug Brightwell from the port of Felixstowe was despatched to the
scene and doused the flames with vast amounts of water.
A team of 15 off-shore firefighters from the National Maritime Incident Response
Group (MIRG) were also assembled but after a reconnaissance of the area from the
air it was decided it was too dangerous to land.
Keith Churchman, of Harwich Royal National Lifeboat Institution, said: “The
damage is very extensive. The fire started in a generator and spread quickly to
the accommodation.
“There have been a number of explosions on board as the fire has engulfed gas
bottles and batteries. Only one person was on Sealand at the time, whom we
understand to be a watchman whose job was to maintain the generators and
equipment.
“A team of firefighters was flown to the scene but because of the damage to
the structure they decided not to go on board.
“A firefighting tug sprayed the whole structure with water in the hope this
would eventually cool the fire and starve it of oxygen.”
A spokesperson for Suffolk Fire Service confirmed the fire was left to burn
itself out and was under control by 3.10pm.
25th June 2006
Waffler
It is good to be back on line. The editorial pc died and has been repaired so off we go again. The most unreliable component seems to be video cards here. In spite of having an anti spike plug recent short power cuts seem to have affected the machine.
Sad to learn that Sealand had a fire on Friday, I wonder if HM Gov will finally seize the platform and reclaim it?
In spite of me not including Hans Knot's report on site any more, I must say how much I enjoy it. It succeeds because of his specialist knowledge and the input he has by email from so many people in the world of offshore and other radio areas.
News from other sources
107.2 The Wyre, the radio station
serving Kidderminster, Bewdley, Stourport & Stourbridge lost transmission
for around five hours yesterday (Monday 12th June 2006) due to lightning which
made a direct hit on the station's transmitter mast.
Emergency engineers worked hard to install new equipment and a full service
returned to the airwaves at 11:00am. At least they won't have tha problem again,
as lightning doesn't strike in the same place twice. Does it?
107.2 The Wyre launched in
September 2005, and is owned by the Midland News Association.
| National DAB station Planet
Rock has added to its armoury of rock star presenters, by signing up Alice
Cooper. The heavy rock singer is renowned for his curious on-stage antics
and hits such as ‘School’s Out’, ‘No More Mr Nice Guy’ and
‘Poison’. Starting from July, he’ll be presenting Planet Rock’s
weekday breakfast show between 6-9am. The show will be beamed in from his
home town of Phoenix, Arizona, specially for Planet Rock. Commenting on his new appointment, Alice Cooper says “I get to play all the stuff that doesn’t get played elsewhere… Who’d want to have breakfast with Alice Cooper. Can you imagine that?” And to make sure that listeners don’t miss the craziest moments, a special “best of” show will air every Sunday from 10am-1pm. |
|
| Cooper joins other recent rock
star signings on the station such as ‘Yes’ keyboardist Rick Wakeman
and Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi. And although Planet Rock is
available on many digital platforms, the best place to listen is on a DAB
digital radio. |
|
13th June 2006
Waffler
I have not got round to updating you on my news and views for some time so lets get right down to it. I hope you all enjoyed the sun and lets hope it will return without the horrid humidity it brought.
I heard another Janet and John story read by Terry Wogan on his breakfast show. Some splendid innuendos about a camera man feeling humble and saying the tits should come out soon. Of course Terry is not to blame he only reads out what his listeners send it. If you want to suffer, whoops I mean hear the items, download Terry's podcast from the BBC Radio 2 site. It is updated weekly and contains some of the speech items from his excellent breakfast show.
News from other sources
Pity that MOR radio closed on DAB in London, it was the best radio station I have heard in years. Primetime carried on for a while but it was not to my liking, although it was one of the most successful dab stations.
David Hamilton has jumped "ship" from Primetime and is currently presenting the Million Sellers on Radio London on Sky. He was playing Sunshine Superman as I typed this update at 21:35 today.
The editorial pc conked out recently. Found the problem was a broken floppy disk drive. I have managed to take it out of the equation when booting up but must buy a replacement soon.
I also took my Stevie Wonder "Songs in the Key of Life" double cd out of my library a few days ago. This is a superb album and the tracks flow through both cds. It is Stevie Wonder with real depth of sound and good instrumental backing. I must start listening to my own collection of music again, there really is a variety of music available on the radio in high quality audio. I also am not adverse to watching the odd tv programme or dvd!
So many new stations now on Sky. VIP radio is excellent with Andy Wint and some Amerian presenters as well! Good to hear Groove from Virgin on there as well. It is back in evenings on DAB.
Come on DRG and Ofcom we need a massive boost in power in London to receive the DRG multiplex - the service has been appalling for months and months. I do not know how bad the signal must be in peoples cars! WHAT IS THE POINT OF BROADCASTING AT SUCH LOW POWER - IT GIVES DIGITAL AUDIO BROADCASTING SUCH A BAD NAME!
Fans of Kenny Everett's Captain Kremmen will be pleased to
hear that 49 episodes of Kenny's space hero are being uploaded weekly as
podcasts.
The uploads come under the Creation banner - part of GCap Media Plc and the
owner of Capital Radio. Creation has already uploaded the first five editions
and will run right through to episode 49. There is no charge for this service
with costs being covered by its sponsor, Orange.
Ofcom's latest Broadcast Bulletin, published today, opens
with numerous complaints about Chris Moyles' breakfast show.
The three instances - including one in which Moyles, at 08:42 on 17th January
2006, called the women who had text in to say that they urinate in the shower
"dirty whores" - attracted a swath of complaints from listeners and
have prompted the BBC to review their disciplinary stratergy to deal with
presenters who step out of line. On another occasion, a listener objected to the
words "piss" and "tw**" being used during an interview on
Valentine's Day.
Monday 12th June 2006 - another milestone for the original
Radio Caroline as the station is now available for the Electronic Programme
Guide on Sky.
The station can be found on channel 0199 after a long campaign by the group to
bring Caroline to the wider audience. Peter Moore, station manager reminds
people visiting their website that they are the original Radio Caroline:
"Yes, we are the same station that famously broadcast from ships at sea
from 1964 to 1990. We might still be at sea had it not been for a dramatic
shipwreck and a sinister change to UK law."
Hot on the heals of announcing that Virgin Radio have
launched various new channels on the Sky platform, the SMG owned station are
about to launch Virgin onto Freeview too.
The station has signed a multi-year agreement with YooMedia, the AIM-traded
interactive content and services provider. Under the agreement Virgin Radio will
be available to over seven million homes with Freeview set top boxes in the UK.
YooMedia and Virgin Radio will also jointly explore value-added interactive
services for delivery alongside Virgin Radio programming
Roger Day Celebrates 40 years Of Broadcasting
This remarkable landmark will be remembered with two events in Lichfield, Staffs and Margate, Kent.
They will be in the format of ?An Evening With Roger Day?
There will be video clips, photographs, audio extracts and tales of offshore and land-based radio from 66 until today. Much audience participation is anticipated with the chance for questions throughout the sessions.
Among the topics covered will be: -
Radio Caroline before and after the Marine Offences Act of August 67. Living in exile in Holland. The closedown in March 68. How he got the nickname ?Twiggy?
Radio Luxembourg
Radio North Sea International. The Government jamming, being pursued by Scotland Yard, the election campaign of 1970.
On tour with the Small Faces in 66, Beach Boys in 68(Roger is actually on the Live in London Album) and introducing Jimi Hendrix on stage and many other top stars.
Thirty two years of Commercial Radio from Piccadilly, Manchester in 74, via BRMB, Radio West, Invicta FM. Pirate FM, County Sound, and now SAGA 105.7 fm in Birmingham and BBC Radio Kent.
Roger is looking forward to meeting listeners and colleagues from those 40 years.
Tickets are £10 from the venues now
Friday 28th July at 7.45 pm: Lichfield Garrick, Staffs 01543412121
Saturday 29th July at 7.30pm: Margate Winter Gardens, Kent 01843296111
| Fans of Kenny
Everett's Captain Kremmen will be pleased to hear that 49 episodes of
Kenny's space hero are being uploaded weekly as podcasts. The uploads come under the Creation banner - part of GCap Media Plc and the owner or Capital Radio. Creation has already uploaded the first five editions and will run right through to episode 49. There is no charge for this service with costs being covered by its sponsor, Orange. |
|
| Commenting on the
launch of Creation Podcasts on the 12th May, John Hirst, Head of Creation
told RadioToday.co.uk: “Creation Podcasts are all about offering fresh
compelling content in topics of interest to people in the UK. We hope
podders and those new to podcasting enjoy this initial batch of new
podcasts. Sponsorship of podcasts is a new revenue stream for GCap,
utilising fresh creative and reaching new audiences via emerging
platforms.” Website Link. |
|
| Primetime Radio
has reached the end of its broadcasting life. Tonight from midnight the
station will be no more. Transmissions on the national DAB platform,
Digital One ceased on May 15th, and was removed from the Northern Ireland
Score multiplex yesterday. Now a message on the Sky EPG and station website states that from midnight, the station will also cease on Satellite (along with NTL Cable and London DAB) as staff contracts expired at the end of May. The website message also thanks loyal listeners who have been with the station over the last six years. |
|
| Since around 13
May, there has been no-one answering the phone at the premises in London.
A recorded message was put on stating it would cease nationally on DAB
Digital Radio but would continue on Sky Digital 0132, NTL cable 872 and
online. However, it soon became apparent that there were still no live
programmes on the station after the "re-launch" two weeks ago. Keep an eye on the downloads section of this site for audio from the closedown. Radio Today site |
|
| LBC 97.3, the
Chrysalis-owned news station for London had a complaint made against them
for the broadcasting of 'blipverts' (short advertisments rather than
sponsor credits) for DHL which was transmitted during the news headlines
and the full news stories. A listener complained that this arrangement
suggested the news was sponsored. The Broadcasting Code prohibits the
sponsorship of news. LBC pointed out that advertisements in news bulletins have been commonplace for some years across UK radio stations under the ‘newslink’ scheme. In a statement in the latest Broadcast Bulletin released today, LBC said it considered its listeners were intelligent enough to distinguish editorial from advertising of this nature. |
|
| LBC acknowledged
that the approach was unusual but considered it was not against the rules.
However, it noted that this particular advertisement had caused some
concern and gave an assurance that it would not be repeated. In addition,
LBC said that in future it would avoid including copy in advertisements
which relates to the timing of news bulletins and would add in a
‘sting’ before and after the advertisement to provide an additional
form of separation from the news bulletin. Ofcom has welcomed the steps taken by LBC which are intended to ensure that future campaigns comply with the Broadcasting Code. Therefore Ofcom consider the complaint resolved. Radio Today site |
|
From BBC Site:
Listeners to Terry Wogan's BBC Radio 2 show have produced a best-selling CD.
Sales of a Janet and John charity CD have reached 45,000 which could outsell a number one if it were included in an official album chart.
The Janet and John stories are read by Terry Wogan and written by a TOG - one of Terry's listeners, Mick Sturbs. Proceeds from the CD are going to the BBC's Children in Need appeal.
Terry says: "We've hardly started publicising it, but the Janet and John CD has already sold 45,000!
"And every penny goes to Children In Need thanks to the efforts of TOGS (Terry's Old Geezers and Gals, Hon President HM The Queen).
"The CD features the adventures of Janet and John Marsh, as broadcast live on Wake Up To Wogan with special guitar fingering by Dr Wally, and introduction by the other Old Fool."
John Marsh is a Radio 2 announcer and regular contributor to Terry's show and Janet is his wife.
CDs can be purchased from the TOGS website - www.togs.org
Terry's listeners have been packaging and distributing the CDs from their homes.
TOG Hellen Bach says: "We are delighted to have been asked to help sell the Janet and John CD in aid of BBC Children In Need.
"I have to say that we were slightly taken aback by the sheer numbers that came flooding in from the minute The Togmeister mentioned that there would be a Janet and John CD.
"We had over 10,000 orders in the first few weeks and no CDs. We knew as soon as they arrived we would have to leap into action, so we ordered 10,000 envelopes and started labelling them up.
"We invited fellow TOGs round for the weekend and offered food and drink, then opened up the sitting room to reveal 10,000 labelled envelopes and CDs, all sitting there ready to be put together. We ordered 10,000 stamps and worked all weekend and managed to get 9,100 ready for posting out.
"We are seriously thinking of having another 'stuffin' party' here in Newport, to catch up with the backlog as the orders are still coming in at about 1,000 a day. We now have about 200 letters a day from our post office box too."
John Marsh says: "Janet and I were both completely stunned by the response. What the stories demonstrate I think, is that people love to laugh with someone else.
"It is Terry's humour that makes the stories work so well - hearing him convulsed with genuine laughter and speechless with giggling, is so infectious that as a listener you can't help but be drawn in.
"Janet and I are just so pleased to have provided a trigger for it all. But the present Mrs Marsh would like to point out that she is in no way anything like the character portrayed in the stories!"
Phil Hughes, Editor, Radio 2 Programmes, has helped with the project.
He says: "So far over 45,000 have been posted out and everyone seems delighted as we are hoping to give around £7 from each £10 that the CD costs straight to Children in Need.
"After pressing costs, posting and packing and the dreaded VAT (nobody escapes that) we think a 70% profit for the charity is pretty good going.
"But then of course all the labour has been free and the TOGS postal team has saved thousands of pounds. It has turned into a real cottage industry. And who knows there might be a volume two."
The Janet and John educational children's books were a popular way to help children learn to read in the Fifties, Sixties and early Seventies.
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31st May 2006
Waffler
Tony Blackburn was on Classic Gold on Bank Holiday monday morning until midday with a soul show. Much to my delight he was on his own without Erica North. Tony played some great old and new music. He played SOS by Edwin Star and said it reminded him of his days on Pirate Radio. He said when the record arrived by tender to Radio London he put it on the turntable and was totally "knocked out". He went to T "hello" Windsor the head disc jockey and told him it was going to be a hit. Tony was allowed to have it as his record of the week on the
playlist. Tony also gave some interesting facts about songs he played. It is a pity that he, or Classic Gold, put him on air with another presenter most of the time.
Good to hear Jon Gaunt on Talksport with his excellent pnone in programme. He was on 12-2pm on the bank holiday and is on 10am weekdays. He did excellent shows on BBC 3 Counities, moved to BBC London on to another BBC local. It is a pity Robbie Vincent is not doing phone ins but Jon is in a similar mould but obviously has his own individual style and ideas.
I managed to upset my back on Sunday night but thankfully have managed to keep going. Today sitting down is painful, although I did manage to get outside and do some repairs to the pointing on Waffle towers - lovely old house built in 1889 before radio took off big style.
I keep meaning to put some audio on this new site. I did not have much reaction to me stopping my Wireless Waves show of clips but would be interested to know if anyone would like that to return. I intend to put some clips of stations on relevant pages, rather than a big page full of sounds. There do not seem to be enough hours in the day to do everything.
Several weeks ago my digital camera made by Fuji finally died. The plastic door holding the batteries and card had broken off eight months ago for the second time. I have bought a Nikon compact camera this time, it is very small and quite versatile. I noticed by visiting numerous web sites that the provision of rather flimsy card and battery doors on cameras is the norm. This time I have bought a much cheaper camera in the hope it lasts longer. I managed to prolong the use of my Fuji camera by using Duck tape to hold the door and batteries together - in the end the plastic finally gave up due to fatigue pulling the tape on and off.
I have just learnt that Roger Day did a special 40 years celebration on Saga Radio in Birmingham this bank holiday. I managed to get the programme on the internet and am listening to it at the moment. Hurry to the following site where it is available for download as 4 mp3's. http://www.vintage-radio.info/audio/index.htm
News from other sources
From the Radio Slovakia International website, posted 1530 May 25th, thanks to Jean-Michel Aubier, DX Listening Digest group for the alert: Radio Slovakia International to leave Shortwave The Radio Council approved the new organisational structure of the public broadcaster. The transformation of Radio Slovakia International was a part of the Wednesday discussion on the proposal of new General Director Miloslava Zemkova. According to the approved document, Radio Slovakia International should cease its shortwave broadcast as of June 30. The transformation of the shortwave broadcast to a part of the Internet service of the public radio will follow shortly after. Apart from the Internet, the program of Radio Slovakia International will continue to be broadcast via satellite. The transformation process counts on redundancies. Instead of a staff of 4, the program of each language section will be secured by 2 editors. The discussion on the future of Radio Slovakia International included contributions by several members of parliament as well as the RSI editor in chief Ladislav Kubis. According to Kubis, the suggested proposal will not secure quality standard broadcast of the foreign service of public radio as defined by law. Several members of Radio Council supported the arguments against the transformation. Nevertheless, this proposal was passed by a majority in the final vote. The existence of Radio Slovakia International is directed by the state. However, due to insufficient financial support, the Radio management transformed its existence. Article at http://snipurl.com/qxvu Return to Top
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May 25th 2006
Waffler
Heard this morning that there is a cd of Terry Wogan's "Janet and John" stories being sold for charity I assume. It is incredible the amount of material that listeners send into Terry. Visit the BBC website and you can download a podcast of this chat - I dare you to!
I have been using a new program recently to listen to radio on the internet and can thoroughly recommend it. The product is called screamer radio, and is freeware and as far as I can ascertain does not contain spyware. It enables you to tune to a variety of radio stations from around the world. Also very useful is the facility to record the programmes to your hard drive in MP3 format. It can divide the programme up into chunks, eg each tune, or to record it as a continuous stream. I have noticed that you can get Radio London and Caroline on it. There is a station from Canada which plays continuous Elvis Presley. It has a variety of stations in the UK, Greece, you name it they are all there. You can search by music genre and also by country. I even saw Offshore Music Radio on it. It really is much better than searching out individual sites. There is a facility in the program to set a level volume for all of the stations, which means you get a good constant level no matter how soft or loud each station transmits at. If you want try this out or find out more visit Screamer Radio. I will pop this into our links page as well soon
This weekend I have been listening to the new Time Fm from maidenhead/berkshire. This has been on for a few weeks on 106.6 FM in place of Star 106.6. I do not really understand why they have changed their name, the old station was quite good on its own.
I also caught Beat FM on 101.1 on Sunday with a programme mentioning a Pan African conference to celebrate 200 years since the abolition of African slavery.
News from other sources
A report by a media think-tank says the BBC
should be forced to privatise Radio One and Radio Two.
The European Media Forum, part of the independent research institute the
European Policy Forum, says the move would ease pressure on licence payers and
boost the commercial radio sector. The BBC replied by reinforcing the message
that the two stations offered innovative and distinctive programmes that the
market alone would not provide.
If you're wondering whether podcasts can ever
help the black hole in your station's monthly revenue targets, the answer to
proving to be yes for 97.3 LBC.
While traditional radio advertising continues to struggle, LBC have established
podcasting as a viable source of income. This week's trading report from
Chrysalis revealed that the LBC "premium podcast" service, is being
received by over 3,500 paying subscribers. Managing Director David Lloyd has
since confirmed to Raidojam that paid subscriptions
May 8th 2006
Waffler
I was painting today and caught the Archers on Radio 4 again. I am not totally in tune with the story line but there was an argument between two men. They fought and a cd shelf fell down on top of the baby. Wow the story line in the Archers now extends even further than cows and other essential rural matters. It is along way from the sex scandals but a warning to all to make sure that you secure shelves properly. Apparently the cd shelf was not properly fixed to the wall, hence the accident.
May 7th 2006
Waffler
Hastings Rock is on 107 fm for the next 28 days and is also putting out good audio on the net at http://www.hastingsrock.co.uk/ - you need an up to date winamp and then it is plain sailing from then on.
A nice change from Caroline, Planet Rock, Virgin Classic Rock etc and also a charity station.
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On Sunday 30th April I heard the Archers on BBC Radio 4, it is a real gem in broadcasting just a pity I do not have time to listen to it every day. Finding time to listen to everything is now a great problem, ironically the same problem that BBC stations must have when they have to cater for everyone's tastes. It is even more of a problem for commercial stations trying to exist with mere handfuls of listeners. It would be pleasant to say that I only listen to one Radio Station but that would be symptomatic of me losing interest in the field of Radio.
It has been good hearing Johnnie Walker on breakfast on either side of the May Bank holiday. There was a time when Terry Wogan would do all bank holidays, maybe he will give up the day job eventually and Johnnie will step in.
I recently heard Richard Allinson on Radio 2 speaking to Lyn (spelling Lin?) Bowles who reads traffic on Radio 2 reminsicing about the Capital Flying Eye. Apparently they could not get permission to fly over many of the traffic areas so they merely pretended that Lyn was up in the air reading reports most of the time when the station started. Hope I explained that properly and remembered what I heard whilst dozing whilst the alarm played on!
News from other sources
24 May 2006 Radio Station HCJB, "the Voice of the Andes," said it will air its final English-language broadcasts on international shortwave radio from Ecuador on Saturday. The Christian station's English Language Service, the organization said, is shifting its emphasis toward teaching English as a second language. "English was one of the first two languages, along with Spanish, to air when the station began broadcasting in Quito on Christmas Day, 1931," it said in a statement. It quoted station Director Doug Weber calling the move a refocusing or "taking some of the resources that we've been using on the broadcasts and focusing that into English-as-a-second-language (ESL) things-programming that will go out on our other (mostly Spanish) outlets." The statement continued: "'We've had a very loyal audience and we're grateful to them,' Weber said of the nearly 75 years of relationship via the radio. 'And we're grateful to the Lord as well for the opportunity to be able to minister to so many people through our English-language broadcasts for so many years.'" http://www.rwonline.com/dailynews/one.php?id=8953
The BBC has posted detailed statements of programme policy for 2006/2007, including key priorities and measurable commitments, for each of its national radio stations. The link below is to the Radio 1 page and there are links to the pages for all the other radio networks there. http://www.bbc.co.uk/info/statements2006/radio/radio1.shtml If you want to download the whole pdf document, incluing policies for the TV networks and new media, it is available on this page: http://www.bbc.co.uk/info/statements2006/
The BBC Radio Player had a record month in March 2006 with more than 20 million hours of online listening and 12 million on demand requests, illustrating the enduring popularity of radio streaming in the podcasting world
28th April 2006
Waffler
As we embark into a holiday weekend I am pleased to report that I managed to listen into Caroline on Sky today. I heard the end of the excellent Rob Leighton breakfast show. This chap has a very soothing but informative style, with a real enthusiasm for the music he plays. Roger Matthews did a show after this and played many good Caroline rock Classics. Roger mentioned he was on Caroline at sea and I remember hearing him in the 80s. His voice sounded different, in near FM quality, as opposed to on the am or medium wave in the 80s. Caroline is good listening, but I like to listen to as many stations as I can during the week.
Clive Bull was interviewing somebody last night on LBC who worked for UBN biscuit network. This was a factory radio station before commercial radio took off big time. Apparently the company launched it to ensure staff stayed with them, apparently there were several factories in the area and a high staff turnover.
My pc scanner has gone wrong and causing me some annoyance. I can still scan but only very small files and it takes twice as long! Sympathies to any site visitors having pc problems this May holiday. By the way I have tried to use PC pitstop recently and the site will no longer download their file - it always used to work on this pc.
Have a great break from work, do not do too much gardening. Save it for Monday and it will be pouring down with rain and you can get some listening done!
BBC staff are threatening a strike over the changes proposed to their Pension Scheme - please remember not all BBC staff get paid huge sums of money like Chris Evans and Terry Wogan. Having to work until 65 is in line with the current governments plans for almost everybody. No wonder they want 65 as a retirement age, they will not have to pay out the pension for very long - mind you some people I know are in their eighties now and good luck to them!
News from other sources
WRN, the London-based international broadcaster, today announces the launch of its podcasting service. From 1st May a fantastic schedule of content will be available for download direct from the WRN website at www.wrn.org/podcasting and from iTunes and other podcast directories. International programme producers providing weekly downloadable shows for the WRN podcasting service include Radio Prague, Radio Poland, Radio Slovakia International, RTE Ireland and Radio Guangdong from China. This list is set to grow over the coming weeks. The WRN Podcasting Team will also be producing exclusive podcast-only content for the service. Abbie Cunliffe, WRN's Product Development and Distribution Coordinator, comments, "WRN is delighted to launch this new service which will make a wealth of international content available as downloadable podcasts. This service follows the WRN strategy of making the content of our international radio clients available across a wide range of media platforms including satellite radio, mobile phones and the Internet." Website: http://www.wrn.org
The Government has just introduced the Wireless Telegraphy Bill into the House of Lords. The bill aims to consolidate enactments about wireless telegraphy in legislation such as the Wireless Telegraphy Acts of 1949, 1967, and 1998; the Marine & Broadcasting (Offences) Act 1967; Telecommunications Act 1984; Broadcasting Act 1990; Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000; Communications Act 2003 (and a handful of Statutory Instruments)into a single Act. It also incorporates the recent DTI consultation on fixed penalty notices The intent is to bring all previous acts into one new one, rather than to introduce any actual changes After much debate its was decided to keep with the old classic name! The bill can be seen online at:- http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200506/ldbills/095/2006095.htm (Thanks to Murray Niman G6JYB for this item) http://www.southgatearc.org/news/april2006/new_wt_act.htm (so the end of the Marine & Broadcasting (Offences) Act 1967
| More salary information has been leaked in the
last 24 hours, this time it's the turn of BBC
Radio 2. Apparently breakfast host Sir Terry Wogan is on a top wage of £800,000
- followed by Chris Evans who is being paid £540,000 to take over Johnny
Walker's Drivetime from this afternoon. It has also been reported that Jonathan Ross receives £530,000 for his three-hour Saturday show which includes his Friday night TV show. Fellow R2 presenter Steve Wright earns £440,000 and Michael Parkinson £115,000. The Sun earlier revealed Radio 1 wages, with Chris Moyles top earner on £630,000 a year. |
|
| Steve Wright earns £440,000 for five three-hour
shows a week whilst Ken Bruce earns £194,000 and Mark Radcliffe earns £197,000
for his nightly show. Overnight host Janice Long makes nearly £137,000 for presenting the graveyard shift from 12am till 3am five nights a week. A Beeb insider told mirror.co.uk: "The range in the amounts paid to the DJs is astonishing. Obviously, Wogan should get the most. He's on five days a week and gets the biggest audience so it stands to reason. "When you consider he gets 10p per listener it seems very good value for money. But Jonathan Ross does very well indeed considering he's only on for three hours a week compared to Wogan's 10. The pay scales don't seem particularly fair." Last week The Sun reported that Radio 1 host Chris Moyles is on a massive £630,000 a year. |
|
19th April 2006
Waffler
I was intrigued to find out what is behind the closure of Saga Radio and opening of MOR radio in London plus Primetime's future. I emailed Primetime for some information and David Atkey sent me this information. I have asked him if it is ok to display this in the diary and he said he has none so here is his email information
We are no longer part of the Saga Group and so have set up a new Website where you can 'click to hear' PrimeTime Radio audio. www.primetimeradio.org
Currently pre-recorded programmes are being broadcast as Roger De Haan the owner is withdrawing from Digital Radio and did not renew the Presenters contracts when they ended on 31 December 05, which is also the reason for NO - DLS Scrolling Text.
Saga Radio (digital) has ceased broadcasting. In it's place on the London DAB multiplex is MOR music, which is the same back to back music whilst I try and find a rescue package.
You should try our sister radio station PrimeTime Radio, which has most of the same Presenters and is a more music radio station playing exactly the same music.
Roger De Haan made strenuous efforts, but
was unable to agree terms with the DAB multiplex operator.
However I have been given the format/brand of PrimeTime Radio to see if I can
find Sponsors and Investors to secure its future.
PrimeTime Radio is one of the success stories of digital radio and every effort will be made to continue broadcasting. This may or may not include DAB, but again every effort is being made to keep PrimeTime Radio on DAB, Sky digital and NTL cable, plus the Internet.
We know how much people enjoy PrimeTime Radio from their responses. They are loyal and dedicated listeners and rest assured we will not go down with out a fight.
We are continuing with recorded programmes whilst I try and find a rescue package. If I am unsuccessful PTR will close on 14 May.
Thank you for your support. David Atkey - Programme & Operations Director.
PrimeTime Radio
Sony Radio Academy Award winner 2004
Digital Station of the Year
PrimeTime Radio/MORmusic PO Box 50 50, London SW1E 6ZR
Tel: 08709 50 60 61 Fax:
08702 24 48 44
www.primetimeradio.org
News from other sources
More salary information has been leaked in the last 24 hours, this time it's the turn of BBC Radio 2. Apparently breakfast host Sir Terry Wogan on a top wage of £800,000 - followed by Chris Evans who is being paid £540,000 to take over Johnny Walker's Drivetime from this afternoon (Waffler says it seems that the people who are in the public eye get paid ridiculous high salaries - and this is a terrific waste of the licence fee - BBC staff do not get paid the same as people who sit in a studio for a few hours a day and most celebrities do not even support the staff strikes. Terry Wogan is an excellent presenter but surely he should he retired now and taking life easy?)
Magic 105.4's breakfast show host Neil Fox has resurrected his request show. Foxy's Magic Jukebox will play listener's requests every Saturday from 10am to 1pm.
Johnnie Walker visited our ship Ross Revenge recently to record a TV interview on his memories of Radio Caroline and the summer of 1967. This will form part of a forthcoming BBC2 documentary to be transmitted this summer. He kindly signed our visitors book, below the signature of an earlier guest, his one time colleague Keith Skues. We will of course let you know the date and time of transmission of the finished programme in due course. Another programme is in production featuring the establishment of the radio DJ in Britain from the fifties to the present day. It may be that Johnnie and Radio Caroline may also feature in this 90 minute documentary. Again we will let you have details when they are made available to us. http://www.radiocaroline.co.uk/
15th April 2006
Waffler
Some terrific output from the Radio Caroline this bank holiday. It seems that whenever I do decorating I get the opportunity to listen to the lady at length. Up until last year it was either by listening to her from the sea on my radio, or lately on worldspace. Now by satellite. The output is not as high quality, or in stereo, compared to other Sky stations but it is better than worldspace. I was listening today first to a recording of Roger Days show recorded on Good Friday. I think he used the word "cr*p" too many times but it was otherwise good. One part of his high jinx was to use a Caroline Newsbeat jingle and to say that the government was "cr*p". My wife pointed out to me that there was a considerable number of requests for people to pay money into the Caroline Support Group - now I come to think of it is was rather over the top. Pat Edison did say on the 16th that he had mentioned sending money to the Caroline Support Group rather too many times, but he made no apologies for this. I enjoy Caroline but believe in the concept of free radio so I hope that they do manage to survive. Some mention was made by Roger Day that Peter Moore could not hear his show because his radio had broken and his internet connection does not work. Caroline is not big business but it seems it needs somebody at the helm with a little more business acumen, so avoid the need for its listeners to top up the kitty from time to time. Loving Awareness is obviously not enough to run a radio station?
Easter is normally to Radio Caroline and the anniversary of her launch. I go slightly off subject to say that the new series of Dr Who launched today and it was absolutely superb. It is pure escapism and worth every penny of the licence free on its own. The BBC web site has some superb downloads, both sounds and pictures to go with the past and present series. I expect that they use less money than is paid to Radio 1 djs by the BBC - well according to the Sun Newspaper.
Penny Gore on BBC Radio 3, who I worked with some years back, is meeting the Queen, excellent stuff. I was horrified to find that Chris Moyles receives around £630,000 for doing his radio show at the BBC. It was in a newspaper my wife was reading, if this is true it no wonder the public think everyone at the BBC gets big salaries. They do not!
News from other sources
On today's DXPartyline, Allen Graham informed his listeners that on May 6, 2006, all English programming from HCJB in Quito will come to an end. He later mentioned that there are only three opportunities left to hear the DXPartyline program from the Pifo, Ecuador transmitters. Very sad news! The DXPL had been heard from HCJB/Quito since 1961. Many of us hope to hear the DXPL for a long time to come via HCJB/Australia, WWCR, or through internet streaming. They mentioned plans to have special programming on May 6th commemorating the event...just shy of HCJB's 75th anniversary, coming up this Christmas. (via DXLD yahoo group)
EASTER BANK HOLIDAY MONDAY 17 April 1 pm to 2 pm WHEN PIRATES WAIVED THE RULES To celebrate the 42nd anniversary this Easter of offshore pirate radio PrimeTime Radio presents a one hour special programme that was first broadcast two years ago, to mark the 40th anniversary. Reminiscing about the time "When Pirates Waived the Rules".... pioneering DJ's who launched their careers broadcasting across the airwaves from the high seas in the 1960s look back and talk about the sound that changed British Radio forever.... Relive the memories once again this Easter Bank Holiday Monday at 1pm with John Ross Barnard, Dave Gillbee, Tom Edwards, David Allan, Roger Day, Stevie Merike, Tony Brandon and your host Dave Cash. Primetime Radio on DAB digital radio, Sky digital TV channel 0132 NTL:home cable channel 872, or on-line http://www.primetimeradio.org/
|
Sue Lawley, broadcaster and journalist, is to give up presenting Radio
4's Desert Island Discs. Sue has been with the programme since 1987 and
is only the third person to occupy the presenter's chair in its 64-year
history.
|
From Radio Today
| Chris Moyles is just one of the BBC
breakfast presenters who will meet The Queen when she visits Broadcasting
House on Thursday 20 April 2006 to mark the 80th anniversary of the
granting of the Corporation's Royal Charter. The news comes on the same
day that The Sun newspaper reports Moyles is earning £630,000 per year -
three times more than his colleagues. The Queen will officially re-open the original Broadcasting House in Portland Place, London, which has recently been refurbished as a part of a redevelopment of the site. |
|
| Upon arrival at Broadcasting House, The Queen
will meet the Director-General of the BBC,
Mark Thompson, and the following BBC
Radio breakfast presenters: Radio 1 - Chris Moyles Radio 2 – Sir Terry Wogan KBE Radio 3 – Penny Gore Radio 4 – John Humphrys and James Naughtie Five Live – Nicky Campbell and Shelagh Fogarty 1Xtra – Jason and Iyare Asian Network – Sonia Deol The Queen will be shown a model outlining building project plans for Broadcasting House by Sir Richard MacCormac, Architect, and the BBC's Chief Operating Officer, John Smith, and will view a display of digital radio technology and Broadcasting House artefacts. The Queen will then watch a production for BBC 7's The Big Toe Radio Show. The Queen will meet presenters Kirsten O'Brien and Kevin Duala and young competition winners in the Drama studio. The Queen will view a recording for Radio 4's Woman's Hour and meet presenter Jenni Murray, programme engineers and interviewees Dr Sarah Childs from Bristol University and Dr Rosie Campbell from Birkbeck College, London. Dr Childs and Dr Campbell will be discussing the results of a Woman's Hour/ICM survey looking at the changing role of men and women in society. The Queen will then join a reception hosted by the Chairman, BBC Governors, Executive Board members, senior BBC executives and artists associated with BBC Radio, including: Chris Evans, Sir Clement Freud, Richard Briers CBE, David Jacobs CBE, Paul Merton, Nicholas Parsons OBE, Prunella Scales CBE and Timothy West CBE. The Queen will receive a gift and unveil a plaque before departing. As she leaves from BBC Broadcasting House, The Queen will meet local schoolchildren who will have gathered to wish her a happy birthday. On being told they would be introduced to The Queen, some BBC radio presenters made the following comments: Radio 2's Terry Wogan said: "The last time we met I had to tape back my somewhat large ears lest she'd have one of them off with the sword. Luckily she wields the blade like an expert and I got away with just a flesh wound." Penny Gore, from Radio 3, said: "Well, since I'll have got up at 4.45am that morning to get ready for presenting Morning on Three, I think it would be safer if I stuck to a small bow rather than bending the knee... I don't want to risk any dizzy spells due to low blood-sugar if I attempt the full curtsey!" Shelagh Fogarty, from Five Live, said: "I'll happily curtsey for any 80-year-old lady who wants me to, especially on her birthday!" Sonia Deol, from the Asian Network, said: "Yes I will curtsey because it's the done thing with Royalty isn't it? But I haven't got a clue how to do it elegantly. In Birmingham we don't have much call for this sort of thing." 1Xtra's Jason & Iyare said: "Our mums would be proud, all we've got to do is remember not to curtsey because that's for girls." |
|
| PURE Digital have launched a new digital
radio - this time aimed at the budget end of the market. PURE ONE is
"..an affordable DAB
and FM portable radio that looks good, sounds great and is unbelievably
easy to use." ONE will be marketed as an ideal radio for DAB aficionados looking for an extra radio for the house, garden or office, and for newcomers to DAB too. ONE is available in black, white or pink to suit all tastes. |
|
| Despite costing just £49.99 ONE is fully
featured. It offers station selection by name, scrolling text display,
one-touch tuning, and crisp, clear, digital sound. ONE also includes features not previously seen on a sub £50 DAB radio – FM with RDS, kitchen and sleep timers, USB upgradeability, a custom display with status icons, mute control, 20 combined DAB and FM presets, and support for the rechargeable ChargePAK battery pack. More than that, it premieres completely new and innovative features from PURE – Intellitext™ and textSCAN™. textSCAN lets listeners pause and control scrolling text, giving them time to note down web addresses, competition phone numbers or song titles. Intellitext gives listeners on-demand access to DAB extended text broadcasts, for the latest sports news, headlines and much more. The broadcaster sends specially formatted scrolling text, and ONE categorises and stores it for retrieval at the user’s convenience – it even keeps tracking text messages when in standby. Colin Crawford, director of product marketing, PURE Digital, says: “We’ve used our expertise as world leaders in DAB to produce a radio that not only sounds great but is intuitive and easy to use too. UK-engineered by the best DAB radio designers in the business, ONE is a breakthrough in affordable radio enjoyment.” ONE comes with a full 2 year warranty and UK-based customer and technical support, and will be available from PURE retailers from May 2006. |
|
9th April 2006
Waffler
For the first time for ages this week my solar powered radio in the kitchen burst into action due to sun shining through the window. It is still very cold by night and most of the day but lets hope it will not be long before we can enjoy warm sunshine. Not fair having a hosepipe ban before the hot sun arrives. As I post this update on the internet - low and behold even in the south snow overnight is forecast.
I have just begun to start listening to my cds again, since moving I have not had a real chance to do this. I was listening today to the rather excellent Smiley Smile and Wild Honey albums the Beach Boys wrote. These have extra versions of Good Vibrations and other hits on them. Pure genius and so much different from the numerous surfing hits they produced.
I notice that the blog with the same name as this site has a feature on possible new Longwave radio stations due to beam into England from overseas. Some are news to myself but I suppose a possibility. Distant longwave radio is a bit like dab, instead of glitching or burbling you get a frying noise of electrical interference. The longwave transmissions from RTE leave a lot to be desired in my part of the suburbs.
We move nearer to Easter and Radio Caroline will be celebrating - from their website
"Join us over the Easter weekend for
Caroline Festival 42 - celebrating 42 years since the station broke the BBC
monopoly in 1964. To mark our birthday we're going to be playing some of the
best music from those past 42 years all across the Easter weekend.
It will be your chance to hear again many of the great songs you chose to
feature in the recent Radio Caroline Listeners Top 500, along with choices from
our presenters.
Easter weekend will also feature our second annual Radio Caroline Support Group
Membership Drive, and there will be brand new exclusive gifts for all existing
members, and new members signing up over the weekend"
I will be decorating over that period, not sure if I should risk getting paint on the satellite receiver though whilst doing it - you cannot beat a good transistor portable when you paint. It does not matter if you splash paint on it.
I haven't had many emails recently from site visitors, and there is no guest book on site at present. It would be good to hear from you. I may begin to think that nobody is reading my comments and give up and close down!
The contact email does not appear on the re-designed site but is as ever wirewaffle@hotmail.com
News from other sources
Ofcom has put digital at the core of its plans for the coming year and has prioritised moves to support elderly and disabled people in the switchover
One is not enough!!! From Monday April 17th, Tony will be joined by Erica North (ex-Heart 106.2) every Monday, Tuesday and Friday on Classic Gold Digital breakfast show. Sandy Warr, (ex-LBC 97.3) will be with him on Wednesdays and Thursdays. ( 6 replies )
GTFM, one of the first radio stations in the UK to be given an 'access radio' licence and more recently a community radio licence is under threat after an assembly government grant of £80,000 was refused
3rd April 2006
Waffler
I have been listening to Chill on and off today on dab in London - the signal seems better today for the first time in weeks.
Hans Knot has issued his April newsletter, I am no longer carrying this as a separate page but you can subscribe to this excellent email or view it on the offshore radio website run by Martin Van Der Ven. I enjoy reading the newsletter but prefer to concentrate on writing new material for this site rather than cutting and pasting the newsletter into my web pages. Best wishes to Hans as ever, a master authority on offshore radio then and now!
News from other sources
The transatlantic DRM project from Sackville,
Canada with Radio Sweden programmes on 17880 kHz is off the air for technical
reasons. A new DRM exciter has been installed in Sackville and it needs some
testing and adjustments. It has not yet been decided when the transmissions will
be resumed.
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BBC Three Counties Radio is launching a weekly
programme produced by, and for, British Gypsies. Rokker Radio (which means Talk
Radio in Romany language) will be presented by Jake Bowers every Sunday evening
from 9 April. Bowers is one of Britain's only Romany journalists and is a
regular contributor to The Guardian and BBC Radio 4.
The weekly show will focus on issues affecting the travelling community. The
station hopes that by reporting their stories, some of the myths about Gypsies
and Travellers will be dispelled.
Today is a milestone for Radio 10 Gold's Peter Holland, who celebrates 35 years on radio. Like many of the DJ's here, he started his career on Radio Veronica when it was still an offshore broadcaster, but very soon he transferred to the Dutch service of Radio Noordzee Internationaal, where he really established himself. Following the closure of the offshore stations in 1974, Peter Holland went to work for the public broadcasters VARA and NOS, where he presented a number of successful programmes. For the past 15 years, he has been one of the team of presenters at Radio 10 Gold, on the air Mon-Fri at 0800-1100 UTC. Our congratulations to Peter on reaching this milestone in his career.
From today,, the Dutch travel organisation
ANWB has stopped delivering live voiced traffic reports to most radio stations
in the Netherlands, though a basic service remains on the national public
channels. The radio stations have responded in differing ways. On Radio 10 Gold,
the presenters are reading reports sent by text from ANWB. These are said by the
ANWB to be up-to-date.
In a leaked memo to RadioToday.co.uk, we can reveal that Emap have agreed to change the name of their Preston-based 'Big City' radio station from Rock FM back to the old on-air name of Red Rose Radio.
Sri Lankans can now enjoy ten daily hours of
BBC World Service programming, thanks to a new agreement with the Sri Lanka
Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC). BBC output in English has increased by five
hours on all SLBC national FM networks across the country in addition to
programmes in Sinhala and Tamil.
Michel Lobelle, BBC Business Development Manager, Asia and Pacific Region,
said: "I am delighted that listeners in Sri Lanka are now able to enjoy
the full range of BBC programming in perfect sound quality on FM across the
country. Sri Lanka is a key market for the BBC World Service and this new
agreement consolidates our excellent relationship with SLBC."
Return to Top
28th March 2006
Welcome to the new Wireless Waffle Site, a small change in design and a few new articles for you to read - no sound files at the moment but they will be added to some pages in due course. If you wish to contact us, or make comments please email wirewaffle@hotmail.com thank you.
26th March 2006
Waffler
I was chuffed to find a link to this site on the new Radio 390 site , which has a Spanish web address. They plan to start on line transmissions from the end of March 2006 http://radio390spain.es.tt/ I have also added this in two places on our links page - along with Mark Savages new blog Radio Far Far. The other wireless waffle blog site is more technical than this and contains rather a lot of ladies in his illustrations. As Kenny would say "in the best possible taste" And as Tony Windsor on Big L said in the sixties "..how dare you!" This is the web home of the original wireless waffler, often imitated but never duplicated (stole that from Big L as well!
I have read recently that Angel Radio in the Isle of Wight on cable features music for the over 60s. I also note that it has a licence to transmit around 101 FM in Havant. I am wondering if anyone can supply me with some recordings of this station to listen to. It sounds like a very innovative station.
I have also had a chance in a local WH Smiths to see the latest Radio User and Radio Communication magazines. Radio User has some good features in it, but nothing much to excite the Waffler. Radio Communication has a spine like Shortwave Magazine had on it in the late sixties. Other than that Radio Communication under Kevin Nice seems to have too much scanning, aircraft and other information it it to appeal to me. I am saving a fortune now Shortwave Magazine and Radio Active have folded. I expect they may well improve with time. Meanwhile the best read I get monthly is the British DX Club's monthly A5 publication "Communication"
I have also read that the powers that be are trying to prevent Radio Tatras from streaming audio beyond the uk on the internet.
Chill and Drgs entire muliplex in my area is suffering recently - it goes on and off air, all due to appalling power used. Ofcom say no to any more signal power to match other multiplexes because it was agreed when they took out the licence. BT are doing some sort of tests on an close frequency which blank it out. I am writing to Ofcom to demand a better service.
'Thanks for the information below, to Mike Terry, all of Bob Preedy's books to date have been very good. Unusual I have not heard from Bob direct on this one. I have just ordered a cd from Caroline Sales featuring Radio Atlanta, so will not be buying the book yet.
Johnnie Walker - Cruisin' the Formats' is the latest book from Bob Preedy, already well-known as the author of 'Radio Caroline North - Rockin' and Rollin'' and 'Radio 270 - Life on the Oceaan Waves'. Rather than being a biography of JW, Bob's book charts Johnnie's broadcasting career in the context of radio development since the Sixties. It recalls the numerous stations that have benefited from Johnnie's on-air talents, from adopting his on-air name from a jingles package aboard Swingin' Radio England, through KSAN San Francisco, to his continuing career on Radio Two. The book is illustrated with numerous photos and memorabilia. 'Johnnie Walker - Cruisin' the Formats' is available from the Radio London store, price: £6.99 including p & p. http://www.radiolondon.co.uk/kneesflashes/happenings/janfebmarch06/hapjanfebmarch1.html#updates
Thanks to Tim Ritchie's good wife for spotting this gem in a paper - from a paper in Sussex - shows that Radio Caroline inspired great things in the early days of 1964. I expect the model may now have received a high car tax band due to all the extra materials added to it!
please
click on the picture to read the article
10th March 2006
Waffler
Still lots of interesting activities in the world of radio to report on. It is also sad that at the start of this week the Drg dab muliplex in London was running intermittently on low or no power at all. It is a great pity that they cannot put information on a website, on teletext or the scrolling text when a transmitter is faulty or being serviced.
There seems to be opposition to Chris Evans taking over the Johnnie Walker slot on BBC Radio 2 in the press. I am so please personally that Stuart Maconie is not going to continue doing the show. Radio 2 is one of the last stations which seem to give us really big names on the radio. I of course would like new presenters to flourish. Radio Jackie do seem to have a really good team of presenters on their station.
I have been enjoying listening to BBC Radio Berkshire, and just discovered this morning that Henry Kelly was doing as show 10am to 1pm. I wondered where he had gone after Simon Bates took over breakfast on Classic FM. I am looking at a way of overhauling the programme diary section - I may incorporate all of the station and programme recommendations on one page. Back to Henry Kelly - he does a good show, plays a bit of classical music and pop - but I do like his little asides and comments. A competent broadcaster indeed!
I also enjoy listening to
Roberto Perroni on the breakfast show on BBC 3 Counties. He
had an interesting feature talking to people about Rhubarb
one day this week. I love Rhubarb, but it got bad
press in the war years because sugar was on strict ration.
Imagine eating it without sugar!
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to Top
I do not wish to burden site visitors with too many web details but just to say that this domain should continue to exist after the end of September after all.
I have added a small section on the site and will be offering cds and items from my radio archive from time to time. This will help finance the web space and other expenses. There is a new email for this service only. I have been trading on ebay for 3 years but it is not economically viable to advertise small items like this via that service. I will however be taking paypal or postal orders for payment. Sales will only be to UK addresses.
News from other sources
| RTI
has launched its first satellite service for Europe
giving the station access to 8.1 million homes in the
UK with an EPG
(Electronic Programme Guide) number following shortly. Eric Wiltsher, Director of RTI UK told us; “Being on the same satellite as BSkyB gives RTI a fantastic opportunity to access the ever growing digital platform in the UK. However, the way RTI is configured within the satellite means that anyone, with or without a viewing card, can enjoy the programming from RTI". |
|
| Eric Continues: “For
Slovakia; RTI
on satellite will be a unique 24/7 digital platform
that will share information about the great tourist
areas of Slovakia, the beauty of the High Tatras and
more – whilst retaining it’s on-going commitment
to it’s local FM listeners in the High Tatras. This
is why we retain the balanced mix of English and
Slovak. In 2006 RTI
is exploring additional digital services as radio
matures into the digital platform it will be worldwide
in the future”. RTI is broadcasting Free to Air on the Eurobird satellite at 28.5 East. Sky Digital owners will find the station on 12.523H 27500 2/3. RTI broadcasts on 1350AM to central/northern Europe and on 94.2 FM in Poprad and 94.8 FM in Kosice, Slovakia. Return to Top |
|
RTI Satellite RTI Broadcasts on the Eurobird satellite. Free To Air owners should use the following: 12.523H 27500 2/3 Sky Digital owners should first go to ADD CHANNELS* then: 12.523H 27500 2/3 (N.B. An EPG number will follow soon) RTI broadcasts on 1350AM to central/northern Europe RTI broadcasts on 94.2 (Poprad) and 94.8 (Kosice) in Slovakia RTI broacasts on-line via www.rti.fm using a standard media player For assistance please e-mail: signal@rti.fm RTI is Informative and entertainment music radio. Musical orientation: the best of the old and new from around Europe Licences: -94,2 granted 19.11.2003 by the Council for broadcasting and retransmission of Slovakia -January 2005 the U.K. regulator Ofcom granted RTI a satellite transmission licence -April 2005 RTI started broadcasting -July 2005 the Latvian regulator granted permission for RTI to broadcast on 1350 AM -September 2005 RTI began broadcasting on 94,8 FM in Košice - Slovakia Place of broadcasting Studios in Poprad, London and Riga. Coverage 1/4 Slovakia • 4 National Parks TANAP, NAPANT, PIENAP, National Park of Slovakian Paradise • 4 regions – Prešov, Košice, B.Bystrica, Žilina – Slovakia • 3 regional cities – Prešov, Košice, B.Bystrica • 750 000 inhabitants of Slovakia and all the important touristic centres • 33 cities in Slovakia • V4 countries, Scandinavia, Germany, Baltic States and more • Whole world www.rti.fm • Now Europe, North Africa and beyond via Eurobird *RTI radio has now been configured onto the Sky platform. Listeners can follow the below information to manually tune into the RTI service. Go to Services Menu -> System Setup (4) -> Add Channels (4) -enter the appropriate Frequency, Polarisation, Symbol Rate and FEC. Find Channels and Press SELECT - highlight "RTI" service and press Yellow button. Return to Services Menu -> Other Channels (6) on STB / (8) on Sky+ - "RTI" should be listed and available Return to Top
Netherlands Competition Authority OK's sale of Nozema Services The Netherlands Competition Authority (NMa) has given is approval to the sale of transmitter operator Nozema Services to the Telecom company KPN. The approval was granted after KPN agreed to sell some of the main transmission masts to an independent third party within two years, to ensure that KPN does not have a monopoly of the market. In the intervening period, KPN will hand the responsibility for the tranmission masts to Novec, the state-owned company formed last year.
The death of comedian John Junkin has been announced. From offshoreradio.co.uk *John Junkin* Born 29th January 1930 in Ealing, west London, John was one of the very earliest disc-jockeys on Radio Caroline although he never actually visited the ship. He presented some pre-recorded shows, taped in studios in London. His time as a DJ was short-lived but he went on to a long and successful career as an actor, comedian and script-writer
3/3/06
The House of Lords Select Committee has today published its Second Report on the BBC Charter Review. The entire report is available online, and of particular interest to readers of this Weblog will be the Committee's recommendations on the BBC World Service: * We recommend that under no circumstances should the BBC World Service be allowed to be treated or seen as a "tool" of public diplomacy or of governmental goals. Everything should be done to protect the editorial independence on which its reputation depends. * We do not believe it is appropriate for a representative of the BBC World Service to serve either as a member or as an observer on a board chaired by an FCO [Foreign and Commonwealth Office]. Minister under the proposed definition of public diplomacy. We are also against the proposal that BBC staff should be employed by a Government management unit. The independence of the BBC World Service could be compromised by the closeness of the relationship proposed by Lord Carter's review. * A 12 hour limit on the Arabic language news channel's broadcasting time will mean the BBC competing for audiences with one hand tied behind its back. We recommend that the Government should immediately provide the BBC World Service with the required £6 million to establish a 24 hour Arabic channel. * We therefore recommend that the BBC should comprehensively review its international activities and that a strategy outlining the future of its public and commercial television, radio and online services used overseas be published. * We recommend that as part of the comprehensive review of the BBC's international services the BBC World Service should continue to consider the need to provide television services beyond the Arabic language service. Further expansion may prove to be important but should not be dependent on cuts to existing radio services. ( (Media Network) Page with links to pdf and online copies of 2nd report, Further Issues for BBC Charter Review and links to oral evidence: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld/ldbbc.htm
Tuesday 2nd March 2006
Waffler
I wondered what had happened to Jon Gaunt on BBC London and have done a net search and found the following information
"Jon Gaunt has been asked to be the new breakfast show presenter for BBC Coventry and Warwickshire when the station re-launches in September. Coventry is Jon's home town and he has accepted the offer.
Jon leaves for 3 weeks holiday starting July 18th and, when he returns, he needs to join his colleagues in Coventry to prepare his new programme, so his last programme for BBC london 94.9 will be on Friday July 15th." I am not sure how that one escaped the waffler. Mind you he moved house in June also and was busy with family and other business!
Vanessa Feltz tries hard but is not a patch on Jon!
Below are a few stories hanging over from our last update on 23rd February plus some newer ones
I also have a rather interesting feature on Sealand from issue 19 of a Spotlight on Felixstowe publication sent to me my my friend Tim. Thanks for this, pity they cannot spell Roy Bates name in the article though! I remember blowing up a picture for the website - when we visited Felixstowe last year (by blowing up i mean photographically!)
please
click on the article to enlarge and view
News from other sources
| Linda
Smith, the comedian, writer and broadcaster, has
died aged 48. Linda was one of the small band of women who made it to the top of the male-dominated world of comedy. |
|
| Her
many appearances on BBC
Radio 4's the News Quiz won her the admiration and
affection of the listeners and she was one of the
most popular figures on the network. This was made clear in 2002 when she topped a listeners' poll to find the "wittiest person on radio". |
|
After seven years presenting the BBC Radio 2 drivetime show, Johnnie Walker is to step down from the daily programme at the end of March 2006.
Since taking over from John Dunn in 1999, Johnnie has added more than two million extra listeners, making it the most listened to drivetime show in the UK.
Johnnie Walker received an MBE for services to broadcasting at Buckingham Palace on Friday.
From April he will be concentrating on high profile rock interviews, a new Sunday programme and will continue on the Breakfast Show when Terry Wogan is on leave.
Johnnie said today: "I've had a wonderful time presenting Drivetime and enjoyed it enormously. After seven years on one show I feel it's time for a change.
"The new Sunday show will be give me the opportunity to present a programme with a spiritual angle, something I've been talking to Radio 2 about for over a year.
"And after getting such positive feedback for my Eric Clapton special last summer, I'm keen to do more interviews with the major names in rock, the first of which will be a special on The Eagles."
Commenting on his decision, Lesley Douglas, Controller of Radio 2, said: "I'm delighted that Johnnie will continue to be a key presenter on Radio 2.
He is one of the great radio talents and is loved by Radio 2 listeners.
I understand his decision to have a less demanding schedule while taking on new challenges."
GCap DAB radio station, Core, has launched a world record attempt - to make its Saturday night show, "Carwash", the worlds most snooped radio show. A snoop is the radio industry term for an appraisal/review session between broadcaster and programme controller based on recent on-air audio.
Banbury's newest radio station 107.6 Touch FM launched today at 10AM from the Castle Quays Shopping Centre. (27/1/06)
Veteran radio DJ Johnnie Walker has collected his MBE from Buckingham Palace saying: "I still love this job." Honoured for services to broadcasting in a career spanning 40 years, the BBC Radio 2 DJ collected his MBE from Prince Charles. "The Prince was asking me about the pirate radio ship Radio Caroline," the 60-year-old said. "I was a bit naughty, I disobeyed the law," he added. "It would seem I've been forgiven." Walker was born in Birmingham and left school at the age of 15 to train as a mechanic. He later took a job as a car salesman. In 1965, he quit his job to join pirate station Radio England and six months later joined the ship Caroline, continuing to broadcast in defiance of government legislation. Walker began at the BBC on Radio 1 in 1969, moving to Radio 2 in 1998 where he now presents Drivetime. In October 2003 he underwent chemotherapy and an emergency operation for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, revealing his diagnosis on air. "I've been in remission for two years," he said on Friday. "The longer it goes on the more hopeful you become. I was very lucky." http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4748708.stm