Media UK

Coast 96.3 - news archive

This is an archive of news about Coast 96.3. Some links may no longer work, due to the transient nature of the internet.

Wolfman Jack is back!
From Media Network Weblog. Posted July 21 2008, 12.45pm
Just as in Britain teenagers in the 1960s would listen into pirate radio stations broadcasting from ships at sea, three miles off the coast, so in the United States youngsters would tune their new personal transistor radios into powerful signals beamed from across the border in Mexico. King of the Airwaves on these Border-Blasters was Wolfman [...] (more)

Wave 105 celebrates 10 years
From Radio Today. Posted July 18 2008, 2.42am
To celebrate ten years of broadcasting on the south coast, Wave 105 has hosted a party to thank its staff for their hard work and commitment over the last decade. (more)

RTÉ digital radio available online
From Media Network Weblog. Posted June 23 2008, 5.03pm
Ireland’s public btoadcaster RTÉ has made its trial digital radio stations available to listen to nationwide on the RTÉ website at www.rte.ie/radio.  Digital radio has been on trial since March 2007 in the Greater Dublin and North East coast area. It has also been on trial in Cork and Limerick since last March. Now it [...] (more)

New press photography course to be run at the East Coast Media centre
From Journalism.co.uk. Posted June 19 2008, 11.00pm
The Press Association an East Coast Media centre join forces to offer new course (more)

Filming begins for offshore radio comedy in Weymouth Bay, UK
From Media Network Weblog. Posted May 17 2008, 11.11am
Offshore radio ships have returned to British waters, but this time with full permission from the authorities. A 50-year-old lightship has joined a 44-year-old former standby vessel in Weymouth Bay on the south coast of England to play the parts of pirate radio ships in the new comedy film The Boat That Rocked. Filming, which will also involve [...] (more)

Investigative reporter to address south coast university
From Hold the Front Page. Posted April 14 2008, 8.40am
Andrew Jennings to visit Brighton institution, NUJ opens top job applications and more news in brief (more)

BBC goes live in The Gambia
From Radio Today. Posted April 4 2008, 8.19am
The BBC is soon to launch its output in The Gambia for the first time, on a new radio station called West Coast Radio 2. (more)

Radio Waddenzee to become offshore broadcaster for three days
From Media Network Weblog. Posted February 27 2008, 1.30pm
Dutch regional commercial station Radio Waddenzee is planning to become a real offshore broadcaster for three days on 1-3 May 2008. The station will be anchoring its lightship Jenni Baynton close to the uninhabited island of Griend, off the coast between Harlingen and Terschelling. The anchorage is on the route of a boat race that takes place on 2 [...] (more)

Offshore radio was alive and flourishing in 1934
From Media Network Weblog. Posted February 14 2008, 4.57pm
Those who think that offshore commercial broadcasting started in the 1960’s are wrong. An edition of Modern Mechanix magazine published in 1934 reveals that a pirate radio station was operating from a ship off the coast of California, and border broadcasters in Mexico were thought to be planning more. These stations found and occupied a [...] (more)

Big screen movie about Radio Caroline reportedly planned
From Media Network Weblog. Posted February 8 2008, 12.32pm
Filmmaker Richard Curtis is apparently making a movie about pirate radio. The Love Actually director is moving away from his traditional romantic comedies to make a film about Radio Caroline, which started broadcasting from a boat off the coast of Essex in the 60s, reports The Sun. The paper says Curtis has cast Welsh actor Rhys [...] (more)

More Digital One on the coast
From Radio Today. Posted February 8 2008, 5.31am
The national DAB network for GCap Media's Digital One network has extended with a new transmitter for the Yorkshire Coast. The new relay in Whitby will serve 30,000 people who were previously unable to receive national stations such as theJazz and Planet Rock. (more)

First run sells out for Echo celebration of the local coastline
From Hold the Front Page. Posted January 28 2008, 12.00am
Book from the Bournemouth Daily Echo and Dorset Echo proved so popular it sold out in days (more)

Super start for Superstation
From Radio Today. Posted January 18 2008, 8.28am
Residents of the Orkney Islands off the northern coast of Scotland finally have their own community radio station. The Superstation, which launched this week, won a five year licence from Ofcom two years ago and is already making an impact. (more)

Jock jailed for grooming girls
From Radio Today. Posted January 3 2008, 3.14pm
A former GCap prsenter has been jailed for grooming two school children online. Adam Hopkins, who has now left his job as a presenter on Coast 96.3 FM, described himself as a sex addict during his court hearing. (more)

Muxco wins North Yorks DAB
From Radio Today. Posted December 13 2007, 1.24pm
The Local Radio Company, together with MuxCo have won the digital multiplex licence for North Yorkshire. The award means TLRC will be able to take three of their stations, Minster FM, Stray FM and Yorkshire Coast Radio, onto the digital platform for the first time. (more)

CKEC 1320 in New Glasgow moves to FM
From Media Network Weblog. Posted December 13 2007, 10.45am
CKEC 1320 in New Glasgow, Canada, became 94.1 East Coast FM at exactly 9:41 am on Tuesday, after four years of planning and preparation, said station general manager and vice-president Mike Freeman. The station will continue to broadcast the 1320 AM signal for another three months to ease listeners’ transition to 94.1 FM, he said. Read the full [...] (more)

Ex-south coast journalist dies at 69 after career in regionals and national press
From Hold the Front Page. Posted November 29 2007, 12.00am
Chronicle man went to News of the World and later into PR (more)

South coast title baffled by coroner's anonymous witness decision
From Hold the Front Page. Posted November 22 2007, 12.00am
Paper had no chance to challenge a decision to withhold witness's name at public hearing (more)

South coast editor becomes honorary Doctor of Letters
From Hold the Front Page. Posted November 19 2007, 12.00am
Neal Butterworth is honoured by Bournemouth University (more)

Reporters stationed along the coast as flood waters threaten
From Hold the Front Page. Posted November 9 2007, 12.00am
"Operation Gold" for Star as biggest story for years breaks at just the right time (more)

Ex-Gold jock finds the Spirit
From Radio Today. Posted September 25 2007, 12.53pm
Kevin King, former breakfast show presenter on Capital Gold Hampshire is joining Spirit FM from Monday. He will replace Paul Williams on breakfast who moves to mid-mornings. Kevin is a familiar voice in the area, having previous worked at Ocean Sound and South Coast Radio. (more)

Intelsat throws Ivory Coast TV off satellite
From Rapid TV News. Posted September 16 2007, 9.44pm
RTI, the national broadcaster of the Ivory Coast (Cote d’Ivoire), has lost its satellite signals over Africa and the Mid-East. According to reports the broadcaster hasn’t paid its bills. (more)

Jay Sean & Raghav new music airs on A Network
From Biz Asia. Posted September 11 2007, 9.53am
RnB artist Jay Sean will exclusively perform songs from his new album 'My Own Way' on the BBC Asian Network's Uni Tour '07. After the success of the 2006 Uni Tour, Asian Network announces another ten date tour which will see its unique sound taken to Universities up and down the UK . The tour kicks off Friday 28th September at University of Hertfordshire where Jay Sean will headline with support from H.Dhami and Mumzy, Swami and Asian Network DJs Bobby Friction, DJ Kayper and Sonny Ji who will play throughout the tour with appearances also from Panjabi Hit Squad. Jay Sean had UK Chart success with his debut album, 'Me Against Myself' in 2004 as well as his singles like "Eyes on You" and "Stolen" which reached the Top 10. Jay Sean is also a big hit overseas in India where his first album sold over 2 million copies. The Kings College date - Thursday 25th October will see Jay Sean perform a special LIVE album preview. The Tour will see exclusive plays of much anticipated new material from Raghav who has seen widespread international chart success with Top 10 hits like "Can't Get Enough" and "Angel Eyes" as well as female urban artist Hard Kaur who is returning with a new album later this year entitled 'Supawoman'. Lyrical pioneers Swami will showcase new material including their hit single "Hey Hey" which is getting major MySpace attention as well as heavy radio play. Their anticipated album 'Equalize' takes influences from North African and French hip-hop to the rap of the American East Coast. Ones to watch this time around include British Asian Hip Hop acts Sona Family whose music is supported by Radio DJs Bobby Friction and Nihal, Bhangra artist Imran Khan and the Rishi Rich Showcase featuring H.Dhami and Mumzy. Rishi Rich is a pioneering producer famous for his mix of bhangra, Bollywood and urban beats. He has produced albums on the British-Asian music scene and has also made a mark on the mainstream charts, producing and remixing hits for Madonna, Britney Spears, Mary J Blige and Craig David. Uni Tour 07 takes in Hertfordshire, Leeds, Middlesex, Surrey, Manchester, London, Leicester, Warwick, Kent and Sheffield. Full details of artists appearing is shown below. Mark Strippel, BBC Asian Network Head of Music said: "Asian Network is proud to really support and nurture the British-Asian music scene. Asian Network is where you'll find the hottest DJs and artists and new British Asian material - first. That's why artists choose to work with us exclusively. We’re especially excited to have the first exclusive access to Jay Sean’s new album". Bobby Friction, Asian Network's flagship specialist DJ said: "I'm so revved about the Uni Tour because it's grown substantially this year and we're covering length breadth of UK. The tour musically is going to be Asian beats heaven, with a mix from the established order dropping exclusives and performing with us, PLUS what's really got me hot under the collar is the new generation of acts who'll be using this tour to break through. British Universities are actually on the cutting edge when it comes to live Asian music and creativity." (more)

Free Ice Cream on Aire
From Radio Today. Posted August 23 2007, 8.40am
96.3 Radio Aire’s official ice cream van rolled up at St James’ Hospital in Leeds recently to offer free treats to children. The exercise by the Emap station was to raise awareness of The Kids Count Trust - an appeal to buy a holiday home on the East Coast for the Leeds’ charity Candlelighters. (more)

Fire and Spire boost TLRC
From Radio Today. Posted August 16 2007, 2.49pm
Splitting Yorkshire Coast Radio off from Minster FM's RAJAR survey and letting it go-alone has proved a good PR move for TLRC. There was perhaps some overlap in the TSAs, as a crass combination of the separate figures shows an increase of 7,000 listeners and just short of 200,000 extra hours. Fire 107.6 was TLRC's big winner this quarter, whilst Sailsbury's Spire FM posted its best reach (000s) in three years. (more)

Great results for newcomers
From Radio Today. Posted August 16 2007, 1.03pm
This quarters newcomers to RAJAR have got off to a great start. North Norfolk Radio made an impressive debut appearance with a 20 per cent weekly reach, 9.4 average hours and 7.6 per cent audience share. Meanwhile Yorkshire Coast showed an impressive 42 per cent weekly reach, and 19.9 per cent audience share. (more)

Portsmouth FC buys into local radio stations
From Media Guardian. Posted July 23 2007, 1.00am
Portsmouth Football Club is to acquire a 50% share in three local radio stations on the south coast. By Mark Sweney. (more)

Top Gear Stars Upset Coastguards
From Merry Media. Posted July 20 2007, 9.49pm
Presenters on the BBC motoring show Top Gear were making an attempt at sailing across the channel, only for two of the cars to sink - with coastguards at Dover annoyed that they didn't make hourly safety calls.. (more)

Red Sands Radio launches tomorrow
From Media Network Weblog. Posted July 13 2007, 3.46pm
Red Sands Radio, a special UK RSL operation, goes on the air tomorrow, and will operate at 0600-1800 UTC through 23 July, from Red Sands Fort in the Thames Estuary, 8 miles off the coast of Whitstable. Red Sands was home to 1960’s offshore stations Radio Invicta, KING Radio and Radio 390. The station will [...] (more)

WRN offers daily Hebrew show
From Radio Today. Posted July 5 2007, 12.11am
Polish Radio, the international voice for the Polish people has launched a daily, 30 minute Hebrew language radio show across Israel. The show will be available on 107.2FM in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and the other coastal cities and 89.3 FM to the north of the country. (more)

Daily Hebrew radio show from Polish Radio launches on FM across Israel
From Media Network Weblog. Posted July 2 2007, 9.37am
As from 1 July, Polish Radio has launched a daily, 30 minute Hebrew language radio show broadcast across Israel at 9.30pm local time. The show will be available on 107.2FM to Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and the other coastal cities and 89.3 FM to the north of the country including Afula and Nazareth. WRN, the international transmission service [...] (more)

Ireland: RTÉ begins trial of new DAB stations
From Media Network Weblog. Posted June 13 2007, 9.25am
Irish public broadcaster RTÉ is launching six new radio stations as part of its DAB trial in the Greater Dublin and north-east coast area. Four of the stations are launching this week: RTÉ Junior, a pop radio station for children RTÉ Gold, a classic hits service RTÉ Digital Radio News, a rolling news bulletin station RTÉ 2XM, which specialises in playing new music [...] (more)

Newspaper staff brave 'worst weather' for coast-to-coast cycle ride
From Hold the Front Page. Posted June 4 2007, 12.00am
Trip across England brings out the best in Topper team (more)

First newspapers roll off £56m south coast press
From Hold the Front Page. Posted May 21 2007, 12.00am
Test run for new facility built to serve local and national newspaper publishers (more)

More coverage for Digital One
From Radio Today. Posted April 16 2007, 5.10pm
Ten more areas are to get access to the UK's only national commercial digital radio multiplex, Digital One. New transmitters will be switched on in areas including North West Cumbria, Eastbourne, Chesterfield and the Yorkshire coast over the next two years. Digital One says it will give them 90% DAB coverage of the UK. (more)

Don Imus Suspended for Two Weeks from Radio Show
From radio.about.com. Posted April 9 2007, 8.27pm
According to firstcoastnews.com: "After a career of cranky insults, radio star Don Imus was fighting for his job Monday following one joke that by his own admission went 'way too... (more)

Mark Donaldson joins talk107
From Radio Today. Posted March 28 2007, 12.52pm
UTV Radio's talk107 has appointed sports journalist Mark Donaldson as Sports Editor. He has gained over 10 years experience in covering east coast football for Emap stations Forth 1 and Forth 2. Donaldson joins the station in May to lead the sports news output across the week. (more)

India’s first radio station on disaster management to be launched
From Media Network Weblog. Posted February 22 2007, 12.52pm
India’s first dedicated radio station on disaster management was due to be unveiled today in Nagapattinam, in a significant statement of the coastal region’s commitment to develop its own disaster preparedness. Nagapattinam, the Tamil Nadu district that was one of the worst hit in the tsunami of December 26, 2004, lost over 7500 of its [...] (more)

NatMags appoint new editor for Coast magazine
From Journalism.co.uk. Posted January 18 2007, 2.54pm
Clare Gogerty replaces Susy Smith who move up the ranks as magazine goes monthlyemail this article   digg this   del.icio.us (more)

National Magazine Company's Coast goes monthly
From Media Guardian. Posted January 18 2007, 12.00am
12.45pm: The National Magazine Company is converting Coast, its seaside magazine, into a monthly. By Stephen Brook. (more)

Asia Internet slowly comes back online
From Media Network Weblog. Posted December 29 2006, 9.59am
Millions of frustrated Internet users across Asia slowly regained access to overseas websites today, three days after an earthquake off the coast of Taiwan snapped several vital undersea cables. Telecoms operators across the region re-routed Internet links to circumvent the ruptured lines off the southern part of the island, as engineers donned diving suits to assess [...] (more)

Your task: selling the real Liverpool
From The Independent. Posted November 27 2006, 12.00am
The Today programme's recent description of Liverpool as a "faded seaport on the west coast of England" was greeted with more than the usual grumbles about London media bias among those selling the renaissance of the city. It was treated as a call to arms to reverse the city's negative image. (more)

Those about to rock, 96.3 fm may suit you
From The Scotsman. Posted October 26 2006, 12.29am
FERGUS SHEPPARD meets a man who is convinced that a playlist of classic rock is just what the west coast of Scotland's middle-aged moshers are keen to tune their radios to. (more)

Israeli helicopter rockets old radio tower in Beirut
From Media Network Weblog. Posted August 10 2006, 4.30pm
An Israeli helicopter fired at least two rockets at a disused radio broadcast tower in the heart of Beirut today, lightly wounding two people and damaging a number of cars, Lebanese security sources said. Minutes later, Israeli helicopters rocketed old antennas belonging to Lebanon’s official radio station in the coastal village of Amsheet [Amchit], north [...] (more)

Radio Voice of Vietnam plans to widen coverage in Eastern Sea
From Media Network Weblog. Posted August 3 2006, 2.15pm
A disaster preparedness conference in Hanoi on Wednesday heard that Radio Voice of Vietnam plans to widen its coverage in the Eastern Sea, currently covered by a shortwave frequency only. Vietnam has 32 broadcast stations along the national coastline in addition to a communications system via border guards and citizens. However, Le Nam Thang, Deputy Minister of Post and [...] (more)

talk107 do deal with Carling
From Radio Today. Posted July 28 2006, 5.15am
talk107, the UTV-Radio owned talk station for Edinburgh have successfully secured 'Carling' as sponsor partner of its Saturday post football match phone in named 'Extra Time with Carling'. From 5.30 to 7.00pm every Saturday, ‘Extra Time’ will be presented live from a differnt location each week taking calls and views direct from football fans. ‘Extra Time’ will get out and about and mix with the real fans of east coast football in their natural post-match habitat – their favourite bar! (more)

Internews setting up emergency mediumwave radio station in Indonesia
From Media Network Weblog. Posted July 25 2006, 12.24pm
On 27 May, an earthquake off the coast of Yogyakarta Province, Central Java, Indonesia killed more than 5,000 people and left hundreds of thousands homeless. On 19 July, Internews made the first of a series of equipment donations to community radio stations in the disaster zone. Soon after the earthquake, in order to get emergency [...] (more)

Ofcom announces Digital plans
From Radio Today. Posted July 18 2006, 2.30pm
Ofcom expect to advertise the second national digital radio multiplex licence by the end of the year - they have announced today. The licence will enable DAB transmissions across most of the UK. However international agreements on frequency use - intended to reduce interference between broadcasts from neighbouring countries - will mean that some coastal areas in south and south-east England as well as Northern Ireland and parts of west Wales will not be able to receive these services, at least initially. (more)

Second Day at the Radio Festival
From Radio Today. Posted July 5 2006, 11.45pm
Let’s start by saying how good Jeremy Vine is. He’s superb - it’s his second year of hosting the Radio Festival, and he’s really good at it. Credit to the Radio Academy for inviting him back. So, day 2, and it starts to get in-depth. After a look at whether podcasting is an opportunity or a threat (both), and how to be number one in the market (content, amongst other things), Matthew Bannister led a session on creativity and its importance. This was possibly the best session of the day, featuring not only Matthew’s insight into the importance of trying new ideas out, but also the thoughts and views of three Sony winning stations of the year - Radio 1, Kerrang Radio and Coast 96.3. (more)

Self-proclaimed independent state of Sealand in ruins after blaze
From Media Network Weblog. Posted June 24 2006, 11.42am
The former wartime fortress known as Sealand, once home to offshore station Radio Essex and now a self-proclaimed independent state, is in ruins following a fire yesterday that forced the evacuation of the fort. The “Principality of Sealand’ lies six miles off the British coast between Felixstowe and Harwich. The fire started in a generator, and spread to [...] (more)

RTÉ to seek new DAB radio licence
From Media Network Weblog. Posted June 21 2006, 2.24pm
Irish public broadcaster RTÉ has today announced that it will seek a licence to begin a DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting) radio service on the east coast from Dublin to Louth later this year. The announcement follows a successful six-month trial of DAB along the east coast involving RTÉ Radio 1, RTÉ 2fm, RTÉ Radió na [...] (more)

Big Brother Star Switches on New Radio Station
From Merry Media. Posted June 15 2006, 2.48pm
Star of Big Brother 6 Eugene Sully has officially switched on the new digital radio station for Sussex - Passion Radio. Broadcasting to a potential 715,000 listeners across the South Coast, the station is one of only a handful of independently owned DAB services in the UK. Following 5 years on air as an internet station, and a successful trial FM broadcast during May, the station is now available on DAB Digital Radio from Chichester through to Hastings playing a mix of classic and new dance and party tunes alongside travel, news and information for Sussex.. (more)

Eugene turns on the Passion
From Radio Today. Posted June 15 2006, 12.15am
Runner-up of Big Brother 6 Eugene Sully has officially switched on Passion Radio, the new digital radio station for Sussex. Following 5 years on-air as an internet station, and a successful trial FM broadcast during May, the station is now available to a potential 715,000 listeners across the South Coast on DAB Digital Radio. Playing a mix of classic and new dance and party tunes alongside travel, news and information for Sussex, the station is one of only a handful of independently-owned DAB services in the UK. Alongside Eugene, who presents a Sunday Morning show, the schedule also boasts dance stars Graham Gold, Matt Darey, Adam H and the popular Hed Kandi radio show. (more)

Big Brother 6 star switches on new radio station for Sussex
From Media Network Weblog. Posted June 14 2006, 7.39pm
Star of Big Brother 6 (UK), Eugene Sully has officially switched on the new digital radio station for Sussex. Broadcasting to a potential 715,000 listeners across the South Coast of England, the station is one of only a handful of independently-owned DAB services in the UK. Following 5 years on-air as an internet station, and a successful [...] (more)

RTM Sabah DJ's broadcast while parasailing
From Media Network Weblog. Posted June 11 2006, 11.23am
Six Sabah Vfm DJ's yesterday achieved a first by broadcasting their programme while parasailing at Manukan island off the coast of Kota Kinabalu. Pulled along by three speedboats, the six were strapped to three parachutes and glided at an altitude of 200 metres for 30 minutes. Sabah Vfm is a Radio Television Malaysia (RTM) radio station that broadcast programmes in English, Dusun, Mandarin, Murut, (more)

Former Denver Morning Host Found Shot Off California Coast
From radio.about.com. Posted June 5 2006, 6.04am
From thedenverchannel.com: "A man whose voice once served as an alarm clock for thousands of Denver-area radio listeners is dead...A ship's captain found the body of Steven B.Williams, 59, floating... (more)

Ariane rocket orbits satellites for Mexico, Thailand
From Media Network Weblog. Posted May 28 2006, 12.19pm
A heavy-lift Ariane-5 rocket put telecommunications satellites into orbit for Mexico and Thailand after a launch from French Guiana late on Saturday, space officials said. The rocket blasted-off from Europe's space base in Kourou, on the northeast coast of South America at 6:09 p.m. (2109 UTC). Twenty-seven minutes after the launch, the rocket released into a preliminary orbit Satmex-6, a 5.7 (more)

Mel Booth to join TLRC
From Radio Today. Posted May 22 2006, 3.45pm
The Local Radio Company has hired Mel Booth as its regional managing director for stations in Yorkshire and the North East - in a move to strengthen its operational management. Mel joins from UTV-owned Wave FM in Blackpool, where he is currently Managing Director. Prior to this, he worked as Managing Director for Emap-owned Viking Radio in Hull and Metro Radio in Newcastle. His responsibilities will include Minster FM in York, Yorkshire Coast Radio, Stray FM in Harrogate, Home FM in Huddersfield, Sun in Sunderland, Durham, and Alpha in Darlington. He will report to TLRC’s newly appointed Managing Director – Radio, Sally Oldham. (more)

Bridge Radio for Isle of Sheppey
From Radio Today. Posted May 19 2006, 8.15am
The Isle of Sheppey, just off the North Kent Coast was one of the eight new areas to gain a new radio station this week as Ofcom awarded the final batch of Community Radio licences for round one. BRFM - or Bridge Radio FM is run by Danny Lawrence and aims to provide a community service to the 37,000 population on the Isle of Sheppey. It was Danny's child hood ambition to run his own radio station and this week that ambition has come true. He told RadioToday.co.uk: "Now the licence has been awarded we can move forward and produce good community radio for the area." (more)

Ivory Coast: Ban on FM broadcasting by RFI lifted after 10 months
From Media Network Weblog. Posted May 16 2006, 12.01pm
The National Council for Broadcast Communication (CNCA) gave its permission on 12 May for French public broadcaster Radio France Internationale (RFI) to resume broadcasting in Côte d’Ivoire on FM frequencies. In return, RFI undertook to quickly strengthen its regional coverage, pay the CNCA 9 million CFA francs (14,000 euros) and "adhere to ethical criteria and professional conduct in its news (more)

Breaking News: Tsunami warnings issued for Fiji and New Zealand
From Media Network Weblog. Posted May 3 2006, 6.10pm
Tsunami warnings have been issued for Fiji and New Zealand after an earthquake measuring a magnitude of about 8.0 shook the southern Pacific Ocean at 1526 UTC. The quake's epicentre was about 90 miles off the coast of Tonga, according to the US Geological Survey. Radio New Zealand International has signed on for the day, and can be heard worldwide via the live audio streams on this page. (more)

Passion comes alive on FM
From Radio Today. Posted April 27 2006, 8.15pm
Dance stars Graham Gold, Matt Darey, Adam H and the popular Hed Kandi brand are all appearing on a brand new radio station launching in Sussex. Passion Radio has enjoyed success as an internet only station playing a mix of classic and new dance to an audience of 53,000 music fans. Now, with an 28 day FM licence to broadcast to Brighton & Hove and having recently been granted permission to broadcast on DAB Digital Radio to Sussex the station is setting the South Coast airwaves alight. (more)

Dutch Radio 1 also to be on FM in Stuttgart & Frankfurt
From Media Network Weblog. Posted April 27 2006, 7.05pm
Kai Ludwig reports: NOS Radio 1 has also received authorization by LfK and LPR Hessen, respectively, for low power FM transmissions around the stadiums during the World Cup matches Netherlands - Ivory Coast at Stuttgart on 16 June and Netherlands - Argentina at Frankfurt am Main on 21 June. "Bundesnetzagentur is responsible for allocating the frequencies" says DPA, so perhaps they were not (more)

SES Americom retires Spacenet-4 After 15 years' service
From Media Network Weblog. Posted April 19 2006, 2.14pm
SES Americom has conducted its last operations on the Spacenet-4 (SN-4) satellite, safely de-orbiting the satellite more than 200 km beyond the geosynchronous orbital belt. Since late 2000, the satellite provided C-band intercontinental connectivity across the Pacific Ocean from 172 degrees East to customers delivering content between East Asia and the US west coast. In operation since 1991, SN-4 (more)

Compass sends kids back to ’50s
From Radio Today. Posted March 14 2006, 5.22pm
Compass FM has been busy helping local school children get to grips with radio 1950s style! The radio station has been helping pupils from William Barcroft Junior School for several months as they study the 1950s and prepare to fill an hour of the forthcoming Youth Coast Radio project. Over the last few months Richard Lyon, Breakfast Show presenter at Compass FM, has given up his time to help the children prepare their show; from putting a running order together through to directing voice sessions as well as recording the launch sequence and the commercials which will be aired in the 1950s style hour. (more)

UN radio station in the Ivory Coast expands coverage
From Media Network Weblog. Posted March 13 2006, 1.24pm
The United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in the Ivory Coast (ONUCI) has announced that its radio station - ONUCI FM - can now be heard in the Bandama region. ONUCI FM, which provides general information, was created by the mission to promote peace and national reconciliation. Since 15 August 2004, it has been broadcasting news and feature programmes on politics, economics and culture in French. (more)

Hot Bird 7A finally launched from French Guiana
From Media Network Weblog. Posted March 12 2006, 11.12am
A heavy-lift Ariane-5 rocket put two telecommunications satellites into orbit after a long delayed launch from French Guiana late on Saturday, space officials said. The rocket blasted-off from Europe's space base in Kourou, on the northeast coast of South America at 2232 UTC. Initially due to be launched on February 21, the mission was delayed three times because of technical problems. One of the (more)

Portland Loses '70s Music: WMGX Changes Format
From radio.about.com. Posted March 10 2006, 3.30pm
MainToday.com reports: One of Portland's best-known radio stations, WMGX (93.1 FM), abruptly changed its name and altered its music line-up Thursday in an effort to gain more listeners. At 2 p.m. Thursday, WMGX changed its on-air name to Coast 93.1... (more)

Nick Girdler leaves Radio Solent
From Radio Today. Posted March 1 2006, 8.00am
One of the giants of BBC Radio Solent, Nick Girdler, the principal of the University of the Shed, leader of Albert's Gang and the voice of the station for more than 34 years, is hanging up his microphone for a sailing experience around Britain. Nick, who has shared tales of his yacht with listeners, is planning a long trip working his way round the British coast. (more)

New PD appointed at Q102 Dublin
From Radio Today. Posted February 13 2006, 5.04pm
Mark Sadler (36) will join Dublin’s Q102 as Programme Director in April 2006. Mark is joining Q102 from MTV Networks UK & Ireland where he has been Vice President, Music, since 2002 with responsibility for devising the music policy for 9 MTV, TMF and VH1 branded channels. With more than 12 years commercial radio experience, Mark has enjoyed a highly successful 10 year career with Capital Radio plc where he was appointed Regional Programme Director of South Coast Operations in 2000. He has also worked as Programme Director at Capital’s Southern FM, Power FM and Ocean FM helping these stations achieve record audiences. (more)

New PD at Q102 Dublin
From Radio Today. Posted February 13 2006, 5.04pm
Mark Sadler will join Dublin’s Q102 as Programme Director in April 2006. Mark is joining Q102 from MTV Networks UK & Ireland where he has been Vice President, Music, since 2002 with responsibility for devising the music policy for 9 MTV, TMF and VH1 branded channels. With more than 12 years commercial radio experience, Mark has enjoyed a highly successful 10 year career with Capital Radio plc where he was appointed Regional Programme Director of South Coast Operations in 2000. He has also worked as Programme Director at Capital’s Southern FM, Power FM and Ocean FM helping these stations achieve record audiences. (more)

WorldSpace adds two South African channels
From Media Network Weblog. Posted February 1 2006, 12.36pm
WorldSpace Satellite Radio has announced that it has launched two new channels on its satellite radio network. The channels, East Coast Radio and Jacaranda, are available on the company's AfriStar satellite and are accessible to subscribers across southern Africa. Jacaranda (channel 25), a leading South African brand, is predominately a music station that broadcasts in both English and (more)

MacKenzie could buy from GCap
From Radio Today. Posted January 26 2006, 12.47pm
Reports today suggest that Kelvin MacKenzie, former Chairman of The Wireless Group, could be in poll position to buy nine stations from GCap Media. The deal could see MacKenzie making a come back into radio and in charge of ex-Marcher Group stations in the Northwest and North Wales: MFM, Buzz 97.1, Coast FM and Champion FM and Southwest stations Gemini FM, Plymouth Sound, Orchard FM, Lantern FM and South Hams Radio. (more)

RSF says siege of state broadcaster in Ivory Coast has ended
From Media Network Weblog. Posted January 22 2006, 12.01pm
Press freedom watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) says it has learned that the siege of the Ivory Coast's state broadcaster RadioTélévision Ivoirienne (RTI) by several hundred Young Patriots was lifted last night and normal programming has resumed. RSF says most employees were able to return to their posts and talks are under way to "identify the lessons to be drawn" from the events of the (more)

Hate broadcasts spurring Ivory Coast attacks - UN
From Media Network Weblog. Posted January 19 2006, 9.31am
Ivory Coast radio stations are inciting people to arm themselves and attack the United Nations, the world body said yesterday, calling on the government to immediately halt the hate broadcasts. "This is unacceptable and must cease immediately," UN chief spokesman Stephane Dujarric said, calling the broadcasts "particularly disturbing" as a wave of attacks on UN peacekeepers went into a third (more)

John Dash joins UTV as Group PD
From Radio Today. Posted January 16 2006, 11.46am
John Dash will join UTV Radio this month as ILR Group Programme Director with responsibility for programming across UTV’s 17 local radio stations in the UK. With more than 25 years experience in commercial radio, John is one of the industry’s most experienced programmers. A graduate of Bradford University, John was formerly programme director at Red Dragon in Cardiff, Key 103 in Manchester, Galaxy 101 in Bristol and most recently at Wave 105 on the south coast which won the accolade of ‘Commercial Station of the Year’ in 2004. (more)

Suria FM officially launches in Malaysia
From Media Network Weblog. Posted December 31 2005, 10.57am
After two months of test transmissions, a new commercial radio station - Suria FM - was officially launched in Malaysia yesterday. The station will broadcast a mixture of music and news, and targets an audience aged between 18 and 45. Suria FM broadcasts 24 hours a day on 105.3MHz in the Klang Valley and 105.9MHz in Kota Kinabalu, and plans to expand service to the west coast by March 2006 and to (more)

East Anglia switched on
From Radio Today. Posted December 19 2005, 8.26am
Digital One, the national commercial digital radio multiplex operator, has switched on three new transmitters, in Great Yarmouth, Oulton and Great Massingham. The Great Yarmouth transmitter brings national commercial DAB digital radio coverage to more than 110,000 people, the Oulton transmitter reaches 156,000 people and Great Massingham reaches 107,140. The areas covered by the three transmitters include Great Yarmouth, Lowestoft, Kings Lynn and parts of coastal East Anglia. (more)

Digital One adds transmitters
From Radio Today. Posted December 15 2005, 1.54am
Digital One, the national commercial digital radio multiplex operator, has announced that it has switched on two new transmitters, in Great Yarmouth and Oulton. The Great Yarmouth transmitter brings national commercial DAB digital radio coverage to more than 110,000 people and the Oulton transmitter reaches another 156,000 people. The two transmitters bring coverage to Great Yarmouth, Lowestoft and parts of coastal East Anglia. (more)