if it becomes Jack FM? Celador may just network it down south. Keeping all current jocks for breakfast and drive. Specialist output is still required with the Scotland license?
If anything I'd say the 2 XS licenses are the most likely to be hiJACKed.
..by TeamRock. Ofcom wouldn't allow anymore format changes.. not forgetting Q96..
If Jack is mostly automated, they could just be local in Scotland throughout the day and do pre-records overnight?
..by TeamRock. Ofcom wouldn't allow anymore format changes.. not forgetting Q96..
If Jack is mostly automated, they could just be local in Scotland throughout the day and do pre-records overnight?
There wouldn't need to be any format changes for the Real XS licences to become Jack. Jack - as well as being a brand - is a programming ethos, not a music policy.
Jack can be 'rock' as much as it can be 'adult hits'. It can even be contemporary and classic 'pop'.
I agree though; an acquisition by Team Rock is more likely than Celador (or anyone else) buying the licences and calling them 'Jack'.
There wouldn't need to be any format changes for the Real XS licences to become Jack. Jack - as well as being a brand - is a programming ethos, not a music policy.
Jack can be 'rock' as much as it can be 'adult hits'. It can even be contemporary and classic 'pop'.
Yes, that's supposedly the 'joy' of the Jack format, it can be applied to any musical style/genre.
So in theory Jack could easily take over the licences of Capital, XS, XFM, even Smooth if they put their mind to it, without a format change.
Yes, that's supposedly the 'joy' of the Jack format, it can be applied to any musical style/genre.
So in theory Jack could easily take over the licences of Capital, XS, XFM, even Smooth if they put their mind to it, without a format change.
But would people want a spotify styled station with one breakfast show in Scotland? Rather than the current Global Radio output obligations? Surely do live daytime output but from after 7pm; pre-recorded shows - if Celador buys any global station (XS excluded)
Firstly, Jack formats are not free lunches. True they don't have to employ live presenters outside breakfast but there are still significant costs involved in paying producers, and people to write the 'copy' that is used on the sweepers in between the songs.
The real question being asked here is, could the station that is currently Capital Scotland survive as a stand-alone if they simply just ran non-stop music for as much time as they could get away with? A live breakfast show then non stop hits from 10am to 6am, let's say.
Even without presenter costs, the station would still face the significant fixed costs of being a stand-alone.
Also, I'm not sure OFCOM would wear it. Presenter-less formats such as Jack (and XU of old) justify it by claiming to still offer good content to listeners, difference being it's done by producers etc rather than jocks. It's still a big leap from that to just switching on the automation at 10 am and that's it for the day.
S&P opps would be non existent outside breakfast.
How might such a service do in RAJAR without jocks? That's the unknowable.
Firstly, Jack formats are not free lunches. True they don't have to employ live presenters outside breakfast but there are still significant costs involved in paying producers, and people to write the 'copy' that is used on the sweepers in between the songs.
The real question being asked here is, could the station that is currently Capital Scotland survive as a stand-alone if they simply just ran non-stop music for as much time as they could get away with? A live breakfast show then non stop hits from 10am to 6am, let's say.
Even without presenter costs, the station would still face the significant fixed costs of being a stand-alone.
Also, I'm not sure OFCOM would wear it. Presenter-less formats such as Jack (and XU of old) justify it by claiming to still offer good content to listeners, difference being it's done by producers etc rather than jocks. It's still a big leap from that to just switching on the automation at 10 am and that's it for the day.
S&P opps would be non existent outside breakfast.
How might such a service do in RAJAR without jocks? That's the unknowable.
One thing they wouldn't do if they were going to go local 24hours again, is have that Beat 106/Clyde 1 presenter structure.. I'm sure since the axing of Real Radio's daytime output and the launch of Bauer's In Demand Scotland brand. There are a few good jocks looking for jobs out in Scotland.
Fraser Thompson, Cat Cubie & Karen B are a few good ones to look into!
One thing they wouldn't do if they were going to go local 24hours again, is have that Beat 106/Clyde 1 presenter structure.. I'm sure since the axing of Real Radio's daytime output and the launch of Bauer's In Demand Scotland brand. There are a few good jocks looking for jobs out in Scotland.
Fraser Thompson, Cat Cubie & Karen B are a few good ones to look into!
Perhaps one option would be to have as a VTd service outwith breakfast.
I dare say there may well be interest if Global have to sell either Capital Scotland or Smooth. As L107 showed, there is always someone willing to have a go. So you never know.
Just a thought re: North Wales. The former Champion & Marcher Coast are sold, whilst Wrexham/Chester and Wirral licence are kept by Global. Real in North Wales becomes Heart (along with Real South Wales) Wrexham/Chester/Wirral becomes Capital.
So, thinking outside the box, if Global keep Capital in Cardiff, 103.4FM becomes Capital Wales, possibly sharing programmes with Cardiff, 97.1FM shares programming with Capital Manchester. 97.1 FM can be received across Cheshire, so split the freqency 97.1 for Cheshire/Birkenhead (creating a mini Capital North West linking with Manchester, and a sort of Capital Wales linking Wrexham/North East Wales with Cardiff/South Wales).
Might one option in Scotland be to hand over the Capital licence to a volunteer group? This would then be operated as a kind of student/ community service, perhaps drawing on programming and personnel from student and community stations and giving them a wider platform?
The same might apply to Real XS 96.3 which could also go to a local community group.
Having these licences lovingly tended by volunteers may be the only way.
Just a thought re: North Wales. The former Champion & Marcher Coast are sold, whilst Wrexham/Chester and Wirral licence are kept by Global. Real in North Wales becomes Heart (along with Real South Wales) Wrexham/Chester/Wirral becomes Capital.
So, thinking outside the box, if Global keep Capital in Cardiff, 103.4FM becomes Capital Wales, possibly sharing programmes with Cardiff, 97.1FM shares programming with Capital Manchester. 97.1 FM can be received across Cheshire, so split the freqency 97.1 for Cheshire/Birkenhead (creating a mini Capital North West linking with Manchester, and a sort of Capital Wales linking Wrexham/North East Wales with Cardiff/South Wales).
This would be brilliant! Then, if you had Gold on 100.4 and Magic on 105.9, there would be almost no need for me to have a DAB radio. I'd only need it for Smooth 70's.
This would be brilliant! Then, if you had Gold on 100.4 and Magic on 105.9, there would be almost no need for me to have a DAB radio. I'd only need it for Smooth 70's.
If Gold had replaced Smooth, then Smooth 70s wouldn't exist anymore - so you'd have no need at all for DAB!!!
Might one option in Scotland be to hand over the Capital licence to a volunteer group? This would then be operated as a kind of student/ community service, perhaps drawing on programming and personnel from student and community stations and giving them a wider platform?
The same might apply to Real XS 96.3 which could also go to a local community group.
Having these licences lovingly tended by volunteers may be the only way.
The licences are currently commercial which means they have various commitments like having to provide full time journalists to cover local news and other things, which is why they struggle to make a profit.
As I understand (and can be corrected)
If a local community group is interested they have to go through community radio "rounds", if the commercial licences are handed back it might be the FM frequencies are reused at lower power by community winners of the rounds? (as happened recently with Rinse and Reprezence in London).
But I am sure that some commercial group may be interested in either Capital or Smooth Scotland, not so sure about someone like Teamrock or Jack taking on the FM licence commitments on low power Real XS, but it will be a while till round 4 is advertised if the licence is handed back for community use?
Unless they make it Gold 70's and retain Casey Kasem, Sweeney and The Disco Lunch
It would be good if they did, but I vaguely remember reading that Global aren't keen on these decade stations.
Either way, it'll be interesting to see what happens with the old Marcher stations, because with Heart coming to 105.4, they'll have to do something with them.
It would be good if they did, but I vaguely remember reading that Global aren't keen on these decade stations.
Either way, it'll be interesting to see what happens with the old Marcher stations, because with Heart coming to 105.4, they'll have to do something with them.
They might just sell or hand back the North Wales licence for Real Radio and merge the former Marcher stations with Real South Wales. The Wirral station could then merge with Real North West. I am not convinced that Global would sacrifice the former Macher stations for the North Wales Real licence, if one has to go my money is on the latter.
They might just sell or hand back the North Wales licence for Real Radio and merge the former Marcher stations with Real South Wales. The Wirral station could then merge with Real North West. I am not convinced that Global would sacrifice the former Macher stations for the North Wales Real licence, if one has to go my money is on the latter.
Real Radio's North & Mid-Wales licence covers a *far* larger area than the existing Marcher Group Heart stations do.
By keeping both of the Real licence, Global will then have the means to make a future Heart Wales a truly national operation.
Look at the survey areas on the RAB website.
If the Real licence were the one that was got rid of, Global would then be unable to deliver Heart on FM to vast tracts of mid-Wales, although I appreciate it's not particularly densely populated.
Real Radio's North & Mid-Wales licence covers a *far* larger area than the existing Marcher Group Heart stations do.
By keeping both of the Real licence, Global will then have the means to make a future Heart Wales a truly national operation.
And the Real licence doesn't come with any Welsh language programming requirements which I'm sure Global would love to rid themselves of tomorrow.
Interesting comment up-thread about them keeping the ex-MFM and Buzz licences though - both have viable competition, unlike Coast and Champion, so not out of the question.
And the Real licence doesn't come with any Welsh language programming requirements which I'm sure Global would love to rid themselves of tomorrow.
Interesting comment up-thread about them keeping the ex-MFM and Buzz licences though - both have viable competition, unlike Coast and Champion, so not out of the question.
I could see them keeping the MFMBuzz licence as well. The CC split Heart North West and North Wales when looking into the merger:
North Wales
<snip>
81. The parties indicated that it was appropriate to include only Heart revenues from the
North Wales coast, and Anglesey and Gwynedd transmitters. Revenues from L31
Wrexham and Chester and the Wirral are instead included in Global’s North-West regional market share.
The CC’s only problem in the North West seemed to be Manchester so potentially they could keep the old MFMBuzz licence and also the North Wales regional but sell off the North Wales Coast and Anglesey licence.
If they kept the North Wales regional, I wonder if they would be allowed to swap frequencies between that and the local licence – so Heart continues on 103.4, 96.3 and 103 avoiding confusion?
They might just sell or hand back the North Wales licence for Real Radio and merge the former Marcher stations with Real South Wales. The Wirral station could then merge with Real North West. I am not convinced that Global would sacrifice the former Macher stations for the North Wales Real licence, if one has to go my money is on the latter.
But there would be no advantage to merging Heart Wirral into Real NW, as Real covers the Wirral as well. In fact, the same could really be said for the Wrexham/Chester Heart, although I believe officially Real NW doesn't overlap.
If the ex-Marchers became Capital or were sold off, so Real became Heart, Global would have to get the existing Heart audience to re tune, which is a gamble and I don't think has been done anywhere before.
The other problem with keeping the ex-Marcher stations and selling Real North Wales off is that Real North Wales is simply a chain of transmitters that carry the Cardiff service. Anyone coming in would have to set up a base. Selling off the Marcher group does at least give prospective buyers more of an infrastructure to work from.
But there would be no advantage to merging Heart Wirral into Real NW, as Real covers the Wirral as well. In fact, the same could really be said for the Wrexham/Chester Heart, although I believe officially Real NW doesn't overlap.
If the ex-Marchers became Capital or were sold off, so Real became Heart, Global would have to get the existing Heart audience to re tune, which is a gamble and I don't think has been done anywhere before.
The other problem with keeping the ex-Marcher stations and selling Real North Wales off is that Real North Wales is simply a chain of transmitters that carry the Cardiff service. Anyone coming in would have to set up a base. Selling off the Marcher group does at least give prospective buyers more of an infrastructure to work from.
My thinking is that the gamble of getting people to retune would be huge. Also say the Heart stations in North Wales were sold before a rebrand (which I assume is likely) then new owners arent going to promote the new Heart.
The only way it could work would be CC allowing Global a reasonable amount of time to sell. Global rebrand real straight away and have a huge campaign in the North to retune. They then sell the former Marcher stations to Town and County who strip them down to 1 live breakfast and voicetracking al day!
Looking at the RAB maps, the only Marcher station which Global might want to keep (if they sell the rest) is the Wrexham station, as that covers areas which officially neither Real NW nor Real Wales do, such as Oswestry and neighbouring areas of Shropshire and Cheshire.
However, in practise, I suspect Real Wales' Moel-y-Parc relay covers that area perfectly adequately, and I doubt Real NW from Winter Hill is hard to get in that part of the world either.
Looking at the RAB maps, the only Marcher station which Global might want to keep (if they sell the rest) is the Wrexham station, as that covers areas which officially neither Real NW nor Real Wales do, such as Oswestry and neighbouring areas of Shropshire and Cheshire.
However, in practise, I suspect Real Wales' Moel-y-Parc relay covers that area perfectly adequately, and I doubt Real NW from Winter Hill is hard to get in that part of the world either.
The RAB maps are what the stations choose to survey listeners in RAJAR rather than any official coverage.
Heart on 103.4 and Real on 88.0 both broadcast from the same transmitter on the same power so I would imagine their coverage is broadly the same. From my experience it broadly seems to be the same.
Comments
If anything I'd say the 2 XS licenses are the most likely to be hiJACKed.
Jack only has a breakfast show.
..by TeamRock. Ofcom wouldn't allow anymore format changes.. not forgetting Q96..
If Jack is mostly automated, they could just be local in Scotland throughout the day and do pre-records overnight?
There wouldn't need to be any format changes for the Real XS licences to become Jack. Jack - as well as being a brand - is a programming ethos, not a music policy.
Jack can be 'rock' as much as it can be 'adult hits'. It can even be contemporary and classic 'pop'.
I agree though; an acquisition by Team Rock is more likely than Celador (or anyone else) buying the licences and calling them 'Jack'.
So in theory Jack could easily take over the licences of Capital, XS, XFM, even Smooth if they put their mind to it, without a format change.
The real question being asked here is, could the station that is currently Capital Scotland survive as a stand-alone if they simply just ran non-stop music for as much time as they could get away with? A live breakfast show then non stop hits from 10am to 6am, let's say.
Even without presenter costs, the station would still face the significant fixed costs of being a stand-alone.
Also, I'm not sure OFCOM would wear it. Presenter-less formats such as Jack (and XU of old) justify it by claiming to still offer good content to listeners, difference being it's done by producers etc rather than jocks. It's still a big leap from that to just switching on the automation at 10 am and that's it for the day.
S&P opps would be non existent outside breakfast.
How might such a service do in RAJAR without jocks? That's the unknowable.
One thing they wouldn't do if they were going to go local 24hours again, is have that Beat 106/Clyde 1 presenter structure.. I'm sure since the axing of Real Radio's daytime output and the launch of Bauer's In Demand Scotland brand. There are a few good jocks looking for jobs out in Scotland.
Fraser Thompson, Cat Cubie & Karen B are a few good ones to look into!
Perhaps one option would be to have as a VTd service outwith breakfast.
I dare say there may well be interest if Global have to sell either Capital Scotland or Smooth. As L107 showed, there is always someone willing to have a go. So you never know.
So, thinking outside the box, if Global keep Capital in Cardiff, 103.4FM becomes Capital Wales, possibly sharing programmes with Cardiff, 97.1FM shares programming with Capital Manchester. 97.1 FM can be received across Cheshire, so split the freqency 97.1 for Cheshire/Birkenhead (creating a mini Capital North West linking with Manchester, and a sort of Capital Wales linking Wrexham/North East Wales with Cardiff/South Wales).
The same might apply to Real XS 96.3 which could also go to a local community group.
Having these licences lovingly tended by volunteers may be the only way.
If Gold had replaced Smooth, then Smooth 70s wouldn't exist anymore - so you'd have no need at all for DAB!!!
As I understand (and can be corrected)
If a local community group is interested they have to go through community radio "rounds", if the commercial licences are handed back it might be the FM frequencies are reused at lower power by community winners of the rounds? (as happened recently with Rinse and Reprezence in London).
But I am sure that some commercial group may be interested in either Capital or Smooth Scotland, not so sure about someone like Teamrock or Jack taking on the FM licence commitments on low power Real XS, but it will be a while till round 4 is advertised if the licence is handed back for community use?
Unless they make it Gold 70's and retain Casey Kasem, Sweeney and The Disco Lunch
It would be good if they did, but I vaguely remember reading that Global aren't keen on these decade stations.
Either way, it'll be interesting to see what happens with the old Marcher stations, because with Heart coming to 105.4, they'll have to do something with them.
By keeping both of the Real licence, Global will then have the means to make a future Heart Wales a truly national operation.
Look at the survey areas on the RAB website.
If the Real licence were the one that was got rid of, Global would then be unable to deliver Heart on FM to vast tracts of mid-Wales, although I appreciate it's not particularly densely populated.
And the Real licence doesn't come with any Welsh language programming requirements which I'm sure Global would love to rid themselves of tomorrow.
Interesting comment up-thread about them keeping the ex-MFM and Buzz licences though - both have viable competition, unlike Coast and Champion, so not out of the question.
I could see them keeping the MFMBuzz licence as well. The CC split Heart North West and North Wales when looking into the merger:
The CC’s only problem in the North West seemed to be Manchester so potentially they could keep the old MFMBuzz licence and also the North Wales regional but sell off the North Wales Coast and Anglesey licence.
If they kept the North Wales regional, I wonder if they would be allowed to swap frequencies between that and the local licence – so Heart continues on 103.4, 96.3 and 103 avoiding confusion?
But there would be no advantage to merging Heart Wirral into Real NW, as Real covers the Wirral as well. In fact, the same could really be said for the Wrexham/Chester Heart, although I believe officially Real NW doesn't overlap.
If the ex-Marchers became Capital or were sold off, so Real became Heart, Global would have to get the existing Heart audience to re tune, which is a gamble and I don't think has been done anywhere before.
The other problem with keeping the ex-Marcher stations and selling Real North Wales off is that Real North Wales is simply a chain of transmitters that carry the Cardiff service. Anyone coming in would have to set up a base. Selling off the Marcher group does at least give prospective buyers more of an infrastructure to work from.
The only way it could work would be CC allowing Global a reasonable amount of time to sell. Global rebrand real straight away and have a huge campaign in the North to retune. They then sell the former Marcher stations to Town and County who strip them down to 1 live breakfast and voicetracking al day!
However, in practise, I suspect Real Wales' Moel-y-Parc relay covers that area perfectly adequately, and I doubt Real NW from Winter Hill is hard to get in that part of the world either.
The RAB maps are what the stations choose to survey listeners in RAJAR rather than any official coverage.
Heart on 103.4 and Real on 88.0 both broadcast from the same transmitter on the same power so I would imagine their coverage is broadly the same. From my experience it broadly seems to be the same.