Glad you now understand it.

I'm interested to see how Global will market Smooth particularly the TV ad.

It will be the first time for many years, if not ever, a lot of the AM licences have ever been part of a brand with TV advertising as well - be interesting to see how that effects the figures. Although I would imagine they'll only buy ITV in the FM regions - unless they can get a discount overall?

However in this digital age they'll benefit from any adverts placed on national TV - I suspect TV advertising has contributed to the good figures Capital now has outside its FM areas for example.

Sounds dreadful.

And that is really what builds an audience???????
Or damn lousy scheduling.

That would be Michael Buble -- I know this because Earshot published their entry about it earlier than they should've!

Funny, Michael also launched Smooth FM in Australia.

I don't think the 8 stations replacing Smooth national is of any advantage. Listeners can only receive one.

We need more national commercial stations. National stations should always attract larger audiences and hence higher paid and better quality presenters. Yes, Capital Xtra and Kisstory are welcomed but let's hope there will be more national music stations from other owners to cater for wider audiences. Perhaps D2 will provide this need, although I won't hold my breath.

If there were national commercial stations from different owners competing with Gold and Smooth today I don't believe this removal of presenters and degradation of playlists would be happening to Gold and Smooth.

Heard Simon alerting listeners in the North West and North East and saying nice things about Darren Parks and Steve Coleman around 8.20 this morning. Don't know if Gareth Evans and Nigel Freshman were mentioned in another link.

Heard a new advert yesterday. Advertising the new smooth from next week and a new quiz in the evenings and the new line up etc. Lets hope the playlist gets a lot better.

'What a great loss. Such a legend in Broadcasting. Simon Bates will be sadly missed. Hope he dosnt be a stranger'

a dignified end with a fitting Golden Hour hope he is back (in London) very soon.

have a well deserved lie in on Monday.

I didn't realise that Amara. It might be worth repeating

You think how many GOOD well known Presenters have or leaving Smooth/ Gold this Week..Sad Times! ( thanks Global!!)

I wonder where Simon will end up next. He know doubt take a break?

Simon signing off was ' So Long'

It's difficult where too put these talented DJs now. Only Radio 2.

A great shame that he left. I recorded the final 2½ hours of his show if anyone needs it...

Another option could have been if Global just got the Real stations to turn into Heart and Commicorp took national Smooth so it would remain independent and complete with Gold? But would probably have not satisfied the competition commission which was only looking at the regional analogue sales areas, and perhaps be less profitable for Glonal and Commicorp?

Same songs, same acts, day after day..
Beegees, Carpenters & Buble ad Nauseum

Didn't one of the EX Radio 1 Djs try to set up a radio station with ex R1 djs but just didn't work?

Lot are moving into BBC Local too.

I see Nigel Freshman on Twitter described Smooth as 'a place to dip into when you want to chill out, then bugger off somewhere else for some noise'

They don't hang around moving there ex Djs profiles. I wonder how Simon felt leaving Smooth?

I made a special effort to listen to Simon's last half an hour.

His simple 'so long' and then something about fish was all he said at the end.

Did he say his goodbyes earlier in the show?

I'm sure Tony Blackburn at the start of his show this morning on BBC Berkshire (10.00am) made a fraudulent slip and said Bates instead of mates. Did anyone else notice?

Well they could never stand the sight of each other so i doubt it was a show of solidarity

As there hasn't been any news about the new service that's replacing Smooth on Digital One can we assume Smooth is staying for the time being and won't cease on Monday morning?

yes, as quoted on Wilki:
"Solitaire" is a ballad written by Neil Sedaka and Phil Cody. Cody employs playing the card game of solitaire as a metaphor for a man "who lost his love through his indifference" - "while life goes on around him everywhere he's playing solitaire". The song is best known via its rendition by the Carpenters...."

Glad they played it, gives the rest of the songs on their Greatest Hits Cd a chance to cool down.....