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Smooth National Radio Thread |
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#1351 |
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Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Kent, UK
Posts: 2,711
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I'm sure I heard Pat say yesterday something about an annoucement or there is something to come regarding an 80's show and Andi Peters in particular.
If so they seem to come across fairly confident that there is a future regarding the Smooth brand, otherwise why introduce the possibilty of new shows? |
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#1352 |
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Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,991
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Quote:
I'm sure I heard Pat say yesterday something about an annoucement or there is something to come regarding an 80's show and Andi Peters in particular.
If so they seem to come across fairly confident that there is a future regarding the Smooth brand, otherwise why introduce the possibilty of new shows? |
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#1353 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,229
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Quote:
If Global is allowed/keeps smooth it will be a good 6 months at the very earliest until anything happens regarding programming.
After all they've had months to plan what they're going to do. |
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#1354 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 10,877
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Plus we've seen changes to Real Radio already with a very different sound to the playlist since the start of the year, so they could make tweaks to Smooth if desired.
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#1355 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 4,475
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Quote:
I wouldn't be so sure. I reckon Richard Park's champing at the bit to get hold of a brand Global see as failing, and while there may not be a wholesale rebrand from day 1 I've no doubt there'll be noticeable changes to the output within weeks if not days of the CC's decision (assuming it goes Global's way).
After all they've had months to plan what they're going to do. Obviously that would influence any programming decisions being taken now. |
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#1356 |
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Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,229
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Quote:
Agreed, and I have wondered if there is a dialogue going on between the Competition Commission and the parties (Global & RSL) so they will have a good idea of how it's going and the likely outcome on 22 May, even though the public won't be aware until the press announcement is made.
Obviously that would influence any programming decisions being taken now. If the CC were to keep the parties involved fully in the loop, in a deal involving publicly listed companies that could lead to the possibility of insider dealing which would be illegal so I'd guess the CC doesn't give anything away that could potentially influence share prices. (I know that's not an issue in this case, but presumably the CC's usual policies apply regardless.) |
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#1357 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,991
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Quote:
I wouldn't be so sure. I reckon Richard Park's champing at the bit to get hold of a brand Global see as failing, and while there may not be a wholesale rebrand from day 1 I've no doubt there'll be noticeable changes to the output within weeks if not days of the CC's decision (assuming it goes Global's way).
After all they've had months to plan what they're going to do. |
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#1358 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Sussex
Posts: 25,513
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I don't know why Smooth don't get Totally 80's with Gary King onto the Station?
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#1359 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Sussex
Posts: 25,513
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Smooth Radio London drops from 626,000 to 430,000.
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#1360 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,628
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Quote:
I don't know why Smooth don't get Totally 80's with Gary King onto the Station?
Totally 80's is great for tin pot stations but not for huge ones. |
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#1361 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 460
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Quote:
Smooth Radio London drops from 626,000 to 430,000.
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#1362 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,227
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Smooth has changed considerably over the past 6 months very little "new" music is played anymore and its almost another oldies station. Different tracks in the main to Gold but nevertheless "oldies" are now the emphasis. They still send me the weekly listener survey which is generally new stuff but I rarely hear many of them played and my selection of the unfamiliar option is growing by the week.
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#1363 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Northumberland
Posts: 1,099
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I thought that listening to Simon Bates this morning it was all old stuff, and I listen everyday in the car from 7.30-9am!!
Just a week or 2 ago I think I heard a few new songs but not many..... |
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#1364 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Sussex
Posts: 25,513
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The competition is hard out there. I think Simon has a lot of loyal listeners like myself. It's something different and he's enjoying himself. The new schedules have worked well I guess, but I don't know why they are losing listeners.
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#1365 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Gateshead, Tyne and Wear
Posts: 2,241
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Quote:
The competition is hard out there. I think Simon has a lot of loyal listeners like myself. It's something different and he's enjoying himself. The new schedules have worked well I guess, but I don't know why they are losing listeners.
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#1366 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 723
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The problem with Smooth is they have introduced more ad breaks. The ads are every 10 - 15 minutes in shows making listeners retune. Interesting when you listen to Gold there are ads every 20 minutes which is the normal rate for commercial radio. Maybe when Global get full control they will reduce the ads. After May 22nd Global could merge Smooth and Gold and give the station a new name or smooth could merge with Gold or vice versa. What Gold lacks is big name household name presenters and what Smooth lacks specialist shows other than Soul, Motown and Vintage Charts. Gold has specialist 60's and 70's shows which could work well on the merged Smooth. So with both stations combined it will be better. I think if Global combine these stations they will run a promotional campaign on regional ITV stations to boost listening figures showcasing the artists they play and presenters.
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#1367 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 13,572
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Quote:
They are putting on listeners in most parts of the country. It is just tanking in London.
It used to only pick up after 9AM when people used to tune in (at work?), Bates has helped bring in more listeners before 9AM. Gold on AM and stereo DAB fluctuates around slightly lower listeners in London and targets slightly younger listeners, but they listen longer helping Gold's reach Smooth was another of John Mayer's concept stations which was to target over 50's but has slipped a bit. looking at the Wiki it was to be aimed at over 50's and give something distinctive to London under the format change from Jazz FM. http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/con...oth/statement/ Quote:
the proposed change would not narrow the range of programmes available in the London area. Capital Gold’s Format is for 35-54s; Heart FM targets audiences in their thirties. Magic FM serves the over-35s (having moved slightly younger when emap turned Melody into Magic). There is no station specifically for over 50s. In addition the station would have a higher proportion of speech and continue to carry its unique specialist jazz output. The Committee felt that in order to make clear the point of difference between the changed station and existing stations, there should be an obligation within the Format to secure the spirit of the Format requiring that at least 20% of the daytime tracks should be older than 40 years old. GMG have accepted this obligation and the Committee felt able to grant the request, given the satisfaction of this criterion.
The current format is Quote:
An easy listening station featuring easy listening music including music influenced by jazz and soul and lifestyle oriented speech, targeting a London audience aged 50-plus, and broadcasting 12 hours a week of specialist music programmes during evenings or week-end daytime.
It is also used by record companies to promote new easy listening music.Therefore to merge Gold and Smooth, would go against this, but it could be said that the advertising agencies are not interested in over 50's and after Mayers left, GMG started to target Smooth at 35 plus listeners, but without the clear music policy under Richard Park which helped Magic and Heart relate to audiences. No doubt what ever ownership and format arrangements for Gold and Smooth have been agreed under the CC, Ofcom presumably would also have approved? |
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#1368 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 13,572
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The only "commerical" station left in London actually targetting over 50's is the Wireless (which takes Smooth news). As they don't do Rajar it will not be possible to find figures if they have taken on some of Smooth's older listeners?
Jazz FM is also slowly growing and may also have taken on some ex Smooth listeners? |
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#1369 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Scotland
Posts: 268
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Smooth seem the be having problems with volume levels. Last night and today the music levels are very low with vocal links, jingles and adverts considerably louder.
Incidentally how do Smooth achieve their networking? Are all the regional computers for adverts, local jingles, etc held centrally or at each station? Just curious. |
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#1370 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Sussex
Posts: 25,513
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David Prever is covering Breakfast for Simon whilst he's off next week.
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#1371 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Northumberland
Posts: 1,099
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Heard that this morning, and yesterday Simon said he couldn't announce who they'd got as it was a very good presenter and they were still agreeing who would do it for the fee! I would hardly call David Prever a fantastic presenter- I thought he did a breakfast or daytime show for BBC Local station? He must be a very busy man!
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#1372 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,119
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Quote:
Heard that this morning, and yesterday Simon said he couldn't announce who they'd got as it was a very good presenter and they were still agreeing who would do it for the fee! I would hardly call David Prever a fantastic presenter- I thought he did a breakfast or daytime show for BBC Local station? He must be a very busy man!
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#1373 |
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Inactive Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: London
Posts: 363
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Hansolo, Gold is a commercial station in London targeting the over 50's and it's in Rajar.
Where I think you'l find it just best Smooth! |
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#1374 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Sussex
Posts: 25,513
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David Prever in on Breakfast this week for Simon. Was listening in and he's very laid back - He does comes across as only the stand in, and don't want to make it his show. Many presenters bring different things into shows which an't there's. Maybe it's Smooth who don't want it?
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#1375 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 13,572
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Quote:
Hansolo, Gold is a commercial station in London targeting the over 50's and it's in Rajar.
Where I think you'l find it just best Smooth! Quote:
Capital Gold’s Format is for 35-54s
I got the above info from the Ofcom website, also the wiki which may not be the most reliable source does say about Gold!Quote:
However, in the last few years there has been a noticeable shift in general daytime programming from playing classic artists such as Sinatra, Presley, 'King' Cole, Como etc in favour of more contemporary artists of the last 15 years or so, thus capturing yesterday's teenagers now today's thirtysomethings.
I can't find the Ofcom format for Gold to see if it has any age targets?I notice the website http://www.thisisglobal.com/radio/gold/audience/#stats now says Quote:
As a national network, Gold is made up of a core audience of 45-64 year olds
.So has Global recently refocused Gold back to an older audience so The wireless is not the only station in London actually targeting this age group (as Smooth is not)? Gold may have beat Smooth in share, but not in reach in London, but things are not looking good for Smooth, guess we will have to wait a bit longer to find out Smooth and Smooth 70s future? |
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