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?

If Global is allowed/keeps smooth it will be a good 6 months at the very earliest until anything happens regarding programming. If it's for sale it will be even longer so for the time being its business as normal, the same happened with the Orion stations "Network 3".

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.

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.

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.

An interesting point. There will undoubtedly have been dialogue, but I suspect the CC keeps its cards pretty close to its chest until decision day (when obviously the parties involved will get the heads up before it's in the public domain).

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.)

Real is the priority so while Smooth may have a few tweaks and changes i doubt any rebrand or major changes will be made until after Real is changed to Heart.

I don't know why Smooth don't get Totally 80's with Gary King onto the Station?

Smooth Radio London drops from 626,000 to 430,000.

They could easilly fo their own better version if they wanted.

Totally 80's is great for tin pot stations but not for huge ones.

The biggest unsurprise of this quarter.

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.

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.....

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.

They are putting on listeners in most parts of the country. It is just tanking in London.

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.

Not quite as the trend for Smooth in the volatile London radio market fluctuates around half a million listeners, so over last few years may have dropped, then picks up again.
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/

The current format is

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?

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?

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.

David Prever is covering Breakfast for Simon whilst he's off next week.

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!

He is indeed, he presents Drivetime during the week on BBC Radio Oxford, he does Saturday Breakfast on BBC Three Counties AND this weekend he is covering on BBC London Sunday evening.

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!

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?

http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/con...oth/statement/

I got the above info from the Ofcom website, also the wiki which may not be the most reliable source does say about Gold!

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
.
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?