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Capital FM Network (Part 2)


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Old 30-10-2011, 11:39
simon243
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The specialist shows should really be brought forward so that most of them are broadcast before midnight. So Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights particularly should be full of specialist output from no later than 6pm, and maybe from 9pm on weekday nights.

There is no point in having specialist shows if they're put on at silly o'clock, and Ofcom should lean on Global in the same way that it did with Kix 96 a few years back to ensure that rather more than lip service is paid to the specialist format requirements.

It's not hurting Kiss or Radio 1, so why should it hurt Capital? Most of the Capital stations are former Galaxy and Kiss stations anyway, so we shouldn't even be having this debate - the specialist programming should never have been removed in the first place.
What would be the point in Kiss, Capital and Radio 1 all doing specialist shows at the same time?

That would leave listeners who do want mainstream chart at that time (who far outnumber those who want specialist stuff) with nowhere to go.

By keeping it mainstream all evening Capital is, ironically, unique in London which is its most important market.
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Old 30-10-2011, 12:09
Richard O'Hagan
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It's 2011, time we stopped pandering to specialists on mainstream radio.

Every concievable micro-genre of music is already catered for on internet radio, and aficionados already have their iPods loaded with it anyway.

I don't beleive anybody makes an "appointment to listen" to minority shows anymore - the world's moved on.

I'm all for including a bit of alternative stuff in the mainstream playlists, IF it's good.
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Old 30-10-2011, 15:19
My Galaxy
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It struck me just now. Why doesn't Capital have a mobile friendly website?
I suspect with them losing the 'FM' a new logo can't be far away along with a website update and I'm sure that will include a smartphone friendly version.

Personally it sounds much better dropping the FM from the name. Good shout.
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Old 30-10-2011, 17:33
Willum
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By keeping it mainstream all evening Capital is, ironically, unique in London which is its most important market.
Split the network at certain times, as Galaxy used to do, then. Keep the former Galaxy stations operating within the spirit of their licences, and leave London to do its own thing. Re-instate Leeds as a network hub, and maybe do more network-wide stuff from Glasgow. Capital have an opportunity here to distinguish themselves from Radio 1 as notbeing a South-of-England centric network. They need a broader range of accents on-air.

Anyway, Heart's mainstream 24/7, is it not? And last time I looked, that's a sister brand an even comes out of the same building, so I beg to suggest it wouldn't be hurting Global. If Capital's too specialist for some at certain hours of the day, they can always turn to Heart.

What would be the point in Kiss, Capital and Radio 1 all doing specialist shows at the same time?
You would appear to be looking solely at London, and overlooking the fact that Capital does not overlap on FM with Kiss in any of the other markets that it serves, save South East Wales.

Besides, last time I looked at the Radio 1 schedule, all of the dance output, which is more specialist than what I would advocate going onto Capital for more than maybe a couple of hours a week (I live in the real world too, you know), is on Friday nights. Saturday nights, if memory serves, has been solely urban / hip-hop for some years now. So Capital would be different.

It's 2011, time we stopped pandering to specialists on mainstream radio.
Galaxy wasn't supposed to be mainstream in the same way that Capital 95.8 is.

If Global don't want to provide this output, then they should have the licences changed subject to re-advertisement, or sell the stations if they don't want to go through this process.

This process of change through the back door is, in my view, cheating. Ofcom should use its teeth, if it has any, a bit more than it is at the moment. The likes of Global demonstrably cannot plead poverty as a means of getting what they want.
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Old 30-10-2011, 18:31
Bluedabadee
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Split the network at certain times, as Galaxy used to do, then. Keep the former Galaxy stations operating within the spirit of their licences, and leave London to do its own thing. Re-instate Leeds as a network hub, and maybe do more network-wide stuff from Glasgow. Capital have an opportunity here to distinguish themselves from Radio 1 as notbeing a South-of-England centric network. They need a broader range of accents on-air.

If Global don't want to provide this output, then they should have the licences changed subject to re-advertisement, or sell the stations if they don't want to go through this process.

This process of change through the back door is, in my view, cheating. Ofcom should use its teeth, if it has any, a bit more than it is at the moment. The likes of Global demonstrably cannot plead poverty as a means of getting what they want.
I agree completely. Galaxy was networked from Leeds and other Galaxies (like when XFM became Galaxy) used to opt out of some network shows to broadcast their own shows.

In fact just before Capital, JoJo from Hirty's Daily Dose had her own show on Saturday night / Sunday morning. Also, before Mash was instated network-wide (great idea, as I love the show) he was Scotland only and Scotland opted out of a show that Galaxy network was outputting.

The Capital brand is IMO being ruined by specialist shows, but at the same time, I do think it's refreshing. If they want to resist harming the Capital brand then they should definitely do a London opt-out for when say Andi Durrant is on and put Luke whats-his-face on overnights "playing the hits non-stop" instead.
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Old 30-10-2011, 20:44
krob2
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Still think they've completely ruined the East Mids stations - they don't need specialist output just better output fullstop. These should not be dance stations but full service stations with proper local news. Will they play rock/indie? no..Positively the worst aspect of Capital is the merging of 3 stations into 1...
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Old 30-10-2011, 20:52
Willum
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Still think they've completely ruined the East Mids stations - they don't need specialist output just better output fullstop. These should not be dance stations but full service stations with proper local news. Will they play rock/indie? no..Positively the worst aspect of Capital is the merging of 3 stations into 1...
Precisely, the shoehorning of at least two rather different formats under one roof results in some pretty curious, awkward bedfellows.

The Capital network should be split in terms of format with the former HMN stations and London on one side, and the Galaxy stations on the other. But I realise South Coast could sit in either camp.

Either way, the current arrangement may look superficially tidy, but underneath, it's a mess with some pretty unpleasant compromises on both sides. Its sole purpose seems to be purely to suit Global's costs rather than value agenda, and I do wonder whether the likes of Bauer would have done the same thing in Global's shoes.

If Global gets broken up if and when they sell out, I do wonder what will happen to the Capital network.
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Old 30-10-2011, 21:13
Lost Weekend
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Still think they've completely ruined the East Mids stations - they don't need specialist output just better output fullstop. These should not be dance stations but full service stations with proper local news. Will they play rock/indie? no..Positively the worst aspect of Capital is the merging of 3 stations into 1...
Capital East Mids is one of the big success stories in the network

They are number one again in this week's RAJAR, beating Radio 1, Radio 2, and Gem, and all other stations as well...plus they've increased the amount of listeners since the last survey...
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Old 30-10-2011, 21:19
TeleviixonMalta
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I'd like to see the specialist shows starting at 6 or 7 on Friday nights.

At 7pm Radio 1 becomes "proper" specialist, Capital could play commercial dance music, remixes, in the mix from 6pm and capture young people on their way home from work, uni, college and starting to get ready for their night out.

Sureley most of Capital's target audience are likeley to be going out drinking on a Fri/Sat night? They'll want this to get ready to.

Sureley there is a gap in the market for mainstream dance, in the mix, in most of Capital's TSAs? There is in the South Coast TSA anyway.
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Old 30-10-2011, 22:11
dpb
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Still think they've completely ruined the East Mids stations - they don't need specialist output just better output fullstop. These should not be dance stations but full service stations with proper local news. Will they play rock/indie? no..Positively the worst aspect of Capital is the merging of 3 stations into 1...
The charts are mainly dance or urban music at the moment though and there is not much rock/indie making the charts (despite some good tracks out in my opinion although some of these can jar with the other tracks in the charts). Hopefully when it does pick up for rock/indie Capital will begin playlisting it more even if it means having different logs for the CHR and rhythmic stations.
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Old 02-11-2011, 12:27
simon243
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So all Capital stations - including Manchester - are now promoting their Jingle Bell Ball in London.

While Key 103 are doing their own Jingle Ball.

Two arch rivals running events with more or less the same name? Confusing for the listener or what?

"Hi can I buy tickets for the Jingle Bell thingy?"
"Which one?"
"The one with Olly Murs"
"Which one?"
"The one advertised on the radio"
"Which one?"

Hmmmmmm
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Old 02-11-2011, 13:18
ink171
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Except one of them is in Manchester, the other one London?
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Old 02-11-2011, 13:28
Sandy Heath 103
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The radio war in Manchester has become farcical.
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Old 02-11-2011, 13:55
simon243
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Except one of them is in Manchester, the other one London?
True, but if the average listener heard a DJ on their local station promoting a concert, they could be forgiven for assuming it was a local event.

I heard Bodg on Capital NE talking about it on Sunday - he just said it was the O2 Arena, no mention of London.

I can't believe everyone in the UK knows the O2's in London - could be anywhere given how frequently arenas around the country change their name.

Point is, if I were Key 103 I'd have chosen a different name.
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Old 02-11-2011, 14:11
Bluedabadee
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Point is, if I were Key 103 I'd have chosen a different name.
So Key 103 should choose a different name despite using it way before Capital? IMO, all Capital stations should promote it as either "London's o2 arena" or "The o2 arena London" not just "The o2" - it is misleading IMO.
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Old 02-11-2011, 14:20
simon243
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So Key 103 should choose a different name despite using it way before Capital? IMO, all Capital stations should promote it as either "London's o2 arena" or "The o2 arena London" not just "The o2" - it is misleading IMO.
Well Capital aren't going to change theirs, so yes.

This will cause confusion. Some people will think they're the same thing, others may book one and complain when the other's lineup fails to show.
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Old 02-11-2011, 14:30
SmartProgrammer
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So Key 103 should choose a different name despite using it way before Capital? IMO, all Capital stations should promote it as either "London's o2 arena" or "The o2 arena London" not just "The o2" - it is misleading IMO.
I can't see either party backing down over the similar name. Global will do everything possible to get word of "Jingle Bell Ball" out there while I'm sure Bauer will promote their "Jingleball" just as much.
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Old 02-11-2011, 14:41
Bluedabadee
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Well Capital aren't going to change theirs, so yes.

This will cause confusion. Some people will think they're the same thing, others may book one and complain when the other's lineup fails to show.
But even though there's not much difference. I'm sure people will be able to notice the difference between Jingle Bell Ball and the Jingle Ball. One would hope that both stations are putting the station tags over it as promotion:

"Key 103's Jingle Ball" "Capital FM's Jingle Bell ball". As SmrartProgrammer has pointed out - neither company are going to change their event name. Although with Capital having the Capital FM Arena (just saw this posted on Facebook by Katy Perry's page as Trent FM Arena) - I'm surprised they're not using the opportunity to have a JBB in Nottingham too for the Capital East Mids listeners.

That's the problem with Capital, they still remain London-centric. Even Kiss who went National still do the Kiss Weekender's in Great Yarmouth!
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Old 02-11-2011, 15:01
Black Label
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Yes I wonder how many excited winners on the Capital regionals don't realise at the time that they will have to make their own way to London and back, and almost certainly find accomodation in the city for the night. In fact the very holding of the event will push room prices up.

So in many cases this 'prize' will end up costing the winners a good couple of hundred quid or so.
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Old 03-11-2011, 10:20
dpb
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Any whispers on the format changes? Ofcom's Radio Licensing Committee met on Monday.
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Old 03-11-2011, 10:27
omnidirectional
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Any whispers on the format changes? Ofcom's Radio Licensing Committee met on Monday.
The specialist urban show and Mash are still listed in the weekend schedules.

As per last time, If there's no news soon I think we can conclude they've been told that the request would be rejected in its current form and then (another) amended request will be submitted.
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Old 03-11-2011, 12:06
Willum
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Why not just leave those shows on the schedule, broadcast them at more accessible times, and network them if they are not already?

The daytime output hours are long enough as it is.

Not having any specialist output until 11pm on the former Galaxy stations is ridiculous, and compares very poorly with Kiss and Radio 1.
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Old 03-11-2011, 12:16
dpb
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Why not just leave those shows on the schedule, broadcast them at more accessible times, and network them if they are not already?

The daytime output hours are long enough as it is.

Not having any specialist output until 11pm on the former Galaxy stations is ridiculous, and compares very poorly with Kiss and Radio 1.
Doesn't Kiss start their specialist output during the week at 10pm now? That's only a hour difference.

The programmes omnidirectional are indeed network shows.
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Old 03-11-2011, 12:22
Willum
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No, it kicks off at 8pm, unless Saturday Night Kiss doesn't count as specialist any more.
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Old 03-11-2011, 12:29
dpb
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No, it kicks off at 8pm, unless Saturday Night Kiss doesn't count as specialist any more.
Sorry I thought I you were talking about weekdays as you didn't specify Saturday in your post.

I believe James Barr's remixs count towards specialist hours* and that starts at 7pm on Saturday so Capital actually start earlier.

* Whether they should count towards such is a debate itself!
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