[suffolkblue]

The changes to radio is what gold said on their facebook page. But I guess its to do with global buying gmg radio and some station changes I.e the possibility of real becoming heart etc and maybe gold going to fm in places but nobody knows at the moment.

[crusher19860138]

Originally Posted by Westy2

There is a Facebook group, Bring Back Gold Radio To The Midlands, set up.

Quite a few Djs both Beeb & Gold have signed up, apart from us great unwashed!

Really?some BBC DJ's have signed up?now that surprises me!i have been able to rig up an FM signal from my mom's Sky box so she can hear Gold on the radio around the house,as the nearest AM TX on 774AM is weak,and lost at night.

Myself,iam happy with Free Radio 80's,as that is my decade,and a decade of innovation and great music it was!

[wavejockglw]

Gold has been getting better lately. Are those managing it now pitching to become the new providers on what is the Smooth FM network? I think Gold is making a very good case for itself now as the brand that Global chooses to take forward.

[suffolkblue]

You could be right there Wave. But I would like them to keep smooth even if its on DAB only.

[SouthCity]

Originally Posted by suffolkblue

You could be right there Wave. But I would like them to keep smooth even if its on DAB only.

They are not going to keep a station going on DAB only with a full line-up of star presenters. Planet Rock & Jazz FM are both loss-making and Global won't be following that model.

I personally think that Global will have to offload Smooth but they will be happy with that if they can get their hands on the big prize - the Real stations- to take Heart close to national on FM. They might offer this as a deal to the Culture Secretary (whoever it is at the end of September) to try and avoid a full media plurality review, which could drag on for months.

[Davedee74]

The frequencies in the midland area are owned by Orion apparently, they decided to pull the plug earlier than they had indicated, to make way for Free 80,s, no information was given from Gold or free80,s that this was going to happen on Friday, the other problem is the dab was still coming up with the gold logo plus telling them what was playing on gold, many confused listeners in the midlands. Gold suggested that Orion are responsible for this, not the best way to start a new station but I presume they may gain some unsuspecting listeners

[Westy2]

Originally Posted by crusher19860138

Really?some BBC DJ's have signed up?now that surprises me!i have been able to rig up an FM signal from my mom's Sky box so she can hear Gold on the radio around the house,as the nearest AM TX on 774AM is weak,and lost at night.

Myself,iam happy with Free Radio 80's,as that is my decade,and a decade of innovation and great music it was!

I'm happy with Free 80's, but Orion should've done their own version of Gold really, which would've minimised the complaints.
(Back to the days of WABC & Xtra AM!)

Either that or Gold should've got their finger out over getting another DAB frequency. (As Orion own 990, 1017, 1152 & 1359AM, there would've been no chance of a new AM frequency for Gold !)

[Westy2]

Originally Posted by Davedee74

The frequencies in the midland area are owned by Orion apparently, they decided to pull the plug earlier than they had indicated, to make way for Free 80,s, no information was given from Gold or free80,s that this was going to happen on Friday, the other problem is the dab was still coming up with the gold logo plus telling them what was playing on gold, many confused listeners in the midlands. Gold suggested that Orion are responsible for this, not the best way to start a new station but I presume they may gain some unsuspecting listeners

They had the same DAB text problem when they opted out for the sport before the changeover!

[crusher19860138]

People will always complain about any changes,i remember people moaned when ILR lost MW to a gold service,then people moaned when that 'local' gold service changed and then came from London or Dunstable etc...then people moaned when it changed to Gold,so history tells us people will always complain about any changes made.

[hanssolo]

Originally Posted by SouthCity

They are not going to keep a station going on DAB only with a full line-up of star presenters. Planet Rock & Jazz FM are both loss-making and Global won't be following that model.

I personally think that Global will have to offload Smooth but they will be happy with that if they can get their hands on the big prize - the Real stations- to take Heart close to national on FM. They might offer this as a deal to the Culture Secretary (whoever it is at the end of September) to try and avoid a full media plurality review, which could drag on for months.

Global might be able to sell on Smooth with it's FM frequencies and 3.3m listeners for about £40m to say UTV or Bauer.

Radio 2 although targeted for over 50's is becoming more of a family audience with children listening with parents, so playing new music with classic oldies fits daytime radio 2, Smooth is following R2's policy and may also have a family following, where Gold is aimed at over 40's only!

Will be a shame for Global to give up FM frequencies which could be used for Gold, but if selling Smooth (as is) allows an expansion of family orientated Heart from 7.5m to 10m listeners, Global may take this route! leaving Gold as it is with it's current (but slowly growing) 1.15 m listeners.

Originally Posted by suffolkblue

The changes to radio is what gold said on their facebook page. But I guess its to do with global buying gmg radio and some station changes I.e the possibility of real becoming heart etc and maybe gold going to fm in places but nobody knows at the moment.

Global must be in discussions to see what conditions there might be regarding the Real and Smooth purchase and if it is worth expanding Gold or not?
But had a look at the main Gold radio Facebook page and can't see any mention of changes, unless it was posted and then deleted by Gold

[suffolkblue]

It was posted last week when people were moaning about gold leaving dab in the west midlands. Golds reply was there is major changes in the radio industry coming soon so that could have meant anything.

[MartinRosen]

Originally Posted by suffolkblue

It was posted last week when people were moaning about gold leaving dab in the west midlands. Golds reply was there is major changes in the radio industry coming soon so that could have meant anything.

...yes they are (hoping to!) buy GMG. Isn't that a major change?

[hanssolo]

Originally Posted by suffolkblue

It was posted last week when people were moaning about gold leaving dab in the west midlands. Golds reply was there is major changes in the radio industry coming soon so that could have meant anything.

Thanks found it

Gold Radio There are major changes coming to the UK radio industry later this year... Perhaps a solution is just around the corner...
1 September at 12:42

But also they say

We are available on Sky 0121 Virgin 959 or online

so may be in no rush to get back on DAB in the west Midlands.

[Martin Phillp]

Originally Posted by hanssolo

But also they say so may be in no rush to get back on DAB in the west Midlands.

Or simply offering the current alternatives.

[df118]

Originally Posted by MartinRosen

...yes they are (hoping to!) buy GMG. Isn't that a major change?

They are not hoping to buy GMG, they have bought GMG.

At this stage I imagine they are hoping to hold onto all of the stations they want to keep for the Heart re-brand, any thing else will be a bonus for them.

[crusher19860138]

Iam surprised Gold is not on DAB in the West Midlands,Global knew the deadline for the loss of Gold in the area on AM/DAB,so had plenty of time to sort it out.

[MartinRosen]

Originally Posted by df118

They are not hoping to buy GMG, they have bought GMG.

I thought it was subject to the Monopolies & Mergers, Competition Commission, Ofcom approval.

[Martin Phillp]

Originally Posted by MartinRosen

I thought it was subject to the Monopolies & Mergers, Competition Commission, Ofcom approval.

Here's the emails sent to staff at Global and GMG at the time of the sale. That's been completed, but the process hasn't.

http://radiotoday.co.uk/2012/06/gmg-...-staff-emails/

[MartinRosen]

Originally Posted by Martin Phillp

Here's the emails sent to staff at Global and GMG at the time of the sale. That's been completed, but the process hasn't.

http://radiotoday.co.uk/2012/06/gmg-...-staff-emails/

Thanks Martin.

I remember it now.

[rad]

Originally Posted by crusher19860138

Iam surprised Gold is not on DAB in the West Midlands,Global knew the deadline for the loss of Gold in the area on AM/DAB,so had plenty of time to sort it out.

I'm surprised too, as when Gem106 launched, Heart EM stayed on DAB. I would guess that if Gold was going to appear in the Midlands on DAB, it would be on the regional multiplex. However, is it possible that Global aren't allowed to dominate a multiplex with their stations? If Gold were added to MXR West Mids, they would have 7, (including Smooth and Real XS), out of 12 stations.

I've been looking at the posts on the 'Bring Back Gold...' Facebook page. Some of the comments make interesting reading! There seems to be an understanding that Orion had a licence agreement with Global until 2015 to broadcast Gold. Having had a look at the Ofcom page, it appears that the Wolverhampton and Birmingham licences are up for renewal in 2015, ie 990/1017 and 1152AM, not the agreement between Global and Orion. I think this is where the confusion may be arising.

At the end of the day, Orion can do pretty much whatever they want with the licences, as long as it complies with the format. They didn't revert Free Radio back to BRMB, Beacon, etc despite all of the protests, they are not going to reinstate Gold any time soon. I would imagine that it is the last chance now for the AM licences, if Orion don't make Free 80s work, I can see them handing the licences back.

[Mapperley Ridge]

How many "likes" does the Bring Back Gold website have?

[rad]

Originally Posted by Mapperley Ridge

How many "likes" does the Bring Back Gold website have?

528 - but only the same few people are posting though.

[bringbackGalaxy]

It could be that Gobal will sell Gold, seeing that Orion as taken a chunk out of their audience and therefore advertising.

Saying that, they could close Gold on MW and put LBC News on there and sell the LBC brand to Sky News That would give them the oppertunity to launch Gold on FM and national in place of Smooth.

[Mapperley Ridge]

There will be no roll out of LBC as a national brand. It didn't work before and it won't work now.

[Martin Phillp]

It's worth remembering that Chrysalis were going into partnership with Sky to rebrand LBC News 1152 under the Sky moniker. Global pulled that agreement to continue in house.