[norderney]

Just read on Radio Today that West Country Radio will be launching in August 2012.

http://radiotoday.co.uk/2012/07/volu...oday+-+News%29

Apparently it will be run by volunteers.

Here is its web site

http://www.westcountryradio.co.uk/vi....php?page_id=1

There are a number of these regional on line stations run mainly by volunteers launching. I wonder how many will still be around in a few years time. At least some of them try to offer some live programmes. But the odds are stacked very much against them. Especially because there are thousands of on line music stations streaming all over the world. But I wish them well.
Here are the ones I can think of:
Trent Sound Nottingham
Radio Trent or Trent Nottingham
Black Cat Radio St Neots - although they are on DAB too
Spitfire FM Southampton
The Voice in North Devon

[dpb]

Not too sure about this, it seems quite a big region to be aiming at and on their About Us “West Country Radio is all about the return of REAL live and local radio.”

Now the region they are serving has stations such as Pirate, Radio Plymouth, Palm FM, Radio Exe and Wessex (among others) – who seem to be quite focused on serving their particular locality - can West Country Radio really offer more local radio than that?

Plus looking at the Radio Today article do any of the stations in the West Country Radio region actually broadcast shows from studios in Milton Keynes?

[andy.saunders]

The Voice in North Devon has been broadcasting on DAB for a few months.

[Mapperley Ridge]

In very simple terms, it can't be live and local if it's a regional station. End of.

Some of the other stations in this thread have admirable aims and big claims - but the "two Trents" in Nottingham certainly don't sound very local at all. One of Trent Sound's jocks lives in Portugal, for instance.

But back to West Country Radio, I can't see it working without an aspiration to go on FM or DAB at some point. The south west, alongside its fully licenced stations, seems littered with online players and wannabes. All in a region with somewhat limited advertising potential.

[simon243]

Originally Posted by Mapperley Ridge

In very simple terms, it can't be live and local if it's a regional station. End of.

Some of the other stations in this thread have admirable aims and big claims - but the "two Trents" in Nottingham certainly don't sound very local at all. One of Trent Sound's jocks lives in Portugal, for instance.

But back to West Country Radio, I can't see it working without an aspiration to go on FM or DAB at some point. The south west, alongside its fully licenced stations, seems littered with online players and wannabes. All in a region with somewhat limited advertising potential.

Agreed. It seems to be a bit like Kent - full of bitter ex-commercial jocks who've been let go as the numerous unsustainable local stations were swallowed up over the years, now determined to get their own back on their former employers.

I see the West Country Radio mid-morning presenter, who goes by the unlikely moniker "The Hammer", is plugging his show on his website as going out at "2am PST and 5am EST". Very local.

I don't think the existing FM stations in the south west have too much to worry about - just another bedroom station that'll achieve little apart from boost a few egos.

[Mapperley Ridge]

Haha - I'd never heard of The Hammer!

However, don't get me wrong. It's perfectly OK for ex ILR jocks to make a go of it. The Voice in North Devon seems to be a well run, well meaning outfit - which has gained a lot of respect in the community radio world.

But some of those DJs would appear to have very little in the way of business sense. They've worked in radio, they should realise the basics of running a station before they go public. Launching a full website when they've barely filled the schedule isn't the way forward. It strikes me as attempting to run before you can talk.

That said, I wish any community radio group well in their ventures. But please don't do it with a sense of over importance.

[andy.saunders]

Originally Posted by Mapperley Ridge

The Voice in North Devon seems to be a well run, well meaning outfit - which has gained a lot of respect in the community radio world.

The Voice is doing very well, I was proud to be part of the team, and they know exactly how to run a station.

[Yordel]

I do laugh at stations that have a drive time slot, when the show is not widely available to listen to in a car

[andy.saunders]

How about stations called FM when they are online only

[andy.saunders]

West Country Radio said if I ever fancy offering my services I could do drive time, I said sorry I have a day job so unable to do it.

I'm a volunteer at a station which won a 5 year licence recently, with people who know how to run a station and are respected in the industy.

[wilts_ian]

You do have to wonder about the Ultimate Selling Point of the station - in age where these boards are jammed packed with frown on stations that , for example, cover Cornwall from Exeter, that this stations 'coverage area' stretches from Swindon in the East, to Penzance in the very South West and the Northern tip of Gloucestershire to the South Coast of Bournemouth.

A breakfast show hosted by an unknown name (possibly a former pirate DJ from the 1960s?), with items such as "Guess the TV Theme", and a morning host who currently appears to cater for US audiences.

This surely is just another "Bedroom FM" ?

But, Good Luck to you guys .. If it keeps you happy and harms no-one, each to their own

[cityprod]

It's covering too large an editorial area to be really local, their programming seems to be genuinely all over the place, as one of the weekend shows seems to want to cover everything from Classical to MOR, which is too broad for one show, and their mid morning presenter is more interested in ufos and cosnpiracy theories, than he is in local content.

It's got about as much chance of success as NJoy Radio did.

[overline]

*Our unbelievably cheap ad rates:
6 months on-air ads £500 that's less than £100 a month!!!

6 months web banner links £200

Both - £750

Why would buying those two options be more expensive if brought as a package?

Odd.

[Allen Keys]

Hilarious. Some people get their kicks from online porn, but if these guys wanna play radio to a few of their friends let them get on with it.

They mention about the "radio 1 style roadshow" bus available for OB's. Stuck in the 80's.

Shame on RadioToday for even bothering to give it editorial time. It's not news.

[Mapperley Ridge]

Here's some more information about The Hammer

http://www.rosshemsworth.com/

Looks to be an English jock who's had some success in the US, often talking about UFOs. Now, without wishing to be unkind, I've worked in the south west and there are more than enough strange goings on wothout this nonsense.

[Mapperley Ridge]

Hmm, says here you can also sponsor their news bulletins

http://www.westcountryradio.co.uk/vi....php?page_id=6

Not if you want to make friends at OFCOM, you can't...

[cityprod]

Originally Posted by Mapperley Ridge

Hmm, says here you can also sponsor their news bulletins

http://www.westcountryradio.co.uk/vi....php?page_id=6

Not if you want to make friends at OFCOM, you can't...

I think that pretty much says they have no interest in normal broadcast radio, They think internet radio is the future, and that means they don't need to follow OFCOM regulations.

The Hammer's show will be all about ufos and conspiracy theories, and I think we can easily dismiss the rest of the station as equally irrelevant.

[Inkblot]

Originally Posted by Mapperley Ridge

Here's some more information about The Hammer

http://www.rosshemsworth.com/

Looks to be an English jock who's had some success in the US, often talking about UFOs. Now, without wishing to be unkind, I've worked in the south west and there are more than enough strange goings on wothout this nonsense.

His show will be called "Where's It To?". Is that some kind of weird West Country expression? Or just some words thrown together at random?

[ink171]

Originally Posted by Inkblot

His show will be called "Where's It To?". Is that some kind of weird West Country expression? Or just some words thrown together at random?

No, that's what taxi drivers down there usually say. Normally followed by 'moi lovely'

[timbouk]

Another Internet station set up by people stuck in the 1980's. It's a great hobby for a few radio anoraks but this surely can't be a commercial enterprise.

If they are trying to recreate local radio then covering the area they are editorially covering is just too big. The schedule is very sparse and I doubt they have any resources for a local news service apart from providing twitter feeds from other news organisations. Also I know Internet radio is becoming much more mobile but I doubt many people will be tuning in on the way home in their car for the latest travel news. The double-decker bus used for roadshows looks like its unlikely to start let alone provide the back drop for a three hour show!

Good luck to them, I'm sure many people will be tuning in to guess the tv theme tune!

[gwrbristol]

Originally Posted by ink171

No, that's what taxi drivers down there usually say. Normally followed by 'moi lovely'

Well if you wants to know how we speak click here http://www.beast-clothing.com/school.php (and don't forget to move your mouse over the page banner too - then buy a t-shirt!)

[wavy-davy]

The drunken drive sponsored by £$%^&* Cider.

[Yordel]

Originally Posted by andy.saunders

How about stations called FM when they are online only

Hmmmmm *Cough* Jazz FM *cough cough*

[ndev70]

It's gone 7.00 on Monday 13th August, but Westcountry Radio doesn't seem to be on air

[andy.saunders]

It's on air now