It's weird listening to Radio Aire tonight...they're live at Manchester Pride. Thought they'd have been all over Leeds Featival rather than something in Manchester.

Nail on the head. Completely agree. Barr overnight programming.

What happened, I waited all night to hear that opt out but looks like it never happened. it just shows how incompetence bauer are.

Thanks for the schedule, I can plan my day around it.

Free radio are using the same play out system as the other city 1 stations plus they have had there studio refurbished.

Picture?

If this is true, hopefully they have pulled down the tacky tat that is the green Free Radio logo splattered all over the studio, but knowing Bauer's form as of late, it's most likely to have been updated to "YOUR FREE", meaning the possibility of a return to localised branding is dead in the West Midlands region from an ILR perspective.

It would be as perplexing as that of Gem 106 to integrate Free Radio a regional brand into the City 1 network with no significant ties to the areas it serves. I'd be much more inclined for them to roll out Magic or Kiss if that is the case.

Birmingham deserves it's own localised branded ILR in my opinion.

I imagine local hours will be 0600 till 1000 then 1500 till 1900 with 1000 till 1400 and 2200 till 0100 are part of the west midlands network with the rest networked into City 1 at all other times

More watering down of the 4 stations truly local content (if you could call the West Midlands network that), less relevance to the areas they serve and a continued lack of identity in key strongholds. What does Coventry have in common with Hereford? They are 72 miles apart!

No local ILR will be broadcasting from Birmingham after 7pm, the Midlands region has the worst setup in my opinion compared to the Northern stations.

This scenario above would stipulate two networks, national and regional, whilst Northern stations in the City 1 network would at least retain truely local content with localized branding and targeting at key times (10 - 2), the 4 stations in the Midlands won't, i'd be truly disappointed with this setup as a whole as it's such a wasted opportunity to revitalize a more local feel to these stations during key hours. The Free brand has already damaged key brand awareness that the heritage stations provided and I expected Bauer to at least address the in-balance somewhat.

If you're going to turn your back on truly local Bauer in the Midlands at least provide us with a quality brand such as Kiss to replace Free.

Have the BC1 stations finally dropped "your music, your life"? Not heard it on Hallam FM all day.

Bit odd this week on Key 103 all the 3 local daytime presenters are on holiday

Simon Morykin is in for Mike Toolan
Carl Spencer is in for Coley
Fiona Sadler is in for Debbie Mac

Also it looks like from Monday Coley is moving to the home run.

Yep as I said a few weeks ago, the swap was happening but not yet, wouldn't have made sense to start it then both presenters go off. Probably good to have them all off at once then come back all at the same time with the new look line-up kicking in fully from Tuesday when Debbie's back.

Here is the link

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CrBeFpDWgAEFKpV.jpg:large

Are you sure that's a picture taken at Free? The sticker on the window (top centre in the picture) looks like KCFM's logo.

That doesn't look like the studio in Brindley Place! I've walked past the Free Radio building in the past. You had me going atleast Declan.

And the play out system in the picture is Myriad. BC1 use Dalet. If that's KCFM's new studio...just lol.

A simple Google reverse image search reveals you are correct. No surprise the info was wrong!

Oops looks like I posted the wrong station pic, then I thought with the green mic muffs, I thought it was a Free Radio studio.

Oh dear, im so sorry I thought it was the free radio studio.

That's would be quite a step down for a refurb! Their current studios are very spacious and more modern:

https://youtu.be/GO8w95o2XFQ

Looks more like a pirate radio studio from a tower block in London. True Free Radio.

This was more appealing when walking down Brindley Place! Much more in tune with the City of Birmingham, apart from that cheap looking logo design from Orion!

http://radiocen.formodaclients.co.uk/files/imgp0018.jpg
http://radiocen.formodaclients.co.uk/files/imgp0032.jpg

the 3 presenters on holiday are all pushing 50 .key needs a revamp .the hits /key 3 olivia jones tom green should be given a chance james hall jumped ship he would have been good

I dont think age should really be an issue and as far as I know there all early 40s. Thats not pushing 50 in my book.

Yes it looks like a pirate radio station lol

just seen on Twitter that Phil Ray is also covring drive on Viking and daytimes next week and still on Free 80s too. Are Bauer lining him up elsewhere? Doesnt make sense to use him so much up north when he's already midlands based surely?