Has Jo Good improved since she was on Key 103 all those years ago? When she replaced David Ditchfield on Key 103 it seemed a poor replacement.

That's a very good point. The idents don't say "This is Radio X", rather "Radio X is coming". It's essentially a placeholder.

To be honest I think the “male-focused” thing in the press statement is marketing bumpf and I don’t think it will reflected on-air as them chasing off women. Also a lot of the assumption on this (not just in Coral’s article) seems to come from the rumours from Popbitch.

Rock based radio stations usually have a male bias and I guess Global’s statement was reflecting that. It shows advertisers that there’s a new national station that will deliver an audience profile biased towards men.

With the amount of money Global are likely to spend on the rebrand it would be unwise to turn away women.


I seem to remember reading in the past somewhere that the Radio Authority were flexible over format/Promise of Performance delivery over a relaunch period. I would be very surprised if Ofcom isn’t the same.

Of course anyone who feels strongly about the lack of news could always complain to Ofcom.

Apps to update from Xfm to RadioX on Thursday

Test transmissions always used to happen for a week in advance of any new station launch on analogue. It also used to be the case that they used to play out drone sounds as part of the test transmission, alongside playing music. I'm not sure if test transmissions used to include adverts though, I didn't think they did.

I would have thought that as Global holds a licence to broadcast on that frequency then they were bound by the terms of that licence - regardless of what the 'brand' was that particular week. If that were not the case then they could play anything they like over the next week and there would be no recourse.

It would also mean that every London pirate on the dial would simply say they were a 'test transmission' for a service that's 'coming soon'

There's a competition being broadcast - BT possibly - whch uses "see radiox.co.uk for details"

Not really as a London pirate would still be an unauthorised broadcast.

FM radio won't be around for too much longer so it would be ridiculous if it reverted back to XFM.

Doubtless they've researched the name with focus groups, but is Radio X the kind of name people want to be talking about?

"That's a hip and groovy song. What station is that?" - "Radio X."
"Where do you find happening new music?" - "I listen to Radio X."
"Did you hear that hilarious fellow Moyles on Radio X this morning?" - "Nah mate."

And so on. Just not sure it sounds quite right.

Absolutely... and this is still a licensed broadcast bound by the terms of its licence.

I suspect that Ofcom would probably say that in the circumstances it's probably alright to do what they are doing, but its interesting nonetheless.

Think the name was chosen to give a feel of evolution rather than revolution. Its a variation of the Xfm brand... The logo is still an 'X' that extends further than it's baseline on the right-hand side and they still use the Xfm green.

Going off air for a week does the opposite, mind.

Maybe they should have gone for something totally different and allow Xfm a dignified death?

But it feels like Radio X is a 're-positioned, re-purposed' Xfm rather than a totally new station. It's personality-led rather than music-led... but the music is largely the same from what I can see, and 'all your old favourite presenters are still here'.

There does seem to be a few contradictions taking place... Its a 'brand new' station that carefully keeps the presenters and brand 'spirit' of the old station. And it's all about 'personality' but its tag line is 'get into the music'.

Serving out their contacts on weekday rates at weekends until Christmas.

I hope that's not the case, but I worry you might be right.
I'm still hopeful that Jon Holmes could get drive time in an emergency reshuffle after the next rajars!

Only Homes, Camfield, Good and Boon fall into that category.

O'Connel, Clifton, Kennedy, Walters are all still in weekday slots.

That argument sounds familiar - the same was said about Dave....

Fair point. Dave has become so familiar comedians can make jokes about their show being repeated on Dave and everyone gets the joke. Maybe Radio X will go the same way.

Any ideas who the cover presenters may be? Am guessing Jonny Vaughan or Vernon will cover for Chris. Hattie/Jo/Rich W - DOC

Georgie Rogers/Lliana Bird - evening/weekend?

Traditionally your drivetime presenter covers breakfast so I would say it would be Jonny but you never know it doesnt always work like that

I think that Kay would be the default cover for Chris - with Jo Good covering the mid morning slot.
In regards to the contract issue - I wouldn't be surprised if Jon joins Virgin in the new year.

Or Absolute

But Jon left Virgin in disgrace years ago.

http://www.theguardian.com/media/200...richardbranson

13 years ago, sacked by a different parent company

The playlist appears to be a little wider during this limbo period between XFM and Radio X.

I've heard Mystery Jets this morning - a band I haven't heard on XFM for aaaaaages.

Tuned in once (Monday I think) and heard Athlete's "Half Light" myself.

I don't mean to sound cynical, but all this will fade away soon...