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Old 23-06-2016, 12:58
Jim (B)
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I like what they're trying to do, but I've been thinking hard about what exactly made Capital such a great London station - and, from what I've seen and heard of Thames so far, I'm not sure they're really replicating much of it...

- Big jingles with a sense of urgency that reflected the pace of life in a capital city ("from the centre of the city..." etc)
- Slick DJs round the clock, in tune with London life
- The biggest hits of the day, quite a few slightly older tracks, and the odd classic thrown in
- The 'Flying Eye' - actual observations about London traffic, not just someone reading out a list of busy roads
- Marketing everywhere
- OBs and inserts from around the city
- A big commitment to local news and information (including the extended evening 'The Way It Is' bulletin)

I'd love for Thames to achieve what they're setting out to do, though - so I'll keep my fingers crossed. But it won't be enough just to say they're all about London - they'll need to find a way to really put themselves at the heart of London life.
Couldn't agree more. As someone has already said, a jukebox on its own won't be enough. There are plenty of internet stations playing back-to-back music. Thames will need to put money into content if they're really going to get enough audience to generate revenue. Having said that, it would be great to have a station based in London aimed at London.
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Old 23-06-2016, 13:01
adc82140
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It would be nice. But without some serious money behind it from someone who doesn't care if they get any of it back, it ain't gonna happen
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Old 23-06-2016, 13:09
Erwin
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I like what they're trying to do, but I've been thinking hard about what exactly made Capital such a great London station - and, from what I've seen and heard of Thames so far, I'm not sure they're really replicating much of it...

- Big jingles with a sense of urgency that reflected the pace of life in a capital city ("from the centre of the city..." etc)
- Slick DJs round the clock, in tune with London life
- The biggest hits of the day, quite a few slightly older tracks, and the odd classic thrown in
- The 'Flying Eye' - actual observations about London traffic, not just someone reading out a list of busy roads
- Marketing everywhere
- OBs and inserts from around the city
- A big commitment to local news and information (including the extended evening 'The Way It Is' bulletin)

I'd love for Thames to achieve what they're setting out to do, though - so I'll keep my fingers crossed. But it won't be enough just to say they're all about London - they'll need to find a way to really put themselves at the heart of London life.
I couldn't agree more. That's really it. So lot's of things to do because what I hear now, it's not a glimp Capital was, beside the 2 names from the past. Example for imaging. Use the the same liners for jingles from the old Capital, if you can use that these days and in combination with the new name Thames Radio. The top of the hour now is nIce, 'from the top of the chrystal palace etc.' But you need more liners to link this station to the old Capital Radio.
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Old 23-06-2016, 13:58
richardpaul1987
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Following on from my previous post, I think that the sung jingles *may* be Real Radio re-sings?
If they have the same one for the news that nation radio has, then it's the real radio package. I can't seem to listen on radio player to check
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Old 23-06-2016, 14:06
on the air
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Nice touch at the end of the news bulletin with the news reader ending with 'Thats the way it is...'
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Old 23-06-2016, 15:14
Mark M
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I was listening to the tests for a bit and noticed the 'that's the way it is' too. A nice touch but, to be honest, that's where any comparisons with Capital stop - the station sound is decent enough, but nothing like anything I've ever heard on Capital.

If the music played during the tests is a fair reflection of what they'll play post-launch, I'd say they'll be competing head-on with Magic. That's going to be one heck of a challenge, as Magic is not only a big hitter but also pretty much neutralises any USP that Thames may claim. Magic still sounds like a local station in London, and has no shortage of ex-Capital presenters like Richard Allinson and Martin Collins.
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Old 23-06-2016, 20:23
dermott100
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They have just started to play Sweet Dreams by the Eurythmics (and not even the original track, some remixed effort)

I'm out I'm afraid
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Old 23-06-2016, 21:21
Erwin
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Lot of predictable music offcourse, but hey, Capital did it also back in the day it was new music. The 'magic' should be in the right mix between well familiar tracks and less familiar track.
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Old 24-06-2016, 13:05
Orangy
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"From the top of the mighty Crystal Palace Tower direct to your DAB radio".
"That's the way it is at.. "

Are they trying to make it a Capital Radio timewarp?

The music is very cheesy too!

Still, competition isn't a bad thing.
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Old 24-06-2016, 16:11
Alan58
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I've done a couple of scans on my Roberts and this station is not showing up. Is it actually appearing as Thames Radio. I'm getting the other stations on London 2 OK.
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Old 24-06-2016, 16:53
airwaves
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I've done a couple of scans on my Roberts and this station is not showing up. Is it actually appearing as Thames Radio. I'm getting the other stations on London 2 OK.
Reports suggest it will pop up on London 2 Sunday morning (launch day). I suspect it will also be DAB+, so anyone with a non compatible set will not see it.
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Old 24-06-2016, 16:56
Alan58
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Mine is definitely DAB+ capable
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Old 24-06-2016, 22:14
Orangy
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I bet it's not DAB+

I've been listening online so far.
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Old 25-06-2016, 03:17
hanssolo
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Interesting idea. The tight rotation MOR retro mix genre is popular as Magic, Smooth and Heart can testify. Presumably they'll launch as the low bitrate DAB+ channel that was recently advertised so it can't cost that much for 32k on one multiplex. Pat Sharp and Neil Fox are probably doing it to keep their names out there as much as anything.
The ad seemed it was for a minimum 5 year contract so if so Nation will be there for the long term.
http://www.switchdigital.com/2016/05...ation-process/
UCB2 has also left London 2 at 64k so there is now about 96k available.
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Old 25-06-2016, 16:33
Alan58
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UCB2 is still broadcasting on London 2 but is labelled RETUNE. I suspect it will go off air on this mux to make way for Thames Radio sometime late Saturday or Sunday.
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Old 25-06-2016, 16:37
Erwin
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B.t.w. this Thames Radio sounds more like a Capital Gold revival than a classic Capital FM one. It's too soft, lazy and smooth (fm).
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Old 25-06-2016, 18:31
FM Lover
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B.t.w. this Thames Radio sounds more like a Capital Gold revival than a classic Capital FM one. It's too soft, lazy and smooth (fm).
I was listening to some of what the voiceover described at Pat Sharp's Love Songs this morning around 9am, no sign of Pat in any link but heard Neil's trailer for his two weekly shows Friday at 4pm and Saturday from 8am. Asking listeners to call the answer service leaving a message. Sounds like it could all be VT'd to me.
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Old 25-06-2016, 18:43
Erwin
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I was listening to some of what the voiceover described at Pat Sharp's Love Songs this morning around 9am, no sign of Pat in any link but heard Neil's trailer for his two weekly shows Friday at 4pm and Saturday from 8am. Asking listeners to call the answer service leaving a message. Sounds like it could all be VT'd to me.
Agree. All sounds like a big hoax and deception so far. And on Social Media they using a lot London in their posts. lt looks like they don't come from London also. Too easy, too wannabee. I guess nobody from that station has ever listen to Capital in the 80's and how it sounds really. It's sounds boring, lousy and not 'up beat' what it should be.
This is not what London deserves, this is not how the old Capital well can be remembered. If you do it, do it good, not half/half.
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Old 25-06-2016, 20:16
James30
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Agree. All sounds like a big hoax and deception so far. And on Social Media they using a lot London in their posts. lt looks like they don't come from London also. Too easy, too wannabee. I guess nobody from that station has ever listen to Capital in the 80's and how it sounds really. It's sounds boring, lousy and not 'up beat' what it should be.
This is not what London deserves, this is not how the old Capital well can be remembered. If you do it, do it good, not half/half.
They should bring in Paul Easton (if not already) as he knows Capital in the 80s/90s very well.

I'm beginning to wonder if Chris Stevens has even heard of air checks of Capital in the 80s/90s, as he wasn't anywhere near London in those days as I understand he grew up in the north of England.

The current output is something Hospital Radio would be doing.
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Old 25-06-2016, 21:01
Erwin
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They should bring in Paul Easton (if not already) as he knows Capital in the 80s/90s very well.

I'm beginning to wonder if Chris Stevens has even heard of air checks of Capital in the 80s/90s, as he wasn't anywhere near London in those days as I understand he grew up in the north of England.

The current output is something Hospital Radio would be doing.
Agree, hospital/bedroom radio. Nothing more, nothing less. Their are lots of old airchecks from the old Capital around on aircheckdownloads.com So Chris can get inspired by these.
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Old 25-06-2016, 21:37
-ajm-
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Following on from my previous post, I think that the sung jingles *may* be Real Radio re-sings?
The last Real package was made by Ignite Jingles, owned by Chris Stevens.
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Old 26-06-2016, 00:23
Erwin
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It's on right now from what I read on Twitter.
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Old 26-06-2016, 00:35
doug35
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Thames radio appeared at midnight. Its dab as my pure evoke-1is picking it up. Am listenning right now. Its in 64k mono.
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Old 26-06-2016, 00:49
Erwin
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Mono? That must sounds worse than the internet stream. And the stream is also a bit weak and flat sounding at the moment...now for the second time The Clash and London Calling...
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Old 26-06-2016, 05:03
occy
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Retuned DAB now up and running.
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