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Timeless Radio launches Nov 3rd....Glasgow, Manchester, and Birmingham


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Old 03-11-2016, 03:40
Black Label
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Timeless Radio has been running 'tests' on the Trial Glasgow small-cale mux at 128 kbts stereo.

Station was to launch in September, then it was put back to October and then it was announced that will launch tomorrow, Thursday 3rd November at 10am.

The website is incomplete with many pages needing filled, but it does state... "Launching soon on DAB Digital Radio in Glasgow..." so it may not be tomorrow!
A corner near the bottom of the page still reads "Timeless Radio will launch at 10am on Thursday the 3rd of November. The first presenter on air will be Mike McLean" Am having a strong feeling to deja-vu here but you never know.........

What is being proposed may be proving to be logistically challenging in practice.

The service will be operating out of YOURradio in Dumbarton, and presumably mostly or all VTd by a mix of YOUR people and others brought in especially for it.

Drivetime presenter is 'Steve Delahaye', aka station owner Spencer Pryor who serves as YOUR's morning news person, will be dealing with clients, paying invoices (eek) etc etc. He also operates that local trial MUX. He is already a busy man. Breakfast is John Scott who hosts a night-time show on YOUR, not to mention a 5 hour Saturday airshift there too. Weekends include ex Saga presenters Angus Simpson and Alistair Alford, as well as Clyde veteran Norman Ross and YOUR news stalwart Gary Pews.

They will all either need studio access down at Dumbarton to do this VTing or will be working from home or wherever by either remote accessing the playout system if they have that facility, or failing that, simply recording dry links and emailing them over. This would involve all kinds of admin like sending presenters over playlists then manually placing emailed links on the log.

Some of YOUR is already VTd by various means so it sounds like something that will involve a colossal amount of co-ordinatiion at YOUR towers.

I really do wish it well because I am personally looking forward to it, a), and it is exacty the type of thing suited to local DAB as it creatively fills a niche the rest of the market do not wish to serve. They have a very strong lineup and the service could prove very popular. But I am having difficulty in my mind's eye imagining how all this extra workload is going to be managed.

Am off to bed now so fingers crossed when I wake up it will be all up and running and I can enjoy hearing Steve Delahaye as I head into work.
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Old 03-11-2016, 10:11
zorro2566
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Looks like its not happening today,nothing on the website but still showing a launch date of 3rd November at 10am!
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Old 03-11-2016, 10:21
Craig Kelly
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Looks like its not happening today,nothing on the website but still showing a launch date of 3rd November at 10am!
The 'test transmission' loop is still going out. Mike McLean just voiced that this was a "final test" for Timeless Radio which will launch on Thursday 3rd November 10am with Russell Watson doing the live launch. This was broadcast at 10.12am today, 3rd November!

Sounds as if the launch has been postponed until a later date; this will be the fourth push-back for the station.

As BL posts, this is déjà vu and DS posters have been through this with Eklipse Sports Radio, GO Radio and now Timeless Radio. Somethings never change!

The Glasgow trial mux is having technical faults as it is going off-air momentarily every 5 minutes of so.
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Old 03-11-2016, 16:16
midlandsfirst
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Birmingham local or Birmingham Trial?
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Old 03-11-2016, 17:22
swb1964
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I really hope this happens because I think there is a need. Yes there are some American web streams playing pretty 1960 music, but this will be a British station on DAB, at least in three major markets.
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Old 03-11-2016, 18:30
Bangers
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Unforgettable Radio on the Portsmouth DAB minimux is a very good easy listening station. They've gone Christmassy at the moment, but managed to keep it classy. A great little DAB+ station with local (Portsmouth) information, but available online too.
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Old 03-11-2016, 18:48
cuttysark
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I thought a simulcast of The Vinyl Frontier on Sunday nights would be a dead cert. Surprised they haven't done so.
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Old 03-11-2016, 19:13
Craig Kelly
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Birmingham local or Birmingham Trial?
Birmingham Trial small-scale DAB mux on Block 9A (202.928 MHz)
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Old 03-11-2016, 19:48
swb1964
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Ah I won't be hearing it then

The main Birmingham MUX just about reaches a few places on the southern fringes of Derby, and also gives a solid signal at my parents house in Burton on Trent. I doubt the small scale MUX even makes it past* the toll road!

* past or passed? Which is it? They both look wrong!
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Old 04-11-2016, 00:41
david16
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I really hope this happens because I think there is a need. Yes there are some American web streams playing pretty 1960 music, but this will be a British station on DAB, at least in three major markets.
A station playing all 1960's to 1980's music on FM with DJ's on air 19 to 24 hours per day like in America, Canada or Australia could do just as well here in the UK.
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Old 04-11-2016, 01:11
midlandsfirst
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Birmingham Trial small-scale DAB mux on Block 9A (202.928 MHz)
Damn. No chance at my location in Walsall then. Got hopes up when OP stated local multiplexes. This sounded up my street and could have finally given me a reason to use my DAB... Oh well...

Steve
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Old 04-11-2016, 03:46
Black Label
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The 'test transmission' loop is still going out. Mike McLean just voiced that this was a "final test" for Timeless Radio which will launch on Thursday 3rd November 10am with Russell Watson doing the live launch. This was broadcast at 10.12am today, 3rd November!

Sounds as if the launch has been postponed until a later date; this will be the fourth push-back for the station.

As BL posts, this is déjà vu and DS posters have been through this with Eklipse Sports Radio, GO Radio and now Timeless Radio. Somethings never change!

The Glasgow trial mux is having technical faults as it is going off-air momentarily every 5 minutes of so.
This is history repeating and just like GO a year ago we now have Timeless with launch intentions slipping back from September, a lineup announced, but then a definate much trailed launch date missed and the station facebook page going back to posting pictures and 'coming soon'. We know this old movie.

If I were a cynical person I might even wonder if these launch-dates-that-turn-out-not- to-be are intentional, the better to create a sense of urgency in sought after presenters to agree to appear on it and be publicly announced. Or would-be investors, for that matter.

By the time 'launch' is missed, the people involved will all have been on their facebook pages posting to the industry about how much they are looking forward to appearing on [****insert name of Spencer DAB station here****] and by doing so have rather bound themselves into the project regardless.

It is true that September was the due time for a technical solve for the SFN syncing issues that have beset the Glasgow trial to be issued, as stated in the OFCOM report on the small scale DAB trials.But surely on a 'once bitten twice shy' basis, it would have made sense for Spencer to ensure it was working properly before announcing launch dates for another DAB station, and that all the other nuts and bolts were in place too?

This isn't intended as a Spencer bashing post and he may be keen to have pointed out that Eklipse Sports Radio ultimately DID get off the ground, while GO DID secure major Scottish investment to..... at the very least...... have a crack at the 96.3 licence and may yet happen on DAB too.

However these false/aborted launches are rapidly becoming like Cape Canaveral on a shit day and 'The Boy Who Cried Wolf.' also jumps to mind.

Damn. No chance at my location in Walsall then. Got hopes up when OP stated local multiplexes. This sounded up my street and could have finally given me a reason to use my DAB... Oh well...

Steve
Ahh....I knew someone would pull me up for this. Yessss....when I posted the thread I will admit that I omitted highlighting the fact it was just the trial MUXs. Well.....they ARE local MUX's aren't they?
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Old 04-11-2016, 07:10
radio tuner
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I really hope this happens because I think there is a need. Yes there are some American web streams playing pretty 1960 music, but this will be a British station on DAB, at least in three major markets.
2 of the 3 major markets are small scale DAB trials which cover very small areas
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Old 04-11-2016, 08:16
Black Label
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2 of the 3 major markets are small scale DAB trials which cover very small areas
....but a very large number of people.
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Old 04-11-2016, 10:20
Craig Kelly
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The Timeless Radio FB page now states: "Start spreading the news - Timeless Radio UK
Coming soon. Launch date TBA."

The music loop going out still states launching on Thursday 3rd November.
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Old 04-11-2016, 17:43
Black Label
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It's Mike McLean I feel particularly sorry for. He has been very loyal to Spencer, working 7 days a week for months earlier this year to help YOUR in its hour of need, and I am told has put a lot of time and effort into this latest project, only for this to happen again
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Old 04-11-2016, 18:07
vinnielo
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It is true that September was the due time for a technical solve for the SFN syncing issues that have beset the Glasgow trial to be issued, as stated in the OFCOM report on the small scale DAB trials.But surely on a 'once bitten twice shy' basis, it would have made sense for Spencer to ensure it was working properly before announcing launch dates for another DAB station, and that all the other nuts and bolts were in place too?
I notice Like Radio have pulled their service from the mux, blaming disappointment in the service received from the mux operator.
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Old 04-11-2016, 19:16
Thine Wonk
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Terrible logo and website - turn off
I was about to post that
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Old 05-11-2016, 03:47
Alan_Hall
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Really terrible that this is happening all over again with Timeless Radio not
going live at 10am on Thursday. I just hope that Mike McLean does not decide to
walk away from Your Radio and Timeless Radio after he has worked his socks off to help get Timeless up and running. He will be feeling really tired and exhausted after working hard to get Timeless Radio up and running.
Well done Mike, you have really done your very best to try and help get Timeless Radio up and running. You do need a holiday, so do have one.
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Old 05-11-2016, 06:31
Black Label
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Really terrible that this is happening all over again with Timeless Radio not
going live at 10am on Thursday. I just hope that Mike McLean does not decide to
walk away from Your Radio and Timeless Radio after he has worked his socks off to help get Timeless up and running. He will be feeling really tired and exhausted after working hard to get Timeless Radio up and running.
Well done Mike, you have really done your very best to try and help get Timeless Radio up and running. You do need a holiday, so do have one.
Well said Alan!!!

Mike has been a dependable rock for them down there this year with all his hard work. Spencer yet again missing a launch deadline is one thing but to then blithely just keep broadcasting that test loop regardless with Mike still announcing a launch date that never was is hugely disrespectful to someone who has loyally served YOUR/Castlerock for 20 years It's disgusting in fact. Who could blame him if he walked away?

I am also at a loss as to why others who should know better are still going down there and signing up for more 'Spencer Ventures'.
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Old 05-11-2016, 11:17
Spencer_Pryor
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Well said Alan!!!

Mike has been a dependable rock for them down there this year with all his hard work. Spencer yet again missing a launch deadline is one thing but to then blithely just keep broadcasting that test loop regardless with Mike still announcing a launch date that never was is hugely disrespectful to someone who has loyally served YOUR/Castlerock for 20 years It's disgusting in fact. Who could blame him if he walked away?

I am also at a loss as to why others who should know better are still going down there and signing up for more 'Spencer Ventures'.
So the trolls are out in force must be something to do with the dark nights drawing in and nothing better to do with their time....

I usually rise above all these comments and treat them as a bit of a joke by Armchair Warriors and Schoolboys with satchels hanging around outside studios, however I do sometimes get a wee bit irritated....

Mike is perfectly happy regarding Timeless and his paid work for YOUR. Mike is the one actually responsible for the test loop and re-edited it the other day and must have missed one of the links that needed taken out. Not a major end of the world event. So I think 'disgusting' and disrespectful is a bit beyond the pale from John..

Timeless is running a wee bit behind schedule due to the integration of the playout system into the existing RCS system. Not as easy as it sounds. It will happen when it happens - this is a small scale DAB station - not Radio 1.

Regarding 'Spencer Ventures'.. Well in the last year Gary Marshall and myself have rescued YOUR from where it was on the point of closing down because the newspaper group running it were fed up with it losing £100k+ per annum - a lot of that due to a lot of Black Labels mates thinking they had a cushy job. With a lot of hard work including regular 100 hour weeks by myself it's now on the path to success. We shall see what the station's first RAJAR book looks like in January..

DAB - Ah yes, the 'trial' multiplex, and the one where I've probably sunk about £5,000 of my own money into over the past year to support local community stations who even then baulked at coughing up £50 a month to help defray costs on something that costs over £1k a month to run - electricity, site rents and telecom charges aren't free you know... Like Radio left the mux because their contract ended and they didn't want to renew it where they had to pay money out, not because of the service they received. I suspect they're struggling to pay the fees for the commercial muxes they are on in the West Midlands and Glasgow was too far from their core area. In fact two new stations started on the mux this week to replace them - Radio Telstar from Galashiels and Starpoint Soul. In fact I've a queue of stations wanting to come on the mux, as do all the other minimux operators across the UK.

Timeless Radio will be a creative success due to the hard work put in by all the team involved especially Mike as Head of Music, whether it will be financially we will have to see.

As I've said in the past there is a lot of opportunities out there in RadioLand - just go out and seize them, or be like BL (John) and just sit at your computer whining on about how this is wrong and how he'd do it different - I'm not stopping you mate, but I suspect that you'd prefer to sit in front of your laptop rather than actually doing something.

Anyway I've got more important things to do like building a couple of effigies of DS posters and getting them ready for the bonfire tonight... Toodle Pip!
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Old 05-11-2016, 15:38
Les Wires
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Timeless is running a wee bit behind schedule due to the integration of the playout system into the existing RCS system. Not as easy as it sounds. It will happen when it happens - this is a small scale DAB station - not Radio 1.
Thanks for the info. Looking forward to the station. If you can, please keep us informed on the new launch date.
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Old 05-11-2016, 15:56
radio tuner
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....but a very large number of people.
the manchester trial covers mainly the city centre not many of the older generation live there . its all apartments and student acommodation not really the target audience
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Old 07-11-2016, 04:40
Black Label
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Mike is perfectly happy regarding Timeless and his paid work for YOUR. Mike is the one actually responsible for the test loop and re-edited it the other day and must have missed one of the links that needed taken out. Not a major end of the world event. So I think 'disgusting' and disrespectful is a bit beyond the pale from John..!
I accept that 'disgusting' was written in haste and was a bit over the top. I withdraw the word and apologise. It did sound disrespectful to me hearing it played after the aborted launch so am just reacting to what I am hearing coming out of your station, however if it was Mike's own minor editing error will also accept that too.

Timeless is running a wee bit behind schedule due to the integration of the playout system into the existing RCS system. Not as easy as it sounds. It will happen when it happens - this is a small scale DAB station - not Radio 1.
Why is this a problem? You already run an FM ILR from there. But as I said in a previous post, surely it would have sense to make sure all the technical 'i's and 't's are crossed before announcing a launch date, especially given the high calibre team you have assembled for this project, and your previous recent experience of DAB projects. Nor do I accept the 'small scale DAB not Radio 1' argument. If something is worth doing it's worth doing properly, and not just announcing launch dates on a 'wing and a prayer' on the basis its 'only'.......anything. Your team deserve more than that, Spencer.

Regarding 'Spencer Ventures'.. Well in the last year Gary Marshall and myself have rescued YOUR from where it was on the point of closing down because the newspaper group running it were fed up with it losing £100k+ per annum - a lot of that due to a lot of Black Labels mates thinking they had a cushy job. With a lot of hard work including regular 100 hour weeks by myself it's now on the path to success. We shall see what the station's first RAJAR book looks like in January..
I totally agree that YOUR's costs were too high. Stations often have to cut showfees and costs. Never ideal for some but it should at least happen in an orderly way. I did have a qualm about you suddenly springing delayed payments upon people.....'mates' or otherwise.....at the end of ruddy January in particular of all times...... and then trying to spin it in such as way as to blame presenters for invoicing too early. As for 'thinking they had a cushy job' I can say with certainty that no one who worked down there thought they had anything of the kind due to the high risk it might end the next day they went in. If, by 'cushy job' you mean the grasping hope that they are paid something to live on on time at the end of the month then I can't fault them for that.

Anyway I've got more important things to do like building a couple of effigies of DS posters and getting them ready for the bonfire tonight... Toodle Pip!
Thank you for that lovely sentiment. Funnily enough I have a bout of gout now so I think I'll just blame you for that as well

Seriosuly though, have fingers crossed for a good first RAJAR for YOUR in January. And a launch date for Timeless too.

John
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Old 21-11-2016, 13:20
mongooose
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Nothing yet?
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