UK

The BBC has welcomed the enhanced funding for BBC World Service following today’s budget.

Although Chancellor Rachel Reeves didn’t mention it in her speech, the UK’s budget document says: “In 2025-26, the settlement provides an increase in funding to the BBC World Service, protecting existing foreign language service provision and its mission to deliver globally trusted media, in support of the UK’s global presence and soft power.”
A statement issued by the BBC this afternoon says: “We warmly welcome the announcement of enhanced funding. We are pleased the government has acknowledged the strong case for investing in the World Service. As the world’s most trusted broadcaster, we are in a unique position to lead the global news and information market.
“Today’s announcement will enable us to maintain all of our existing language services, to continue fighting disinformation around the world, and also to provide emergency information services to those in crisis, as we have recently done in Gaza, Sudan and Ukraine.
“However, despite today’s announcement, the BBC World Service is not immune to the immense pressures facing the rest of the BBC – freezes to the BBC licence fee, materially significant global inflation, and the need to make investments for tech and digital upkeep.
“Given this, we will need to work through the details of the funding, and we will say more in due course about any changes and savings we need to make to stay competitive in the face of those continuing pressures.”

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Former Hallam FM and BBC Radio Sheffield presenter Howard Pressman is joining Radio Essentials to host a weekend show.

Howie left BBC Radio Sheffield last November following the changes in BBC local radio and will now host Sunday mornings 10am – 1pm on Radio Essentials across Sheffield and South Yorkshire from 10th November.
Howie said: “It’s been a year since my last radio show on BBC Radio Sheffield, so when the offer came in from Steve and the team at Radio Essentials to have a Sunday show, then I didn’t think twice.
“The new live show will be a chance to be involved again with some great listeners, who are as excited as I am that I’m back on the airwaves across Sheffield and South Yorkshire.”
A spokesperson for Radio Essentials said: “Radio Essentials is so excited to have Howie on board as we start to build a station dedicated to the people of Sheffield and South Yorkshire. This is just the start of our journey to become the number one commercial radio station in Sheffield.”

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Gok Wan is to be the new co-host of Magic Breakfast with Harriet Scott from the end of January.

This follows Ronan Keating’s departure last July. Gok has been covering on the show recently and announced the news on air this morning, that he’s becoming the permanent replacement.
Gok will be joining Harriet permanently every weekday from Monday 27th January 2025.
Gok said: “I am beyond excited to be joining the Magic Breakfast team. I have loved working with the crew and of course getting to know our fabulous listeners.
“I have truly fallen in love with radio, and I don’t even mind the early mornings, I’m an early riser anyway!
“We are going to have a brilliant time, and I want you all to join us in the daily fun. Harriet is a wonderful co-host, and I can’t wait for our Magic to happen!”
Harriet added: “I know that our listeners are going to love spending their mornings with Gok just as much as I do. We’re all going to have some adventures together in 2025 and I can’t wait!”

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GB News Radio will be available on the Nation Player app from midnight tonight, in time for its Budget Day special.

Nation Player Founder Jason Bryant said: “We are delighted to welcome GB News Radio to our platform.  We have successfully attracted the UK’s largest independent stations alongside a host of locally focussed community operators.
“We are on a mission to become the leading commercial audio app and to monetise audiences for our partners.”
GB News CEO Angelos Frangopoulos commented: “GB News is committed to being as widely available as possible so that our viewers and listeners can easily find their favourite news channel.
“Coming in the wake of our record-breaking RAJAR figures, we look forward to GB News Radio being able to connect with an even larger audience through the Nation Player App.”

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Original 10STIX is being launched by Original 106 for North-East Scotland pet owners to help keep them calm during the fireworks.

This comes after pet owner listeners to Original 106 contacted the station following it mentioning firework displays taking place across the area.
The new station will soft launch on 1st November, with the official launch on Monday 4th November and will be on-air until Sunday 10th November, playing “chilled canine favourites to relax Aberdeen’s doggie population”.
Original 106 Programme Controller Craig Lumsden said: “As Aberdeen’s local radio station, we always make a point of pointing our listeners to the many properly organised displays around the city and shire. However, pets owners call Original 106 asking us to spare a thought for dog owners and to be aware of the stress Guy Fawkes night can cause.
So we thought we’d go one better and launch a radio station playing non-stop soothing songs for dogs, by dogs.
“We’ve even managed to recruit some of our listeners own dogs to send in recordings of their dogs talking to play between the songs – yes! A radio station presented by dogs.
“It’s going to be a must listen for all North-East dogs this firework season.”
Original 106STIX will be available to stream on smart speaker and via the Original 106 app from 4 – 10th November .

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Charity Fillers has now reached the 10,000th play of a piece of audio on-air in less than six months of operation.

The company, which distributes audio commercials and editorial pieces to radio stations in the UK, reached 5000 plays in its first four months and has now doubled that before reaching six months.
Red Kite Radio in Thame was the station that played the 10,000th commercial with Doctors Of The World “Don’t Let Health Pass By” on 11th October.
Chris Long, Head of Output at Red Kite commented: “We’re really chuffed that the 10,000th Charity Filler played on air was one that we broadcast.
“One of Red Kite Radio’s prime remits is to serve the local community in Thame, Haddenham and the surrounding villages, and to include Charity Fillers in our daily output not only benefits the charities concerned but helps us with our hourly timings. A real win-win!”
Spencer Pryor, the founder of Charity Fillers added: “10,000 reported airplays in less than six months is really pleasing! We are now on our way to achieving 20,000 plays in our first year of operation.
“However, we must give a big thank you to the 100-odd radio stations who take the Charity Fillers service, and who donate a small amount of airtime each week to help publicise good causes.
“We couldn’t have managed this without the goodwill of the radio stations. We are always on the lookout for more radio stations to sign up and use this free service.”
Charity Fillers is the third sector equivalent of the U.K. government’s Radio Fillers service, supplying audio content free of charge to U.K. radio stations to fill shortages in commercial breaks on a donated airtime basis. Find out more at charityfillers.co.uk.

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