UK

Humber Wave Radio has announced the death of breakfast presenter Chris King, known on air as Steve Smith, following a short illness.

The former British Army soldier first discovered broadcasting through BFBS before becoming a much-loved voice on West Hull FM, later renamed Humber Wave Radio.
Chris, who was sixty seven, built a loyal following across Hull and East Yorkshire with shows that mixed music, humour and offbeat features. Listeners knew him as “The Loon”, a nod to his energetic style and the influence of his radio hero Kenny Everett.
Humber Wave director Richard Moore said Chris made a lasting impression from the moment he joined the station in the early 2020s. He said Chris brought “energy, humour, and an unmistakable voice” to mid-afternoons and later to his evening feature The Extra Slice.
Richard added that Chris stepped into the weekday breakfast slot in last year and quickly made it his own with a mix of wit, warmth and unpredictability that resonated with listeners across the city.
Richard said Chris was more than a colleague and described him as a friend and a character whose presence shaped the sound of the station. He said his “laughter, his chaos, and his heart” would remain part of the memories of those who tuned in.
Tributes have continued on the station’s Facebook page, where listeners have shared messages of appreciation and personal stories. The Lord Mayor of Hull, Cheryl Payne, wrote that he would be remembered for his character and for bringing joy to many.

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Nation Player has reached seven million weekly listening hours as more independent and community radio stations join the app.

The platform, built on Xperi’s All In Media technology, now carries more than 100 stations, one 125 podcast channels and 43 publishers.
Nation Player launched last year with 55 stations and has expanded steadily as broadcasters adopt the AIM Player system to reach listeners at home, on the move and in the car through Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The integration with Xperi allows participating audio companies to access the Digital Ad Exchange, connecting them with advertisers through a shared revenue model. The arrangement supports targeted advertising that fits within the listening experience and delivers growing income to publishers using the app.
Nation founder and chief executive Jason Bryant said the team is continuing to see new highs for usage and active users. He said “we are on a mission to become the leading commercial audio app and to monetise audiences for our partners.”
Chris Gould, vice president at All In Media, said the AIM Player technology gives broadcasters of any size a route to a branded app without the cost of building their own. Chris said the partnership shows how traditional media can be reshaped through platforms that focus on user experience.
Listeners can browse favourites, trending shows and podcasts through the personalised interface, helping them move quickly between different audio choices. AIM Player technology underpins the layout and functionality that supports this navigation and content discovery.
Nation Player includes stations from Nation Broadcasting, independent broadcasters, community radio services and podcasts from a range of producers including the BBC.

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Ricky Durkin has been named the new Programme Director at Your Media Group.

Ricky, who previously served as Programme Director at Heart Yorkshire, Real Radio Yorkshire and BFBS, and most recently as Head of Content at Radio News Hub, will oversee programming across the group’s stations.
He will be tasked with supporting audience growth and commercial development on Your Harrogate, Your Skipton and Your Ilkley.
Speaking about his appointment, Durkin said: “I can’t wait to get started at the Your Media Group! They super serve listeners and advertisers in their broadcast areas and I’m excited to help a passionate, dedicated and talented team grow the audience and business.
“I’ve really enjoyed my time at Radio News Hub and wish them all the best for the future, but the chance to work in local music radio again was just too much to turn down!
“The Your Media Group have got some exciting plans and I’m thrilled to be involved.”
Your Media Group Managing Director Adam Daniel said: “Ricky brings a wealth of experience in local radio and a strong understanding of what audiences want.
“We’re delighted to welcome him to the team and look forward to seeing the impact he’ll have on our stations as we continue to grow.”
Ricky will step into his new role on Monday 1st December.

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Air107.2, a community radio station in south Dorset, is to close at the end of November due to funding issues.
The service has been broadcasting on FM in Weymouth and Portland since 2013, and is planning an extra special day of programmes on November 30th to celebrate the last 12+ years.
A message on social media says: “It has been our absolute pleasure to be able to share and promote community news and events for all these years.
“A big thank you to our presenters past and present, our advertisers (particularly Remarkable Carpets who have been an ever present advertiser) and of course most of all you our listeners.
“We are largely reliant on advertising income to meet our costs, and this has become increasingly challenging. Our future has been in the balance for a while, but unfortunately at this time our costs exceed our income and we are not viable.
“We plan to make our last broadcast day extra special, as a celebration of the station and the communities we have served. I hope that you will listen in and support us on that final day.
“Thank you again for listening and supporting.”
Just last year, another south Dorset community radio station, Purbeck Coast, also closed citing funding issues.

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kmfm’s annual Give A Gift campaign has returned this year, inviting listeners and communities across Kent to help make Christmas special for children in need.

The appeal delivers toys and presents to children and young people spending Christmas in hospital, living in care, or facing difficult circumstances.
Now in its latest year, Give A Gift continues to grow, with kmfm once again teaming up with Stoner Motor Company to help spread festive cheer to more families than ever.
Last year, more than 16,000 toys were donated and distributed to 18 locations across the county, including children’s hospital wards, care homes, and local charities.
The station is calling on listeners to show the same generosity this December by donating new, unwrapped gifts suitable for children and teenagers.
A spokesperson for kmfm said the campaign reflects the kindness of Kent’s communities. “Every year we’re amazed by how many people take part and how many children’s faces light up because of a small act of giving. It really does make a difference.”
Collection points and details of how to get involved will be shared on air and online throughout the campaign.

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BBC World Service is increasing the amount of journalism produced in Africa as part of a shift to base more programmes nearer to the audiences they serve.

The broadcaster says the move will strengthen African storytelling and add regional perspectives to its global news coverage.
Newsday will begin a new co-presenting arrangement on 1 December, with a team established in Kenya and Anne Soy hosting from Nairobi alongside Rob Young and James Copnall in London.
The programme will continue to air each weekday with live coverage, interviews and reporting from correspondents.
Anne Soy said she was pleased to join the team in Nairobi and added that she looked forward to helping tell stories that matter to audiences across the region.
She has more than twenty years of experience reporting across Africa and joined the BBC in 2013, most recently working as Senior Africa Correspondent and Deputy Africa Editor.
Focus on Africa, the World Service’s main Africa-focused news podcast, will also move from London to Nairobi.
The daily podcast will relaunch on 2 December, including a Friday episode recorded for the BBC News Africa YouTube channel and hosted by Nkechi Ogbonna.
Nkechi Ogbonna said the programme has long offered listeners a trusted source of news and noted that the move to Nairobi will help the team stay connected to audiences while broadening its editorial reach.
The Focus on Africa TV programme, presented by Waihiga Mwaura, will remain a key part of the schedule but will be refreshed and fully produced in Nairobi, with Lagos also acting as a production hub.
Juliet Njeri, BBC Regional Director for Africa, said the changes underline a commitment to regional storytelling and the inclusion of African voices across the BBC’s international output.
The updates form part of wider changes to BBC News operations made this year, including a new structure built around six regional directors based outside the UK.

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