UK

AI is being integrated into the Radio Prep Essentials service with the launch of PrepPad and RadioPrepBot.

Starting in July 2024 and integrating with the existing services which offers aggregated content, show prep and audio imaging, the company’s new PrepPad and RadioPrepBot services will allow presenters and radio show producers to manage content and share all from within the content management system.
Radio Essentials’ Head of Development Stephen Waterhouse said: “Radio Essentials PrepPad is an all-in-one solution for managing content where we provide all the tools and content. Users can save, edit, manage, group, and much more, all through a single interface.
“We are also introducing an AI companion called RadioPrepBot, your personal assistant who will give you the latest weather, traffic, artist information, football updates and local news, all of which can be added to the PrepPad and shared across presenters / stations as required.”
See a video demo of the new services here. […]

A new radio station using the name Atlantic 252 is set to launch on DAB.

The station has a modern version of the original Atlantic 252 logo and will commence broadcasting at 8am on June 24th, 2024.
Whilst the people behind the revival want to remain anonymous, the station voice-over will be Jim Merkel, who was the voice behind the original station.
Jim tells us: “Atlantic 252 is vastly different from the majority of stations I voiced. I call it “stationality” like personality. The vibe and feel of the station was exciting, up tempo, and catchy.
“I’ve voiced radio stations around the globe, most of which are here in the US. Atlantic 252 did things differently. While so many stations had a “sterilized” or “homogenized” feel to them, Atlantic 252 had a sound to it all on its own.
“To be back as the signature voice on Atlantic 252 is a dream, and allows me to create some of those same magical moments that Atlantic 252 was known for!”
Atlantic 252 won’t be on 252 LW, but in certain areas of the North West on DAB, including Stockport, Bury, Bolton, Tameside, Rochdale and Oldham with plans to expand across the UK and Ireland as the year rolls on.
Presenters will be added next year, according to a press release.
The station says: “The comeback is aimed at the 40+ crowd – those busy parents who deserve a break and professionals who crave a little escape down memory lane. But hey, we’re also here to win over a new generation who missed out on our original run but are ready to fall in love with our nostalgic vibes.
“So, mark your calendars, set your alarms, and get ready to relive the magic. Atlantic 252 is back, bringing the beat that shaped a generation and setting the stage for a whole new chapter in radio history. It’s time to turn up the volume and let the good times roll!” […]

Cumbria.Digital has announced plans to apply for the small-scale DAB multiplex licence covering Carlisle and Penrith.
The company plans to reserve capacity for six community stations, surpassing Ofcom’s minimum requirement of four, to better serve the diverse communities in Carlisle, Penrith, and the surrounding rural areas.
It also plans to establish media hubs in Penrith and Carlisle to support community groups and organisations with the facilities needed to run their own stations on the multiplex and make radio accessible to all.
Cumbria.Digital informs RadioToday it has operated in the technology and broadcast sector over the last 20 years including providing technical facilities for a pan European Satellite Channel and supporting small business to unlock the potential of digital technology.
“We are looking to provide a platform that gives communities and organizations a voice, opening up the power of radio to all and bringing greater choice to listeners in the area,” said a spokesperson for Cumbria.Digital.
“We will support the existing community stations in Carlisle and Penrith, ensuring they have capacity on the multiplex if they wish alongside supporting new stations.”
Cumbria.Digital says it is already in discussions with potential commercial stations, including niche stations not currently available over the air locally, and wants to hear from anyone else interested in joining a local multiplex.
Details of the people behind the company have not been shared with RadioToday. […]

The shortlist for this year’s TRIC Awards have been announced ahead of the awards event hosted by Roman Kemp later this month.

The event, on June 25th, is set to bring together stars from comedy, drama, entertainment, factual programming, news, radio and streaming content. There will also be a special live performance from Pixie Lott, as part of the live-streamed event.
A total of 18 awards will be presented on the day, including the Radio Personality Category which sees Sara Cox go up against Ken Bruce, Roman Kemp and Chris Moyles.
The Radio Show category shortlist has Capital Breakfast with Roman Kemp, Heart Breakfast with Jamie Theakston and Amanda Holden, Ken Bruce, and The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show.
The News Presenter Category includes previous winners Nigel Farage and Eamonn Holmes shortlisted alongside Susanna Reid and Matt Chorley.
The Nominees 
1/ DRAMA
Death in Paradise 
Happy Valley 
Kin 
Mr Bates vs The Post Office

2/ ENTERTAINMENT
Gogglebox 
Im A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here! 
Race Across The World 
Strictly Come Dancing

3/ GAME SHOW
1% Club 
The Chase
Dragons Den 
The Traitors

4/ FACTUAL
Martin Lewis Money Show Live 
Mr Bates vs The Post Office – The Real Story 
Planet Earth III 
The Repair Shop

5/ LIVE EVENT
FIFA Women’s World Cup Final
Glastonbury: Elton John’s Farewell
The Coronation of TM The King and Queen Camilla
The Ashes Test Match Special – BBC Radio 5 Live

6/ FOOD
Gordon Gino and Fred: Viva Espana 
The Great British Bake Off
MasterChef
Saturday Kitchen

7/ DAYTIME
A Place in the Sun
Escape to the Country
Homes Under the Hammer
Ken Bruce

8/ NEWS
BBC Breakfast
BBC News at Six
GB News Breakfast
Good Morning Britain

9/ NEWS PRESENTER 
Eamonn Holmes
Matt Chorley
Nigel Farage
Susanna Reid

10/ PODCAST
Staying Relevant: Sam Thompson & Pete Wicks
That Peter Crouch Podcast
The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett
The Rest is History

11/ INTERVIEW OF THE YEAR. 
Alastair Stewart reveals his heartbreaking diagnosis to Camilla Tominey 
Louis Theroux Interviews Dame Joan Colins 
Ken Bruce interviews Noel Gallagher 
Piers Morgan Uncensored: PM and the PM

12/ SOCIAL MEDIA BROADCAST
Amelia Dimoldenberg
Giovanna Fletcher
Joe Wicks
Sophie Hinchcliffe 

13/ RADIO PERSONAILITY
Chris Moyles
Ken Bruce
Roman Kemp
Sara Cox

14/ RADIO SHOW
Capital Breakfast with Roman Kemp
Heart Breakfast with Jamie Theakston and Amanda Holden
Ken Bruce
The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show

15/ TV PERSONALITY
Ant & Dec
Bradley Walsh
Martin Lewis
Piers Morgan

16/ SOAP ACTOR
David Neilson (Roy Cropper)
Derek Thompson (Charlie Fairhead)
Jeff Hordley (Cain Dingle)
Maureen Lipman (Evelyn Plummer). 

17/ SOAP OF THE YEAR
Coronation Street
EastEnders
Emmerdale
The Archers.

18/ TRIC SPECIAL AWARD […]

Fun Kids has launched a new spin-off pop-up service and hired 10-year-old Martha Sheehan to run it.

Martha is managing Fun Kids Space Station, which launched on the morning of June 8, 2024, during a special sleepover event held by Fun Kids at the National Space Centre in Leicester.
It will air on DAB Digital Radio in Leicester and the Fun Kids app for the next month and focuses on space and space exploration, aimed at kids between 6 and 12 years old.
10-year old Martha has been planning the content for months and in May visited the Fun Kids UK radio studios to put her plans into action. Martha curated space themed features, the spacey music playlist and fun galactic games, facts and competitions.
Martha was hands-on in the whole process recording the features, jingles and adverts, whilst Fun Kids DJ Bex showed her how to work the studio equipment and how to line up a radio show.

Fun Kids Content Controller James Lloyd said: “We like to put young people in the driving seat. They have the most creative ideas. So when we thought about launching a space radio station just for kids, we needed someone who knew what our audience wanted to hear, and we couldn’t have been more pleased with the job Martha has done.”
After pushing the red button to launch the radio station Martha beamed and said the whole experience had been ‘Awesome’.
Craig Glenday, Editor in Chief at Guinness World Records said: “The talent and dedication of our record holders never ceases to amaze us. Martha took her role as the Fun Kids Space Station Manager very seriously and did the most incredible job – simply out of this world! Congratulations Martha, you have a fantastic future ahead of you and we are proud to have you in our record breaking family.” […]

Ofcom has agreed to approve changes to the Key Commitments of B Radio in Farnborough.

The station wanted to appeal to an older demographic and remove the requirement to broadcast travel news.
B Radio, operated by Rush FM Limited, will now target under-40s who live, work and study in Farnborough and surrounding areas instead of under-30s.
It will now play mainstream music from the 1990s to present day, with some music from the 1980s.
B Radio can also reduce its original output requirement from 84 hours per week to 44 hours per week, and reduce its locally-produced output requirement from 42 hours per week to 30 hours per week.
B Radio in Reading also changed its Key Commitments last year to reduce local and original hours to a similar level.
Ofcom ran a four week consultation and received zero responses, so has just announced the changes have been approved. […]