Diabolical Advertising Bull****

Don't get me wrong, I've nothing against DAB digital radio. But I do think the latest advert for DAB - which includes 'interference' from what sounds like a cliched London pirate - is rather 'below the belt' by reinforcing the myth that pirate radio causes interference.

Besides, it is also a myth to suggest that DAB has no interference, and is either perfect sound or impossible to receive. Anybody listening to a distant multiplex on DAB (ie all of them, in many areas!) will notice times when the station sounds like you're listening underwater! (appropriate for Radio Mi Amigo, perhaps :P )

Still, it's interesting that pirate radio is obviously still popular enough to be a thorn in the side of the radio Establishment, so they want to discredit it. Could this have something to do with the increasingly poor quality of independent radio in the UK, where even the 'music' stations seem to have 20 minutes of verbal diarrhea for every record played? And the fact that the promotions are increasingly getting 'preachy', encouraging us to take up exercise when all we want is to listen to the music? No wonder, then, people are deserting ILR for the pirates. And without a root-and-branch change in format of British legal radio, DAB isn't going to help.

After all, perfect-sounding crap is still crap!

Feeding the birds

On the DAB Digital 1 national multiplex, there is now a station called Birdsong, on the slot previously occupied by Oneword. The station lives up to its name, broadcasting nothing but birdsong! (Thanks to Ditchy, the DJ on Real Radio this afternoon, for bringing this to my attention, by mentioning it on-air!)

It kinda brings back memories of 1991, when Classic FM broadcast birdsong in their test transmissions. Likewise, I understand Birdsong is only on DAB temporarily, until they find a station to fill the slot.

But what will this station be? Might it be The Eagle from Guildford? Or Kestrel FM from Basingstoke? Phoenix FM from Brentwood? A hospital radio station like Radio Nightingale from Rotherham, or Radio Robin from Ilkeston? Or maybe, now Radio Mi Amigo's back (see previous post), they could bring back the 1970's offshore pirate Radio Seagull :-)

Disney station gets Capital punishment

Sad to hear DAB station Capital Disney will close in June (see here). Final day of live broadcasts will be Friday 1st June, broadcasts cease totally on Friday 29th June.

For all its faults, Capital Disney is possibly the only kids' radio station with near-national UK coverage. I understand the closedown is due to disagreements between the Capital Radio company and the Walt Disney company.

The article about the closedown seems to recommend that you visit the Capital Media PLC website to find an alternative station to listen to after the Capital Disney closedown. Ah well, the format of Capital Disney always did seem more Capital than Disney (although a few Disney related records not played much elsewhere, eg Hanna Montana "Best Of Both Worlds" did get played quite a bit).

If you're interested in listening to another station aimed at kids, however, the following broadcast online:

Fun Radio broadcasts on DAB in London and across the south (was heard in Bognor Regis in August).
Takeover Radio is, according to their website, run by kids for kids. Broadcasts on 103.2 FM in Leicester. (Sadly, you lose the live streaming if you navigate away from their homepage).
More children's and family stations available via Live365