UK

BBC World Service to provide people of Syria with enhanced services

The BBC World Service is to offer enhanced services to listeners across the country as local media and digital services are disrupted.

Broadcasting news and information in Arabic, the service will air BBC News Arabic bulletins throughout the day including the BBC News Arabic’s World at One and BBC News Arabic’s Newsnight.
It will also feature packages from the Gaza Lifeline service and contributions from correspondents such as Feras Kilani as well as the BBC’s wealth of reporters based across the region.
There will also be an English offer on the network, curated from World Service English, for those Syrians who speak the language.
Jonathan Munro, Global Director, BBC News, says: “As we have all been watching, listening to and reading about the dramatic changes that have swept through Syria, the Syrian population have been left without essential access to reliable and independent news about the events taking place.
“The BBC World Service’s enhanced services will bring them the latest breaking news and analysis from Syria, the Middle East and the rest of the world.”
The Syrian radio network will go out on medium wave, 720kHz and 639kHz, and on 93.0 FM.

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UK

Original 106 to replace Kingdom FM to create single brand for DC Thomson

DC Thomson is rebranding Kingdom FM as Original 106 giving the company one radio brand across Aberdeen, Fife and Tayside.

Kingdom FM has been operating in Fife for over 25 years, and broadcasts on 95.2, 96.1, 96.6, 105.4 and 106.3 FM.
It will continue to have local news and travel, along with split ads.
There will be no changes to programming for listeners in Aberdeen, with Claire and Pete continuing their Original 106 Aberdeen breakfast show, followed by Martin Ingram, Craig Lumsden and Lachlan Mackenzie.
Dave and Vanessa from Kingdom FM Breakfast will continue with their breakfast show in Fife, and extend it to Tayside.
Dave Connor: “Being a born and bred Fifer and one of the first presenters on Kingdom FM, I’m excited to be part of this latest evolution of the station and expand our Dave and Vanessa breakfast show into Tayside.
“We’re committed to continuing to celebrate Fife, still being locally based at our studios in Kirkcaldy, and we look forward to welcoming listeners in Dundee and Perth into our radio family.”
Robin Galloway, Group Head of Presentation at station owners DC Thomson, said: “The Original 106 expansion comes at the perfect time for other parts of Scotland to experience the magic of the Original 106 brand.
“I’d like to thank the Kingdom FM team for what they have achieved over the past 26 years and I’m delighted that our award-winning breakfast show team of Dave and Vanessa will be moving over to Original 106.
“Original 106 has cemented its position as number one in the market with quarter-on-quarter and year-on-year increases over the last 12 months.
“We now have over 90,000 weekly listeners in Aberdeen and the North East enjoying great chat, on-air laughs and fun competitions.”
The new service also has a new logo, as seen above.

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US

WPOC Moves Michael J To Mornings

[caption id="attachment_289737" align="alignright" width="200"] Bethany Linderman and Michael J[/caption]Following the departure of Laurie DeYoung after 39 years in mornings at the end of this week, iHeartMedia Country 93.1 WPOC Baltimore has announced that afternoon host ‘Michael J’ will take over mornings along with current co-host Bethany Linderman starting Monday, January 6. […]

UK

Mark Seaman returns to radio in the North East for Christmas

Former Metro Radio presenter Mark Seaman is returning to the radio in the North east on Christmas Day.

Mark, who presented on Metro from 1979 to 1984, then went on to work for other stations across the country including GWR Group and Premier Radio before joining the BBC.
He will be presenting the afternoon show on Christmas Day on the Hospital and Community station Radio Tyneside.
Mark said: “I am delighted to being back on the radio in the North East as part of Radio Tyneside’s festive line up. I remember my many happy years working for Metro Radio and it will be nice to be back on air.”
You can hear Mark between 3.00pm and 5.00pm Christmas Day. Radio Tyneside broadcasts on 93.6fm, on DAB, online across Newcastle and Gateshead.

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UK

Seahaven FM saved following closure announcement

East Sussex community radio station Seahaven FM has been saved from closure.
The service announced it would close on January 10th 2025 due to a lack of funding.
But now the station says it has had an overwhelming amount of support to keep it going.
Station Manager Nick Mallinson says: “It’s been a roller-coaster ride in the last few weeks. We have received an overwhelming number of supportive calls and messages from listeners.
“They do not want to lose the company of our local presenters, the wide range of music from across eight decades and the useful local information.
“Local people and organisations have also donated generously on our Local Giving page. Some are choosing to donate regular amounts which will help our cashflow throughout next year.
“Also, a wonderful and anonymous local sponsor from Eastbourne has guaranteed financial support during 2025. So, we are now busy planning for the Next Year and beyond!
“Our final present this Christmas is the arrival of an experienced broadcaster to join our management team. He has both run his own successful business and managed a large charitable organisation which, like Seahaven FM, is mainly staffed by volunteers.”
Seahaven FM says new sponsors, donors, advertisers, volunteers and listeners are always welcome and more details can be found at SeahavenFM.radio.

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ASIA

Registration open for ABU DBS 2025

Registrations are open for the next edition of Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union’s (ABU) Digital Broadcasting Symposium DBS), to be held from February 24 to 27 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.The symposium is back as an in-person event after a break of two years. The DBS2025 event, through its conference sessions, panel discussions, focused workshops and masterclasses, presented by eminent experts across the globe, will address challenges, find solutions and share experiences related to digital transition, technology implementation, creative content ideas, and enhancing user experiences.An ever-expanding range of technologies is now on the market, providing broadcasters with important new opportunities. DBS showcases these to help broadcasters make the right decisions.The symposium attracts close to 1,500 participants annually, representing over 350 organisations across the region and beyond.The growth in participation reflects the relevance of the issues covered at the conference, workshops and masterclasses, and the strong interest in the products and services on show at the exhibition.The number of exhibitors has also risen significantly. In 2005, DBS attracted just four exhibitors. By 2008 this had risen to 20, and by 2011 to 29. In 2019, 45 exhibitors showcased their products and services in 52 booths.The ABU Digital Broadcasting Symposium 2025 promises four exciting days of innovation and insight.This is your chance to connect with industry leaders, innovators, and decision-makers, demonstrate your latest products and solutions, and strengthen your presence in the ever-evolving broadcasting landscape.

Register here. […]