Year: 2024

Pure West Radio has launched Pure X-Mas, a dedicated Christmas music station, on DAB.

The station is available on the North Pembrokeshire and South Pembrokeshire multiplexes until 31st December.
Toby Ellis, Station Manager at Pure West Radio, said: “This Christmas, we’re making it easier than ever for Pembrokeshire and beyond to tune into the magic of the season.
“Pure X-Mas on DAB is our gift to the community – a station entirely dedicated to spreading festive joy and creating lasting memories.”

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Better Media has raised urgent concerns about the consultation process for the proposed Community Radio Order.

In a letter addressed to the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, the Rt Hon Lisa Nandy MP, and the Minister of State for Media, Stephanie Peacock MP, Better Media highlighted several critical shortcomings in the process and called for immediate action to address these issues.
The letter raises alarm over the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport’s decision to consult only with the Community Media Association and the UK Community Radio Network.
Better Media says these trade associations represent only a narrow range of interests in the community radio sector, excluding a diverse spectrum of unlicensed and grassroots organisations, particularly those serving minority communities.
Dr Rob Watson of Better Media told RadioToday: “The consultation process has fundamentally failed to reflect the broad and diverse voices that make up the community radio sector. By engaging solely with established trade associations, DCMS has marginalised the views of smaller, unlicensed, and minority-focused stations.
“These voices are essential to building a vibrant and inclusive media landscape.”
The letter also criticises proposals for extended 10-year licence renewals, arguing that they risk entrenching the positions of existing stations without adequate reassessment of how FM spectrum—a limited public resource—is allocated. Better Media calls for a full re advertisement of licences after 20 years to ensure the spectrum is being used in the best interests of local communities and supports the reintroduction of legislative provisions, such as Clause 42 of the Media Bill, which would open licence rounds to new entrants beforeincumbents are granted extensions.
Dr Watson continued: “Ofcom and DCMS have repeatedly told new applicants that DAB and online platforms are sufficient alternatives, yet this logic is not being applied to incumbent FM licensees. We must ensure fair competition, innovation, and diversity in the sector by periodically reassessing spectrum allocation.”
Better Media also questions Ofcom’s resource management, highlighting that current application fees do not adequately cover costs, leaving the regulator unable to effectively oversee the community radio sector.
The letter urges the government to delay the publication of the draft Community Radio Order and expand the consultation to include a more representative cross-section of voices from the community radio sector.
Dr Watson concluded: “Community radio has the potential to foster social cohesion, amplify marginalised voices, and enrich local culture.
“However, these outcomes can only be achieved if the regulatory framework is built on inclusivity and fairness. We are calling for DCMS to pause, listen to the full spectrum of voices, and ensure that this Order serves the public good.”
Better Media is a membership organisation dedicated to ensuring that citizens can access and participate in the media, particularly those whose voices are often overlooked and ignored. It advocates for inclusive, citizen-focused media policies that promote diverse representation and social cohesion.

Radiodays Europe is happening in March 2025 – use code RTY25ATH to get a discount and join us in Athens! More..

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Absolute Radio, Hits Radio, Greatest Hits Radio and Magic Radio all broadcast live from Mission Christmas warehouse in Manchester on Wednesday.

The four Bauer stations took over the Mission Christmas HQ, where donated gifts are sorted and then distributed to those in need in the community, for an all-day outside broadcast.
Presenters including Ken Bruce, Harry Judd and Gemma Atkinson took part in the special broadcast.
Harriet Scott and Harry Judd from Magic Radio Breakfast started the day with a performance from Rock Choir of What Christmas Means to Me (My Love).
The pair also spoke to Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, who welcomed the ‘amazing operation and all the donations flooding in’.
Then it was the turn of Greatest Hits Radio’s Ken Bruce who welcomed Harriet Scott and Andy Crane to take part in PopMaster.
Absolute Radio’s Sarah Champion and Ben Burrell took over for the afternoon shift where there was a delivery from station partners Wickes who have supported Mission Christmas for over a decade.
Gemma Atkinson and Mike Toolan rounded off the day as they hosted their Hits Radio drive show from the warehouse and shared with listeners that 47,000 gifts had been donated that day.
Gemma said: “Mike and I are huge supporters of Mission Christmas and being here today really highlights what an incredible job the Cash for Kids team do every year.
“Thank you so much to everyone who donated today and please, please keep those gifts coming in – your donation means that a child somewhere in the UK will have a more magical Christmas.”
In 2023 Mission Christmas collected over £17.4 million in gifts and cash donations, which were used to make sure that 290,604 children and young people had presents to open on Christmas Day.
Find out more at the Cash ror Kids website.

Radiodays Europe is happening in March 2025 – use code RTY25ATH to get a discount and join us in Athens! More..

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