Showing posts with label Absolute Radio. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Absolute Radio. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 04, 2023

Absolute Radio to switch off all AM transmitters across the UK

 



Bauer is removing Absolute Radio from Medium wave this month as it turns off all AM frequencies for the station across the country.

Absolute Radio launched exclusively on AM (as Virgin Radio) 30 years ago in 1993 using predominantly 1215 kHz along with fill-in relays on 1197, 1233, 1242, and 1260. Some of these have been turned off in recent years in places such as Devon, Merseyside, and Tayside.

Whilst this is a historic milestone for the radio industry, it shouldn’t affect many listeners as just two percent of all radio listening currently takes place on AM.

Absolute Radio also lost its FM frequency in London in 2021 in favor of the ever-expanding Greatest Hits Radio network.

The move makes Absolute Radio a digital-only service, broadcasting nationally on DAB and online.

1215 kHz – or 247 meters, was previously used by BBC Radio 1 when it launched, and later, BBC Radio 3. Prior to 1967, it was used by the BBC Light Programme.

In addition, Bauer has also announced licenses carrying Greatest Hits Radio in Staffordshire and Cheshire, Bradford & Huddersfield and Teesside will also be turned off.

GHR is available on FM in West Yorkshire and will soon be available on FM in Staffordshire and Cheshire.

How you listen to Absolute Radio could be changing. From 23rd January, we will no longer be broadcasting on AM radio. But don’t worry, there are plenty of other ways to listen to all your favourite Absolute Radio stations. Find all the details here.

If you currently listen to us on AM then we know you might have some questions and we’ve tried our best to answer at: https://planetradio.co.uk/absolute-radio/music/news/absolute-radio-listening-guide/
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Monday, February 12, 2018

Absolute Radio threatens AM Service shutdown


Absolute Radio is wanting to reduce its medium wave coverage across the UK from 90% to 85%.
The Bauer station says that continuing to provide 90% population coverage is no longer ‘reasonably practicable’ and if permission is not granted for the reduction, it would result in Absolute Radio having to close down the entire AM Network.

Additional story at: 

Ofcom has published a consultation on a proposed variation to Absolute Radio’s national analogue radio license.
Absolute Radio is seeking to reduce its medium wave (AM) coverage across the UK, from 90% to 85%.
The station would continue to be available to listeners in the affected areas via DAB digital radio, via television on the Freeview, Sky and Virgin Media platforms, and via the internet.
We are now seeking views from interested or affected parties which must be submitted by 26 February 2018. We will take all responses into account before reaching a final decision.
The consultation can be found at
 Extract from the consultation:
On 17 January 2018, Ofcom received a formal submission from Absolute Radio proposing to introduce two changes to its AM network that, taken together, would reduce coverage to c.85.4%. These changes are:

a) reducing the transmitting power at five transmitter sites by 3dB as soon as possible following Ofcom’s approval, which would reduce total coverage from 90.5% to 88.7%; and

b) closing 12 transmitter sites from May 2018, which would further bring total coverage down to 85.4%. These transmitters are located at Plymouth, Redmoss (Aberdeen), Hull, Torbay, Redruth, Hoo (Kent), Greenside Scalp (Dundee), Wallasey, Pirbright (Guildford), Chesterton Fen (Cambridge), Rodbourne Sewage (Swindon) and Sheffield.
__Posted by: "BDXC" bdxc@bdxc.org.uk



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