News: New digital radio licence for Rotherham awarded

Shefcast Digital, a consortium of community media organisations has been awarded the licence to establish the new digital audio broadcasting (DAB) service for Sheffield and Rotherham, it was announced by Ofcom, the communications regulator.

Community radio stations Link FM, Redroad FM and Sheffield Live! have joined forces with community benefit society, Sheffield Community Media, to develop the new DAB network. The joint venture, Shefcast Digital, has been set up as a social enterprise and is supported by Sheffield-based media development agency, CM Solutions, and by the national Community Media Association.

At the end of 2020, Ofcom announced that bids had been received from Media Arts and Culture Limited, Shefcast Digital Limited and Sheffield & Rotherham DAB Limited.

Shefcast Digital promises to bring around 25 new local, community and specialist radio services to digital radio audience. Heads of terms are in place for prospective service providers including RB1 Radio and Rother Radio, the online stations that sprang up after Bauer Media merged a number of local radio stations that it had acquired, including Rother FM.

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Steve Buckley, chair of the locally-led and community-owned Shefcast Digital said: “We are delighted Ofcom has selected our community-led consortium for this first competitively awarded Small-Scale DAB licence. Shefcast Digital promises to bring more than 20 new digital radio services to listeners in Sheffield and Rotherham, increasing choice and catering for a diversity of interests.”

Trevor Grossett of Rotherham’s Redroad FM said: “We are delighted with this news of the licence being awarded to our consortium and are looking forward to joining the the new DAB platform.”

Bill Best of the national Community Media Association said: “The CMA welcomes the award of the Sheffield and Rotherham DAB licence to Shefcast Digital. Local and community ownership of this new tier of DAB services is the best guarantee for local content and social value.”

With a band of volunteers, Redroad is a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee which provides a youth radio station for south Rotherham. Based at Kiveton Park, it began its full time radio service in 2010.

Shefcast Digital website

Images: Shefcast Digital

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News: Borough to lose Rother FM in Bauer rebrand

From September, there will be no more Rother FM on the airwaves. Instead, Bauer Media is set to create the largest commercial radio network in the UK by merging a number of local radio stations that it has acquired.

The German multimedia conglomerate acquired Lincs FM, Celador Radio, UKRD and Wireless local stations in 2019, and over 50 stations will join the Hits Radio Brand Network, providing the highest listening hours of any commercial radio brand. Bauer owns the likes of Absolute Radio, Kiss, Magic and Hallam FM.

Access to DAB Digital Radio will secure the multi-platform digital future of these stations in a radio market which is seeing a significant shift towards consumption on digital platforms.

The group said that the move enables the creation of a national network which delivers the optimum mix of local content that listeners highly value alongside content from nationally known presenters, whilst also providing significant scale for advertisers.

Dee Ford CBE, group managing director - radio at Bauer Radio, said: "Audiences love and trust radio. Expanding the Hits Radio Brand Network will ensure listeners to these acquired stations benefit from multi-platform digital distribution meaning they can continue to broadcast in an increasingly competitive, digital and voice-activated world. This ensures the provision of local news and information, traffic and travel as well as access for advertisers to highly valued audiences."

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Rother FM will become part of Greatest Hits Radio in September - "offering classic hits from the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s alongside regional drive time and networked breakfast shows."

Trade media reports that some presenter and journalist roles will be made redundant. Bauer confirmed that some roles are being put into consultation and freelance contracts are being reviewed. Bauer added that it is fully committed to supporting all affected employees.

Graham Bryce, group managing director at the Hits Radio Network Brand, said: "We are committed to ensuring the future of radio in local markets and serving the needs of our listeners and advertisers. However, our top priority right now will be to support those affected through this period."

Ofcom awarded Lincs FM Group a 12 year licence for Rother FM following a competition in 2006. The winning bid, which beat two other bids, was to create "a truly local radio station for Rotherham with a high quality news and information service that puts Rotherham first, and a popular and distinctive blend of music - a station designed to appeal to adults and children alike."

Awarded a community radio licence in 2007, Redroad FM continues to serve the rural communities of South Rotherham, with a particular focus on young people.

Bauer Media website

Images: Lincs FM Group

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