Global Radio Expands Heart Network

The UK's Global Radio group on Monday expanded its Heart network into another 12 markets in the western parts of England.

Heart replaces local stations in Bristol, Bath, Wiltshire, Reading, Oxford, Plymouth, South Hams, North Devon, Exeter, Torbay, Somerset and Gloucester. The move means the disappearence of the local brands GWR, Gemini FM, Orchard FM, Lantern FM, South Hams Radio, Fox FM, Severn Sound and 2-Ten FM.

This is the second phase of the Heart roll-out in Britain. In January, nine stations in Anglia entered the network. In total, there are now 24 outlets for Heart, including the stations in London, West Midlands and East Midlands.

French Commercial Radio Launches "I Love Radio" Campaign

France's major commercial radio companies have joined forces to create a new industry organisation.

Bureau de la Radio (the Radio Bureau) has been set up to strengthen the radio medium and lobby politicians. One of its first tasks will be to argue for a liberalization of France's media ownership law, which sets a 150 million limit to a radio company's combined technical reach.

During the past weekend, Bureau de la Radio premiered its first advertising campaign. In "J'aime la radio" ("I love radio"), French personalities explain why they love the radio medium. The campaign runs on the 12 radio networks owned by the founders - RTL, Lagardère, NRJ and Next Radio TV. The four companies have a 90% share of the commercial radio market in France.

Michel Cacouault, formerly of RTL's sales company IP France, has been chosen to lead Bureau de la Radio.

Digital radio compulsory in French cars

The French government has introduced a new law, making it compulsory to include a digital radio set in all cars sold from September 1, 2013. A year earlier, all other radios must be able to handle digital radio.

France has opted for DMB as its standard for digital radio. DMB was originally designed for mobile television and is part of the European Eureka 147 family, which also includes DAB and DAB+. While the U.K, Denmark and Norway have already established DAB, the more efficient DAB+ version is the choice of countries such as Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden and Australia.

In April, it will be announced which companies will get the first French digital licenses. In June, the government is set to put forward a more detailed plan for the further expansion of digital radio in France.

SBS Radio loses Oslo frequency

After 25 years on-air, SBS Radio's Radio 1 has lost its frequency in the Norwegian capital Oslo. Radio 1 will continue in Bergen and Stavanger, although it will have to share airtime with other stations. SBS Radio's rhythmic CHR The Voice will also be forced to shut down in Oslo.

One of the winners in the bidding for Norway's local commercial radio frequencies is Svein Larsen, the founder and former managing director of P4 - now Norway's largest commercial radio company. Larsen's new venture Radio Metro has secured frequencies in Oslo as well as in two other important metropolitan areas. NRJ Group's CHR station NRJ and P4 were also successful in several major markets.

Public service station takes the lead in Berlin

RBB's broad-based public radio station Radio Eins is the new market leader in Berlin. Radio Eins goes from number four to number one in the German capital and increases its marketshare from 8 to 11%. The previous leader, RTL Group's 104.6 RTL, falls to 10.4%.

RBB's "city radio" Radio Berlin 88,8 also gains listeners and now shares the number two spot with 104.6 RTL. RBB's Radio Brandenburg and commercial oldies outlet Berliner Rundfunk both have a 9.1% marketshare.

Downturn for British commercial radio

The commercial radio industry in the UK was hit by a 14.5% year-on-year fall in sales during the fourth quarter of last year, according to new statistics from Radio Advertising Bureau.

The figure is the worst quarterly result so far this decade. National sales was down as much as 21.2%, while local sales dropped 9.8%.

CBS introduces hit station in New York City

For the first time in almost three decades, two youth-oriented CHR stations are going head-to-head in New York City, the largest US radio market.

92.3 Now FM was introduced by CBS Radio on March 11, replacing rock-formated K-Rock (WXRK) which had just 1.5% of listening hours in January. The move follows CBS Radio's February 20 launch of Amp Radio in Los Angeles. Now FM has a more rhythmic format than its L.A. counterpart, making it a competitor not only to Clear Channel's straight CHR Z100, but also to Clear Channel's urban Power 105 (WWPR) and rhythmic AC KTU (WKTU) as well as Emmis' rhythmic Hot 97 (WQHT).