The NEW Central West and BBC Midlands thread

This deserves a wider audience than the Radio Forum.

(And if anyone disagrees, tough!)

http://radiotoday.co.uk/2012/01/bmrb-mercia-beacon-wyvern-to-be-free/

Split presentation tonight at 1830 on MT with Nick in the studio & Suzanne on location in Water Orton, Warwickshire, close to the proposed route of the HS2.

Also featuring Peter Plisner at Birmingham International & Pat Burns at Westminster.

Staff at the Mailbox have voted for strike action over plans to move their roles to Bristol and Salford. This shouldn't affect regional output, although I guess it could if MT staff refuse to cross picket lines.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/ariel/16487664

Cack. Replace the one of the most unique and iconic names in UK radio with something that sounds like a pirate station with some kind of agenda.

If they had to rebrand, they should call all the stations Orion (The name of the parent group).
Eg 96.4 Orion Fm, 97.2 Orion Fm.

Theyve said no so far, but could all the stations merge into one?

They're not allowed to merge into one station, although under the rules BRMB and Mercia could share everything. Beacon and Wyvern would have to provide it's own Breakfast and Drivetime shows. But you have assume eventually it'll all end up being one station. As for whether that's under the 'Free Radio' brand remains to be seen.

BRMB is not a patch on what it used to be. I actually suggested they change the name to Orion Birmingham on DS a little while back...that would have been stronger than this Free FM name. Awful methinks.

R.I.P BRMB (and the others).

Must admit I do have a look through DS's forums regulary & it appears that the latest brainwave by Orion is to eventually move the footy off the FM stations onto their Gold AM & DAB frequencies.

ISTR reading somewhere last time they tried that trick, in the Xtra Am days, listeners in the north of the transmission area had trouble getting the 3pm footy, so it got moved back to BRMB.

Since then, DAB was introduced, so does your average Villa/Blues fan living in South Staffordshire(if there is such a beast?) still have an issue with reception of Gold Birmingham(assuming they can tell the difference between Gold Brum & Gold Wolves on DAB?)?

(There are also 2 BBC WM's on DAB too, one for Birmingham & one for Wolves!)

Not the best idea by Orion methinks (I'm a Villa fan living in Tamworth, at least for the next couple of months). As for DAB I couldn't tell you, but as most still don't have DAB surely they should think about that.

Villa fan eh. Are you a Big Eck fan or not? Im strictly neutral when it comes to local footy. I even have a non league ground in our road!

Not really, unless he can win the Villa the F.A Cup for the first time since 1957 (and keep us nearer the top than bottom). I might change my mind then. Don't think he's an awful Manager but thought Villa these days had more ambition.

Being honest I listen to WM more often these days than BRMB's offering. It's easier to get reception and is more in depth over the day.

Looks like, according to a post on MT's Facebook(plus a extra little digging by yours truly) that Satnam's gone on maternity leave.

All the best to her.

Wonder who's taking over as Arts reporter unless Lindsey is now in a position to return to the role?