BBC Local Radio

A couple of questions about BBC Radio Newcastle:

How long has the new TOTH and other presentation been on for?

Are any other stations using this presentation pack?

How many other BBC Local Radio stations aren't using a package based on the generic track (as used before on Radio Newcastle)?

Slightly off topic: Are the Regional websites ever getting a revamp?

There's nothing to say the Local Radio stations have to be generic - they have a lot of freedom when it comes to imaging. But they all tend to use the Local Radio "elements" - those brrriinngs and chimes, and that generic signature tune.

What the Local stations tend to do is use one of the many generic packages usually provided by BBC Creative, and these also tend to be mixed up and used how the station wishes. Which is good because the stations sound similar, but not too similar.

No idea when Newcastle updated, but just from listening to the first few seconds, it's interesting they are not using any generic elements at all.

The original packed was developed for Radio Nottingham and all the other stations followed on from there.

That's why on some other local stations the lead-up to the TOTH ends with "der-der-der-der-der-der-der-de-der" (Say in time to "BBC Radio Nottingham"), even on radio Jersey (creating "BBC Radio Jer-errrrrrrr-sey"!).

Did Nottingham have more than one version of that TOTH made. Because the Early Riser show (and later on only the 6am TOTH) had a variation of the standard TOTH - same tune but totally different instruments.

AFAIK there are several versions in existance, especially for when other local stations join up together in the evening.

I'd debate that actually - it appeared on Radio Kent and Radio Devon at the same time, each with different payoff tunes. The tune perfectly suits "BBC Radio Kent" as it does for "BBC Radio Nottingham"... I'd go as far as saying the vocals suit Kent better! Jersey is probably odd because they adopted the package instead of actually commissioning it, so it's not custom for them.

It's not unusual for any package to have different arrangements and mixouts.

Yes, I said SOME stations it doesn't quite fit, not ALL of them

Well, which SOME are you talking about then? Radio Nottingham, Radio Newcastle, Radio Kent and Radio Devon had their own arrangements; Jersey did not. I can't think of any others that used it! You also said it was created for Nottingham - it wasn't, it was a generic adapted for any station that wanted it.

There is another package used by lots of stations which i think is some generic local radio theme, the one that ends: der der der der....DER DER DER

Although one of the stations (I think it's 3 counties) uses an old Talk Sport/Talk Radio jingle package - the really dramatic one they used for a bit then got rid of for their current set

Some stations sound more similar than others. There are quite a few that basically use slightly different arrangements of the generic theme - the one that goes "der der der der do do do" - including WM, GMR, Gloucestershire, Lancashire and Norfolk. One of the advantages of using this package is that stations can join up in the evenings for networked shows, but still have the same sort of imaging as during the day - one of the nicest arrangements is used on networked programming across the west and south-west in the evenings.

Others keep an element of the generic theme but combine it with their own music. Oxford has a quick burst of "der der der der do do do" before launching into a nice orchestral piece in their own style. Nottingham have the generic theme followed by their own musical jingle. Swindon and Wiltshire don't use the generic theme at all, but do have a 7-note jingle that isn't a million miles away - sounds more like "dum dum dum der der der derrr".

A few stations do their own thing completely - Northampton and Solent are two that spring instantly to mind.

I mentioned this a while ago in another thread, so sorry if you've heard this before!

I am enjoying people trying to put the standard local radio sting into words, it's quite funny

We can play "guess the local radio jingle"! How about this one: "de de dum de de de de do do de de dum ... doo dee dee doooo ahhhhhhhhhh-ahhhhhh deee dum de doooo de-de-de-de-de DUM .... deee deeee dee do do, da dee dum"

Okay, I'm bored.