Opportunity to Launch Radio Channel on Sky
WRN has a window of opportunity for radio broadcasters wishing to access the Sky platform, which is still the leading digital DTH platform in 9 million homes in the UK and Ireland. The EPG is available for sale immediately.

Radio broadcasters will be able to benefit from an instant access to the otherwise-closed Sky platform. The EPG has an incumbent uplink and 128 kbps stereo Eurobird 1 capacity contract, which also includes EPG management and submission services and 24/7 monitoring and support.

Opportunity subject to contract and availability. For more information please contact [email protected]

NME Radio Stays on Digital TV
After the recent reports indicating NME Radio would reduce its coverage to just online, a new agreement between Town and Country Broadcasting and WRN Broadcast retains the station's coverage on digital TV.

WRN Broadcast has just signed a new agreement with Town and Country that will continue the existing broadcast of NME Radio onto the digital TV platforms Sky and Freesat.

NME Radio has been a client of WRN Broadcast since June 2008, when the station launched, providing both the uplink and capacity onto Eurobird 1 to service both the Sky and Freesat platforms. NME Radio provides its audience with the best in new and alternative music, music news, gig-guides and live sessions.

For more information on how WRN Broadcast can offer a similar service to radio stations looking to broadcast onto a digital TV platform, please contact the Sales Department on +44 207 896 4020 or email us at [email protected]

Absolute Radio Launches Absolute Radio 90s
Absolute Radio are continuing their expansion across UK commercial radio with the launch of their latest station, Absolute Radio 90s, which is available on Sky #0203, DAB around the UK and online.

With the ongoing success of their most recent addition, Absolute 80s, which recorded a weekly reach of 264,000 and total hours of 1.4m a week in the latest UK Rajar results as well as being awarded the Best Specialist Radio Station at the recent Freesat Awards, Absolute Radio are hoping for similar achievement with Absolute Radio 90s.

Donnach O'Driscoll, Absolute Radio Chief Executive, said: "Absolute 80s has been a runway success and listeners love it, which is why we're expanding the station on to a national platform. With Absolute 80s we struck on a winner so extending the format with this 90s proposition was the natural progression."

The Absolute Radio network currently includes Absolute Radio, Absolute 80s, Absolute Classic Rock and online 'user-controlled' station Dabbl.

WRN Broadcast provides Eurobird 1 capacity for all Absolute Radio services on Sky and Freesat. If you are interested in launching onto either platform, WRN Broadcast can provide a turnkey solution for your station. Please contact [email protected] for further information.

Family Radio Expansion Continues
California-based Christian radio station Family Radio is continuing their current expansion by launching onto Intelsat 10.

Following the recent launch of Family Radio onto Atlantic Bird 4A, covering the North Africa and Middle East region, WRN Broadcast has now facilitated the launch of the station on Intelsat 10 (Ku Band). The satellite covers a large proportion of the sub-Saharan region and predominately services audiences in South Africa.

WRN Broadcast can advise on similar services in the region or other worldwide broadcasting opportunities. Please contact the Sales Department on +44 207 896 4020 or email us at [email protected]

WRN Broadcast Creates Media Village
WRN Broadcast is launching a new media village to rival London's Soho, and aims to bring together a host of like-minded broadcast companies, creating a culture for increased creativity as well as cost-efficient studio and office space.

Having recently acquired the three storey building adjacent to our Vauxhall Media Centre base, the first tenant is ethical entertainment channel broadcaster OHTV, which is basing itself in a purpose-built studio created by WRN Broadcast that includes lighting and gantries, a gallery and a green room. Whilst it is for the use of OHTV primarily, the space is also available to other companies during downtime.

Akin Salami, CEO, OHTV, says: "Locating in WRN Broadcast's media village gives us purpose-built facilities, more office space, improved services and reduced costs; the ideal scenario. We look forward to seeing which other companies will join us."

OHTV joins Jazz FM, which has been resident in WRN Broadcast's building since April 2009, leasing two studios and office space enabling Jazz FM to be broadcast live from the WRN Broadcast building. WRN Broadcast also provides Jazz FM's uplink and capacity on the Eurobird 1 satellite for broadcast on Sky and Freesat.

The new media village offers clients a number of business advantages including access to our strong communications infrastructure which is very cost effective for clients. The area is also on the cusp of major regeneration, led by the development of the Battersea Power Station site and the new US embassy. If you are interested in becoming part of the WRN Broadcast Media Village, please contact [email protected] for further information.

Digital Radio Update
UK Communications Minister, Ed Vaizey, has recently commented on the future of radio including the role of the BBC, the relationship between broadcasters and manufactures and the digital switchover. He indicated that the BBC had a key role to play in the switchover to DAB but there was still some way to go before the majority of listeners adopt digital radio over analogue.

"Listeners need to be persuaded that the content on offer is compelling, that the quality is high and that digital radios, at home or in the car, are affordable and have listening quality that is at least as good as FM."

Mr Vaizey also hoped that radio in the UK mirrored the success of Digital TV by offering a wide variety of choice through multi-channel national radio.

Despite external pressure, there is still no "cast-iron commitment" for the date of the digital switchover despite the previous Labour Government providing a target date of 2015. "That means a digital radio switchover in 2015 remains a target we aspire to, but for which a lot more work needs to be done before we can make it a cast-iron commitment."