BBC World Service Changes

BBC World Service Radio is to make its most radical scheduling changes since the 1930s, as a reaction to satellite television news channels and in a bid to increase audiences.

For the first time, the single English language programming from London will be broken up into five separate streams in different regions of the world to make scheduling more sensible across different time zones. Scheduling changes begin next month.

… Virgin Radio’s new FM service for London will launch on Monday 10 April at 6am, two weeks earlier than expected. Virgin claims it was using its anticipated 28 April launch date, the second anniversary of the launch of Virgin 1215, as a decoy to disrupt competitors.

… Golden Rose Communications, owner of JFM 102.2, JFM 100.4 and the about to launch VIVA! is to issue over 3 million shares. These have been priced at 135p, which gives the company a market capitalisation of £18.11 million. The shares will raise £4.88m.