2007 in British radio

This is a list of events in British radio during 2007.

Events

• January - The Channel 4 Radio brand is launched by Channel 4.^[1]
• 5 March - The Coventry University students union radio station Source Radio launches to Coventry on 1431AM.^[2][3] The station, under the management of Kat Page, celebrates the occasion with a special programme presented live from the Student's Union nightclub, FiftyFour. Source was launched on AM to fill the gap left by youth station Kix 96 after it was rebranded as Touch Radio and adopted an adult contemporary format.
• 26 March - All Smooth Radio and Saga Radio are relaunched as the Smooth Network.
• 4 April - Broadcaster Bob Harris announces he will take a break from his Radio 2 shows while he receives treatment for prostate cancer.
• 10 April - Les Ross takes over the weekday afternoon show on BBC Radio WM.
• 16 April - The first Radcliffe and Maconie Show presented by Mark Radcliffe and Stuart Maconie is aired on Radio 2.
• 25 June - It is announced that the Heart Network along with its sister stations The Arrow, LBC and Galaxy are to be sold for £170 million to Global Radio from Chrysalis Radio.^[4]
• 3 August - All stations in the Classic Gold and Capital Gold networks are replaced by a new network called simply Gold, the result of the merger of the Classic Gold and Capital Gold networks under one owner, GCap Media.
• 12 September - CTR 105.6 is rebranded as KMFM Maidstone.
• 30 September - BBC Radio 1 celebrates its 40th birthday.^[5]
• 19 October - Michael Parkinson announces he will leave his Sunday morning Radio 2 show, Parkinson's Sunday Supplement after 11 years.^[6] He presented his last show in December.^[7]
• 1 December - Having returned to Bob Harris Country in November, Bob Harris returns to his Saturday evening show.

Station debuts

• February - Harborough FM
• 5 March - Source Radio (Coventry-wide on AM)
• 26 March -
  • 100.4 Smooth Radio operates in North West England.
  • 102.2 Smooth Radio operates in London
  • 105.2 Smooth Radio - Glasgow
  • 106.6 Smooth Radio - East Midlands
  • 105.7 Smooth Radio airs in the West Midlands
• 16 April - Life FM (Harlesden)
• 20 May - Original 106.5 (Bristol)
• 8 June - NE1fm
• 6 August - Future Radio
• 3 September - Radio Scilly
• 5 October - Seaside FM
• 8 October - Radio Cardiff
• 28 October - Original 106 (Aberdeen)
• 10 December - Phoenix Radio
• 14 December - Sunshine Radio (FM)
• December - Chaine FM
• Unknown - Aberdeen Student Radio

Station closures

• 29 January - River FM (2003)
• 23 March -
  • Saga 105.2 FM (2005)
  • Saga 105.7 FM (2001)
  • Saga 106.6 FM (2003)
  • 102.2 Smooth FM (2005)
  • 100.4 Smooth FM (2004)
• 27 March - 3C (1998)
• 5 October - Radio Music Shop (2006)

Deaths

• 16 February - Sheridan Morley, 65, author, biographer, critic, director, actor and broadcaster^[8]
• 1 October - Ned Sherrin, 76, broadcaster, author and stage director^[9]
• 29 October - Anthony Clare, 64, psychiatrist and broadcaster^[10]
• 30 December - Kevin Greening, 44, radio presenter who co-hosted the Radio 1 breakfast show (1997–1998)^[11]

References