2012 in British radio explained
This is a list of events in British radio during 2012.
Events
January
- 6 January – Following its sale to UKRD, Fresh Radio, which broadcast on MW across the Yorkshire Dales, closes.[1] The more populous parts of the area are later served by Stray FM which is expanded to cover areas such as Skipton and Wharfedale, and the Richmond area is served to Star Radio North East.
- 7 January –
- Alan Titchmarsh joins Classic FM to present a new Saturday morning programme.[2]
- After having his car stolen the previous evening, Graham Norton asks listeners of his Radio 2 show to help find it. Calling it "The Great Car Hunt" he tells listeners to "Keep your eyes out for it. It was filthy by the way." The car is subsequently returned to him.[3] [4]
- 8 January – Graham Torrington joins Smooth Radio to host his Late Night Love show on the network.[5]
- 12 January – GMG Radio confirms a deal with US syndication firm Premiere Networks to air 1970s editions of the original American Top 40 show presented by Casey Kasem at weekends on its new digital station "Smooth 70s". The station also features Disco Lunch and Late Night Love Songs among its weekday programming.[6]
- 21 January – Under new guidelines to come into force from 30 April clinics which charge for pregnancy services including abortions will be able to advertise on radio and television after the Broadcast Committee of Advertising Practice ruled there was no justification for barring such clinics from advertising their services.[7]
- 23 January – GMG Radio announces it is conducting a "full review" of its news staff. Currently the broadcaster employs 39 journalists, nine of whom are based in Scotland.[8]
- 26 January – The UK-based British Army radio station, Garrison FM switches on two more transmitters in Inverness, making the city the second in Scotland to receive the service after Edinburgh.[9] [10]
- 28 January – Zoë Ball announces she is stepping down from her Saturday breakfast show on Radio 2 and that she has presented her final programme. She will continue to provide cover for other presenters on the network.[11]
- 29 January – Radio 4's Desert Island Discs celebrates its 70th anniversary, having first been broadcast on 29 January 1942.
February
- 3 February –
- UTV Media acquires the licences for The Wyre and The Severn from MNA Broadcasting.[12]
- Manx Radio, the Isle of Man's national radio station sets out proposals to cut all but one of its staff presenters as the broadcaster faces cuts in contributions in the forthcoming Government budget for 2012–13.[13]
- 7 February – UTV Media unveils plans to merge The Wolf, The Wyre and The Sever and rebrand them as Signal 107.[14] The rebrand happens on 26 March.
- 14 February – Poole community radio station The Bay 102.8 is re-branded as Hot Radio.[15]
- 16 February – Ofcom gives the KMFM n e t w o r k permission to network the breakfast show, meaning programming will be identical across all seven stations at all times.[16]
- 19 February – Jazz FM issues an apology after listeners heard five minutes of what appeared to be an adult film played over the beginning of one of its programmes the previous evening.[17] Ofcom later launches an investigation into the incident after receiving three complaints.[18] [19]
- 21 February – Global Radio places an immediate ban on the playing of tracks by the boy band One Direction on its stations after group member Harry Styles mistakenly thanked Radio 1 during a BRIT Awards acceptance speech for an award voted for by listeners of Capital Radio, a Global station.[20]
- 25 February – Television presenter Anneka Rice makes her debut on Radio 2, presenting the Saturday breakfast show vacated by Zoë Ball.[21]
- 26 February – The Top Ten countdown from The Radio 1 Chart Show is made available in vision for the first time through the station's website.[22]
- 28 February – LBC introduces the first client-hosted programme with the weekday "Bupa Wellbeing Hour".[23]
- 29 February – The BBC World Service celebrates its 80th anniversary.[24]
March
- 1 March – Some digital radio listeners are required to retune their devices to continue receiving some stations after changes are made settings to "improve the efficiency of the network".[25]
- 5 March – Phil Upton says he will step down as host of the breakfast show on BBC WM from the end of next month after five years in the role.[26]
- 6 March – Comedian Alan Carr announces his intention to quit his Radio 2 show Going Out with Alan Carr so he can devote more time to his television career.[27]
- 7 March – Guildford based County Sound is given approval by Ofcom to change its classic hits format to a community-based information station under the name Eagle Extra.[28]
- 14 March –
- The owners of Jack FM announce the launch of a new consultancy firm, OXIS Media, which will represent the brand throughout the UK and Europe.[29]
- Ofcom invites bids from groups to apply for a community radio licence to broadcast in Northern Ireland.[30]
- 16 March – Quidem, owners of the Touch FM brand agrees a deal with the Lincs FM Group to buy Oak FM in Loughborough and Hinckley, thus increasing its number of stations to eight.[31]
- 19 March – BBC Director-General Mark Thompson tells staff at the broadcaster that he will step down from his position later in the year.[32]
- 20 March – It is reported that Norman Cook (aka Fatboy Slim) will join Xfm for a ten part series titled On The Road To Big Beach Bootique 5 airing on Saturday nights from the end of March.[33]
- 21 March – Smooth Radio announces a deal to begin airing a syndicated show from the United States presented by Donny Osmond from 8 April, replacing Graham Torrington's Late Night Love. Torrington will leave the network, while other changes include Drivetime's Carlos and afternoon presenter David Jensen swapping shows.[34]
- 23 March –
- 26 March –
- 27 March – The BBC announces plans to axe 140 news posts in 2013 as part of cost-cutting measures.[39]
April
- 2 April –
- A shake-up of the Radio 1 schedule sees Scott Mills and Greg James swapping shows, James hosting the drivetime show and Mills the afternoon show.[40]
- Former Heart Bristol breakfast presenter Andy Bush joins Absolute Radio to present the afternoon show.[41]
- Talksport dedicates its entire programming schedule to sport output, having previously offered a variety of sport and general news-related topics.[42]
- 3 April – 2012 London mayoral election candidates Boris Johnson and Ken Livingstone reportedly have a heated argument following a debate on London's LBC.[43]
- 8 April – Forces broadcaster BFBS simulcasts a two-hour show with Smooth Radio allowing family and friends of serving troops to connect with their loved ones.[44]
- 10 April – Martin White is sacked from his role as sidekick on The Dave Gorman Show on Absolute Radio.[45]
- 14 April – Radio 2 airs a minute-by-minute account of the sinking of the RMS Titanic to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the disaster.[46]
- 16 April – Graham Torrington joins BBC Radio WM to present a late night weekday music and chat programme.[47] He also rejoins BBC Bristol from 21 April to host Graham Torrington's Late Night Love Songs, a show syndicated across BBC stations in the South West on Saturday and Sunday evenings.[48]
- 17 April – Ed James celebrates ten years as breakfast show presenter at Heart West Midlands.[49]
- 19 April –
- 20 April – Premier Christian Radio loses a High Court challenge against a ban on an advert it planned to run seeking Christians who felt they had been "marginalised at work". The Court rules that it was "directed to a political end" and the Radio Advertising Clearance Centre acted lawfully in banning the commercial.[51]
- 23 April –
- Jazz FM is found to be in breach of Ofcom's broadcasting code after the transmission of a pornographic soundtrack during an edition of one of its programmes. However, the station is not fined over the incident.[52]
- The Independent reports that BBC Radio 5 Live is to make broadcasting history by producing a two-hour show live from an abortion clinic. Presented by Victoria Derbyshire, the show will air next month and the BBC hopes it will provide some insight into what is regarded by many as a taboo subject.[53]
- April – Gilles Peterson joins BBC 6 Music as the station shakes up its weekend schedule.[54]
- April – Celador Radio rebrands Andover Sound and Newbury Sound as The Breeze, bringing to nine the number of stations with that name.[55]
- April – The weekend breakfast show on the north of England Magic stops being a local show in favour of a networked programme. Only the weekday breakfast show remains locally produced.
May
June
- 1 June – Swansea's 102.1 Bay Radio is relaunched as Nation 80s, becoming the first FM station in the UK to play nothing but 80s music.[69]
- 2 June – Jonathan Dimbleby presents his final edition of Radio 4's Any Answers? after 25 years, but continues with its sister programme Any Questions?.[70]
- 3 June – As part of their Diamond Jubilee coverage Global Radio's LBC 97.3 makes a world exclusive broadcast from The Shard, Europe's tallest building, to cover the River Thames Pageant, offering a bird's eye view of the event.[71]
- 4 June – Radio 2 airs the Diamond Jubilee Concert from Buckingham Palace.[72]
- 7 June – Online music station Last.fm says that some of its passwords have been leaked, and urges users of its website to change them immediately.[73]
- 8 June –
- Bauer Radio stations Kiss and Heat carry the first in a series of live adverts for a new TV show on Channel 4. The heat4…Live! social TV experiences are three live dual screen events, with the first centred around the Hollyoaks Savage Party special.[74]
- It is reported that Absolute Radio's CEO Donnach O'Driscoll has emailed users of the station's website to apologise after some received unsolicited mail.[75]
- 9 June – Anita Anand takes over as presenter of Any Answers?.[70]
- 11 June – Simon Bates takes his Smooth Radio Breakfast Show to the Falkland Islands for a week of programmes to mark the 30th anniversary of the Falklands War.[76]
- 12 June – It is reported that GMG has received multiple offers for its radio business which value it at £50 million, as the company seeks to reshape itself to stem losses being made by The Guardian and The Observer.[77]
- 15 June – Supermarket retailer Tesco buys a majority share in WE7, the digital music platform which offers free personalised radio stations online.[78] [79]
- 17 June – Salisbury's Spire FM simulcasts a two-hour programme with BFBS for Father's Day.[80]
- 20 June – The BBC Trust says that Radio 1's core audience is still too old, despite changes made to output following an amendment to the wording of its service licence in 2009. The station is aimed at the 15–29-year age group, but the average age of their listeners is 30.[81]
- 23 – 24 June – 100,000 people attend Radio 1's Hackney Weekend, a two-day music concert at Hackney Marshes, which forms part of the build-up to the 2012 Summer Olympics.[82]
- 25 June – GMG Radio is sold to Global Radio for an undisclosed amount, thought to be around £50m. However, no structural changes will be made to either organisations until the deal has been investigated by Ofcom.[83] Several rival radio groups express their concerns over the takeover and the effect it could have on commercial radio in the UK.[84]
- 26 June – The online Radioplayer service is to be made available to non-Ofcom licensed stations for the first time, but initially only 30 slots are being offered.[85]
- 29 June – Tim Lihoreau replaces Mark Forrest as host of Classic FM's weekday breakfast show with Jane Jones taking over the weekend breakfast show which Tim vacated and John Brunning replaces Mark as printer of weekly Classic FM chart show.[86]
July
August
- 3 August – Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt instructs Ofcom and the Office of Fair Trading to examine Global Radio's £70m purchase of GME Radio.[95]
- 6 August – Ruth Barnes takes over as breakfast show presenter on Amazing Radio.[96]
- 13 August – To celebrate Team GB's Olympic success at London 2012 Absolute Radio's breakfast show host Christian O'Connell plays Spandau Ballet's 1983 hit Gold 29 times between 6.00am and 10.30am, matching the number of gold medals won by Britain's athletes.
- 14 August – Outgoing BBC Director-General Mark Thompson is appointed CEO of The New York Times, taking up his role in November.[97]
- 17 August – 24 September – BBC Local Radio begins switching off its medium wave frequencies in a five-week experiment to determine whether the service will be missed by their listeners. BBC Radio Kent, BBC Radio Lincolnshire, BBC Radio Merseyside and BBC Radio Nottingham are the first to cease AM broadcasting in what is planned as a cost-cutting exercise.[98]
- 18 August – It is announced that veteran Birmingham-based sports broadcaster Tony Butler has retired due to ill health.[99] [100]
- 24 August – An Ofcom survey of radio listeners reveals many believe there are too many adverts on commercial radio.[101]
- 27 August –
- Astrologer Russell Grant joins Smooth Radio to present a one-off programme playing some of his favourite tracks from the 1960s.[102]
- The digital station Smooth 70s counts down its Top 70 of the 70s chart after inviting listeners to vote for their favourite hit from the decade. The chart, presented by several presenters from the main Smooth Radio station, features ABBA's Dancing Queen as its number one.[103]
- 28 August – UTV Media – which owns the ITV franchise for Northern Ireland and the UK-based sports-orientated radio station Talksport – reports a summer of mixed fortunes in terms of advertising revenue. Coverage of the 2012 European Cup proved lucrative for talkSPORT, but television advertising was hit by the 2012 Summer Olympics.[104]
- 30 August –
- BBC Radio 2 unveils a landmark 50-part series which will highlight 50 tracks that have shaped modern British culture. The series, The People's Songs will be presented by Stuart Maconie and air in 2013, and features songs as diverse as Vera Lynn's "We'll Meet Again" and "Rehab" by Amy Winehouse.[105]
- In a marketing strategy designed to target its listeners with adverts suited to their age and location Absolute Radio announces plans to require its listeners to register with their website to hear their online streaming services.[106]
- West Midlands based Sanjhi Awaz Radio ceases broadcasting after two years on air due to financial problems.[107]
September
- 3 September – Wayne Bavin leaves 96.2 The Revolution owned by Steve Penk and takes over Drive time on Sunderland's 103.4 Sun FM.
- 4 September –
- Maria Miller is appointed as Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, replacing Jeremy Hunt.[108]
- Gold is replaced by Free Radio 80s in the West Midlands on AM and DAB.[109]
- 5 September –
- It is announced that BBC Radio 4 announcers Charlotte Green and Harriet Cass will take voluntary redundancy as the BBC cuts the announcing team for the station from twelve to ten.[110] At Radio 2 Fran Godfrey and Fenella Fudge will also leave, along with several freelance newsreaders who present bulletins for the network as the BBC streamlines its radio news teams.[111]
- Mark Goodier announces he will leave Smooth Radio in mid-December to focus on his company, Wise Buddah Productions.[112]
- 7 September – BBC Radio 2 commissions an hour-long music drama pilot titled Shout to the Top starring Shane Richie, that will combine specially written music and drama from the Radio Drama team.[113]
- 12 September – The radio industry news website Radio Today reports that Simon Bates has started to present a separate breakfast show for Smooth Radio's sister station, Smooth 70s. The content is "voice tracked" from the main breakfast show.[114]
- 14 September –
- Chris Moyles hosts his final breakfast show on Radio 1.[115]
- Sir Charles Allen, chairman of Global Radio criticises media regulation rules, saying those relating to the purchase of radio stations are out of date.[116]
- 17 September –
- George Entwistle takes up his role of Director-General of the BBC.[117]
- The syndicated BBC Local Radio evening show contract is awarded to Wire Free Productions, a new company set up by former BBC executives Matthew Bannister and Husain Husaini.[118]
- 24 September – Nick Grimshaw takes over the Radio 1 Breakfast Show.[115] [119]
- 27 September – Magic 1152 breakfast show presenter Anna Foster presents her programme from her phone due to being stuck in traffic in Newcastle upon Tyne.[120]
October
- 2 October – The switch-off of medium wave frequencies at some BBC local radio stations will continue after the trial attracted very few complaints from listeners, the BBC confirms.[121]
- 4 October – Former Classic FM presenter Mark Forrest is confirmed as the presenter of the BBC's networked Local Radio Evening programme, which will begin from 7 January 2013.[122]
- 5 October –
- Absolute Radio 00s rebrands itself Absolute Radio 007 for the day to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the James Bond film series and the launch of Sky Movies 007, a film channel dedicated to Bond movies.[123]
- To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the release of the first single from The Beatles, all 39 BBC local radio stations stage their own My Beatles Story Day, airing listeners memories of the group.[124]
- 8 October – The BBC launches iPlayer Radio as a separate service to BBC iPlayer. The service will provide a dedicated online platform for BBC radio content.[125]
- 11 October – The Office of Fair Trading agrees to fast-track the investigation into Global Radio's purchase of GMG Radio after Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Maria Miller says the deal will not be investigated for media plurality. The matter is also forwarded onto the Competition Commission, which oversees business mergers and takeovers.[126] The Competition Commission later announces 27 March 2013 as the date on which it will publish its findings into the takeover.[127]
- 12 October –
- Launch of Heart and Capital TV on Freesat and Sky.[128]
- The BBC announces that sports presenter Clare Balding will replace Aled Jones as host of Radio 2's faith-based programme Good Morning Sunday from January 2013.[129]
- 17 October – BBC Radio 2 axes folk presenter Mike Harding after fifteen years with the network. He will host his last show on 26 December.[130]
- 23 October – Ofcom warns west London community station OnFM that it is in "serious and ongoing" breach of its licensing conditions after being off air since 7 September.[131]
- 30 October – Smooth Radio confirms that Smooth Christmas will return, airing on the Digital One multiplex in the lead up to the festive season, giving the brand three stations on the platform.[132]
November
- 1 November –
- The BBC makes 920 episodes of Alistair Cooke's Letter From America available for download through its website. The editions represent the entire back catalogue of the series held by the corporation.[133]
- BBC London 94.9 presenter Danny Baker quits his show live on air, and launches a two-hour tirade against station chiefs after learning his regular daily show is to be axed.[134]
- 5 November –
- An advertising campaign for digital radio featuring a "digital evangelist" named "D Love" is unveiled at a conference at the BBC's Broadcasting House. Ads for the two-year campaign will air on BBC radio and television, as well as on commercial stations.[135]
- Real Radio begins networking its daytime schedule.[136]
- 10 November – George Entwistle steps down as BBC Director-General following the Newsnight child abuse broadcast controversy.[137]
- 11 November – Tim Davie, BBC head of audio and music becomes Acting Director-General following George Entwistle's resignation.[138]
- 13 November – A parliamentary reception is held to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the UK Singles Chart, which launched on 14 November 1952. Among guests at the event are Tony Blackburn and the latest presenter of the Radio 1 Chart Show, Jameela Jamil.[139]
- 14 November – To celebrate the 90th anniversary of its first radio broadcast, the BBC linked all stations owned by the corporation around the UK and the world for a three-minute show titled Radio Reunited.[140] [141]
- 16 November – Magic Network presenter Dave Lee Travis is taken off air with immediate effect after he was arrested as part of an investigation into sexual offences.[142]
- 19 November – BBC Radio 2 raises £4,010,974 for BBC Children in Need, its largest total to date.[143]
- 22 November –
- The BBC appoints Tony Hall as its new Director-General. He is expected to start in the role in early March 2013.[144]
- Absolute Radio launches an app for Xbox Live.[145]
- 28 November – Radioplayer cancels its offer to provide places to non-Ofcom licensed stations due to lack of innovation.[146]
- 30 November – Harriet Scott steps down as co-host of the breakfast show on Heart London after seven years.[147] [148]
December
- 10 December – Scottish radio presenter Robin Galloway, who has built a career on making prank calls suspends sales of his latest CD after a hoax call made by two Australian presenters to a London hospital treating the Duchess of Cambridge has taken a tragic turn when a nurse who took the call has been found dead.[149]
- 14 December –
- BBC Radio 1 broadcasts its last show from Yalding House in London, The Radio 1 Breakfast Show with Nick Grimshaw.[150]
- Real and Smooth have secured exclusive broadcast rights to the "Christmas Hit Factory Live" concert, a show featuring artists and groups who achieved success with the Stock Aitken and Waterman and PWL record labels. The event is held on 21 December and is aired on New Year's Eve.[151]
- 15 December –
- Celador rebrands its recently acquired Kestrel FM stations as The Breeze.[152]
- Free Radio presents £750,000 to West Midlands charities at its annual music event, Live 2012.[153]
- 17 December –
- Lynn Parsons takes over Smooth Radio's weekday Mid Morning show from Mark Goodier. David Prever succeeds her as presenter of the weekend Mid Morning slot.[154]
- Alternation broadcasts for the final time on NE1fm after 5 and a half years. It was a part of the station's line up at launch.[155]
- 18 December – Bennett, Coleman & Co, the owners of Absolute Radio are reported to be in discussions to sell the loss-making station for £10-£15million.[156]
- 19 December – BBC Radio Five Live Controller Advian Van Klaveren steps down from his role following the publication of the Pollard report. Jonathan Wall will replace him on a temporary basis.[157]
- 21 December – Kerrang Radio counts down to the End of the World as predicted in a 5,000-year-old Mayan prophecy by inviting listeners to request the songs they'd most like to hear before they die. Christmas music is also banned on the network.[158]
- 29 December – Classic FM managing director Darren Henley is awarded an OBE in the 2013 New Year Honours for services to music.[159]
Station debuts
Programme debuts
Relaunching this year after a break of one month or more
width=125 | Date of return | width=250 | Station | width=125 | Date of original closedown |
---|
1 November 2012 | Smooth Christmas | 27 December 2011 | |
Continuing radio programmes
1940s
1950s
1960s
1970s
1980s
1990s
2000s
2010s
Ending this year
Closing this year
Deaths
- 6 January – Bob Holness, 83, broadcaster and quiz show host[164]
- 22 January – Sarah Cullen, 62, broadcast journalist, reporter on The Today Programme[165]
- 9 June – Don Durbridge, 73, broadcaster[166]
- 7 July – Alf Pearson, 102, singer (part of Bob and Alf Pearson double act)[167]
- 6 August – Bernard Lovell, 98, physicist and radioastronomer[168]
- 30 August – Daire Brehan, 55, Irish-born actress, broadcaster and barrister
- 10 September – John Moffatt, 89, character actor (died 2012)[169]
- 12 September – Derek Jameson, 82, tabloid journalist and broadcaster[170]
- 22 October – Russell Joslin, 50, journalist[171]
- 23 November – Chris Jones, broadcaster[172]
- 21 December – Daphne Oxenford, 93, radio presenter and actress, presenter of Listen with Mother[173]
Notes and References
- News: End of an era as Craven-based broadcaster bows out . Adrian . Braddy . 6 January 2012 . Craven Herald & Pioneer . 26 June 2020 .
- https://radiotoday.co.uk/2011/11/alan-titchmarsh-signs-for-classic-fm/ Alan Titchmarsh signs for Classic FM
- Web site: Norton gets car back after radio plea | London Evening Standard . Standard.co.uk . 2012-01-09 . 2018-01-14.
- News: Norton's radio hunt for his stolen car. 24 October 2017. RTÉ. 10 January 2012.
- Web site: Torrington takes Late Night Love to Smooth . Radio Today . 1 December 2011 . 31 December 2011.
- News: Smooth 70s to air old American Top 40s . Radio Today . 12 January 2012 . 24 January 2012.
- News: Abortion clinics cleared for TV by advertising body. BBC. BBC News. 21 January 2012. 21 January 2012.
- News: Real Radio owners to lay off newsroom staff | Glasgow and West | STV News . News.stv.tv . 23 January 2012 . 25 January 2012 .
- News: Garrison FM adds two more FM locations . Radio Today . 16 February 2012 . 16 February 2012.
- News: Helen . Bushnell . News | Army radio set for Inverness and Fort George . Highland News . 25 January 2012 . 16 February 2012 . 29 January 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120129064925/http://www.highland-news.co.uk/News/Army-radio-to-be-launched-in-Inverness-and-Fort-George-25012012.htm . dead .
- News: Last Radio 2 Saturday show for Zoe Ball . Radio Today . 29 January 2012 . 31 January 2012.
- News: Wyre and Severn sold to UTV Media . Radio Today . 3 February 2012 . 7 February 2012.
- News: Presenter cuts planned for Manx Radio . Radio Today . 3 February 2012 . 9 February 2012.
- News: The Wolf, Wyre & Severn become Signal . Radio Today . 7 February 2012 . 7 February 2012.
- News: Hot Radio takes over from The Bay 102.8 . Radio Today . 13 February 2007 . 14 February 2012.
- News: kmfm group can have one breakfast show . Radio Today . 16 February 2012 . 24 February 2012.
- News: Jazz FM turns blue after studio incident . Radio Today . 19 February 2012 . 24 February 2012.
- News: Ofcom investigates Jazz FM porn broadcast . Radio Today . 5 March 2012 . 7 March 2012.
- News: John . Plunkett . Jazz FM to be investigated over gay porn gaffe . Guardian Media Group . The Guardian . 5 March 2012 . 7 March 2012.
- News: One Direction still 'banned' by Capital FM . Radio Today . 20 April 2012 . 23 April 2012.
- News: Rice takes Radio 2 weekend show from Ball . Radio Today . 10 February 2012. 11 February 2012.
- News: Radio 1 chart goes visual for last hour . Radio Today . 22 January 2012 . 1 March 2012.
- News: LBC introduces client-hosted programmes . Radio Today . 29 February 2012 . 1 March 2012.
- News: BBC World Service at 80: A lifetime of shortwave . BBC News . BBC . 29 February 2012 . 2 March 2012.
- News: Listeners told to re-tune digital radios . Radio Today . 1 March 2012 . 1 March 2012.
- News: Phil Upton to leave BBC WM breakfast . Radio Today . 5 March 2012 . 7 March 2012.
- News: Carr quits radio to concentrate on TV . RTÉ News . Rte.ie . 6 March 2012 . 7 March 2012.
- News: County Sound changes to Eagle Extra . Radio Today . 7 March 2012 . 14 March 2012.
- News: OXIS Media to represent Jack FM in Europe . Radio Today . 14 March 2012 . 14 March 2012.
- News: Northern Ireland radio licences available . Radio Today . 14 March 2012 . 16 March 2012.
- News: Quidem buys Oak FM from Lincs FM group . Radio Today . 16 March 2012 . 16 March 2012.
- News: BBC director general Mark Thompson announces departure . BBC News . BBC . 19 March 2012 . 23 March 2012.
- News: Fatboy Slim signs for 10 shows on Xfm . Radio Today . 20 March 2012 . 23 March 2012.
- News: Smooth Radio adds Donny Osmond to line-up . Radio Today . 21 March 2012. 22 March 2012.
- News: Queen opens BBC MediaCityUK base in Salford . BBC News . BBC . 23 March 2012 . 23 March 2012.
- News: Blackburn & Read join DLT on Magic AM . Radio Today . 23 March 2012 . 26 March 2012.
- News: Dave Pearce for Radio 2 Saturday nights . Radio Today . 26 March 2012 . 26 March 2012.
- News: Orion stations morph into Free Radio . Radio Today . 27 March 2012 . 10 April 2012.
- News: BBC News announces plans to close 140 posts. BBC. BBC News. 27 March 2012. 27 March 2012.
- News: Greg James to host BBC Radio 1 Drivetime . Radio Today . 28 February 2012 . 1 March 2012.
- News: Bush leaves Heart for Absolute Radio . Radio Today . 8 February 2012. 11 February 2012.
- News: talkSPORT changes to 24-hour sport . Radio Today . 7 March 2012 . 8 March 2012.
- News: Hodges . Dan . Boris tells Ken: 'You're a f***ing liar' . https://archive.today/20120712004410/http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/danhodges/100148917/foreman-vs-ali-marciano-vs-louis-ken-vs-boris/ . dead . 12 July 2012 . Telegraph Media Group . Daily Telegraph . 3 April 2012 . 7 April 2012.
- News: BFBS links up with Smooth for Easter . Radio Today . 4 April 2012 . 7 April 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120409150818/http://radiotoday.co.uk/2012/04/bfbs-links-up-with-smooth-for-easter/ . 9 April 2012 . dead . dmy-all .
- Web site: Absolutely sacked. Chortle . 11 April 2012.
- News: Gillian . Reynolds . Titanic: Minute by Minute, Radio 2, preview . Telegraph Media Group . Daily Telegraph . 12 April 2012 . 14 April 2012.
- News: WM Programmes – Graham Torrington, 16/04/2012 . BBC . 10 April 2012.
- News: Graham's back on the Bristol airwaves . https://archive.today/20130505062819/http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/Graham-s-Bristol-airwaves/story-15847076-detail/story.html . dead . 5 May 2013 . Bristol Evening Post . 18 April 2012 . 19 April 2012 .
- News: Ed James marks 10 years on Heart breakfast . Radio Today . 18 April 2012 . 19 April 2012.
- News: Brown . Graeme . Heart FM's Ed James named as new Birmingham Press Club chairman . https://archive.today/20120804221507/http://www.birminghampost.net/birmingham-business/birmingham-business-news/technology-and-innovation/2012/04/19/heart-fm-s-ed-james-named-as-new-birmingham-press-club-chairman-65233-30795441/ . dead . 4 August 2012 . Trinity Mirror . Birmingham Post . 19 April 2012 . 19 April 2012 .
- News: Christian radio station loses advert High Court bid . BBC News . BBC . 20 April 2012 . 23 April 2012.
- News: Jazz FM found in breach after incident . Radio Today . 23 April 2012 . 23 April 2012.
- News: Ian . Burrell . BBC to tackle taboo with live radio show from abortion clinic . https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/tv-radio/bbc-to-tackle-taboo-with-live-radio-show-from-abortion-clinic-7669133.html . 1 May 2022 . subscription . live . Independent Print Ltd . The Independent . 23 April 2012 . 24 April 2012.
- News: Weekend shuffle for BBC Radio 6 Music . Radio Today . 12 March 2012 . 14 March 2012.
- News: Andover and Newbury Sound to become Breeze . Radio Today . 13 March 2012 . 14 March 2012.
- News: Touch Staffordshire can move to Oak FM . Radio Today . 1 May 2012 . 10 May 2012.
- News: Newsreader Sian Williams returns to radio . Radio Today . 4 March 2010 . 4 March 2012.
- News: Global's Heart brand arrives in Cornwall . Radio Today . 8 May 2012 . 15 May 2012.
- News: Liza Tarbuck gets Radio 2 Saturday nights . Radio Today . 8 March 2012 . 8 March 2012.
- News: Paul . Millar . Liza Tarbuck to replace Alan Carr on BBC Radio 2 'Going Out' show – Media News . Digital Spy . 8 March 2012 . 8 March 2012.
- Web site: 'Jealous of the Angels' on Smooth Radio in the Uk . Jenn Bostic . 14 May 2012 . 28 September 2012.
- Web site: Our Tune with Simon Bates – 14 May 2012 . . 14 May 2012 . 28 September 2012.
- Web site: Jenn Bostic . American Songspace . 28 September 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130529131312/http://www.americansongspace.com/1f3e69379c4a6e7f5ee591678d8105619ead5603 . 29 May 2013 .
- News: Amazing Radio Leaves DAB . Radio Guide . 21 May 2012 . 4 August 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120530103146/http://www.radioguide.co.uk/article/amazing-radio-leaves-dab-radio.html . 30 May 2012 . dead . dmy-all .
- News: Clarkson . Stuart . Capital FM ends 3-month One Direction ban . Radio Today . 22 May 2012 . 24 May 2012.
- News: Clarkson . Stuart . Gold to be Free Radio 80s in West Mids . Radio Today . 24 May 2012 . 4 June 2012.
- News: Clarkson . Stuart . Smooth Radio previews Jubilee pageant . Radio Today . 25 May 2012 . 1 June 2012.
- News: Ben . Dowell . Radio 4 to dramatise Ulysses . Guardian Media Group . The Guardian . 31 May 2012 . 3 June 2012.
- News: Clarkson . Stuart . Swansea's Bay Radio changes to Nation 80s . Radio Today . 1 June 2012 . 2 June 2012.
- News: Dimbleby steps down from Radio 4 show . Radio Today . 22 May 2012 . 24 May 2012.
- News: Clarkson . Stuart . LBC covers Jubilee pageant from on high . Radio Today . 1 June 2012 . 4 June 2012.
- News: Neil . McCormick . The Queen's Diamond Jubilee concert: Pop royalty gathers to pay tribute . Telegraph Media Group . The Daily Telegraph . 4 June 2012 . 4 June 2012.
- News: Last.fm is the latest site to suffer a password breach . BBC News . BBC . 7 June 2012 . 8 June 2012.
- News: Bauer to air live radio commercials. Roy. Martin. Radio Today. 30 May 2012. 31 May 2012.
- News: Martin . Roy . Absolute apologies for security breach . Radio Today . 8 June 2012 . 8 June 2012.
- News: Martin . Roy . Bates to broadcast from the Falklands . Radio Today . 8 June 2012 . 8 June 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120610213203/http://radiotoday.co.uk/2012/06/bates-to-broadcast-from-the-falklands/ . 10 June 2012 . dead . dmy-all .
- News: Gideon . Spanier . The Guardian tries to secure future again . Evening Standard . Associated Newspapers Ltd . 13 June 2012 . 17 June 2012.
- News: Tesco buys online radio service for £11m . Radio Today . 15 June 2012 . 17 June 2012.
- News: Tesco WE7 deal could net windfall for Peter Gabriel . Telegraph Media Group . The Daily Telegraph . 15 June 2012 . 17 June 2012.
- News: Clarkson . Stuart . Father's Day link-up for BFBS and Spire FM . Radio Today . 5 June 2012 . 7 June 2012.
- News: BBC Trust: Radio 1 fails to meet targets . Radio Today . 20 June 2012 . 23 June 2012.
- News: Kitty . Empire . Radio 1's Hackney Weekend offers an urban alternative to the Olympics . The Observer . Guardian Media Group . 23 June 2012 . 23 June 2012.
- News: Global Radio purchases GMG Radio . Radio Today . 25 June 2012 . 27 June 2012.
- News: Radio groups oppose Global domination . Radio Today . 25 June 2012 . 27 June 2012.
- News: Radioplayer opens up for all stations . Radio Today . 26 June 2012 . 27 June 2012.
- https://radiotoday.co.uk/2012/06/breakfast-schedule-changes-at-classic-fm/ Breakfast schedule changes at Classic FM
- News: Sir Terry Wogan rapped by BBC for Costa Concordia 'Rock the boat' joke . Telegraph Media Group . The Daily Telegraph . 3 July 2012 . 5 July 2012.
- News: Global Radio to launch Heart & Capital TV . Radio Today . 3 July 2012 . 9 July 2012.
- News: George Entwistle named next BBC director general . BBC News . BBC . 4 July 2012 . 4 July 2012.
- News: Wise Buddah creates new Radio 2 jingles . Radio Today . 8 July 2012 . 9 July 2012.
- News: Crookes . Del . Chris Moyles to leave Radio 1 breakfast show in September . Newsbeat . BBC . 11 July 2012 . 11 July 2012.
- News: Dan . Sabbagh . Bush House ceases BBC broadcasts after 71 years . The Guardian . Guardian Media Group . 12 July 2012 . 13 July 2012.
- News: Date set for networked BBC evening show . Radio Today . 18 July 2012 . 20 July 2012.
- News: John . Plunkett . BBC loses exclusive radio rights to FA Cup and must share with TalkSport . Guardian Media Group . The Guardian . 26 July 2012 . 28 July 2012.
- News: Katherine . Rushton . Jeremy Hunt calls on Ofcom and OFT to probe Guardian's radio deal . Telegraph Media Group . The Daily Telegraph . 3 August 2012 . 4 August 2012.
- News: Amazing Radio appoints new breakfast host . Radio Today . 2 August 2012 . 4 August 2012.
- News: New York Times appoints BBC's Mark Thompson as new boss. BBC News. BBC. 14 August 2012. 18 August 2012.
- News: BBC local radio starts switching off AM . Radio Today . 19 August 2012 . 28 August 2012.
- News: Butler retires from West Midlands radio . Radio Today . 24 August 2012 . 28 August 2012.
- News: Birmingham football pundit Tony Butler retires . Brett . Gibbons . Trinity Mirror . Birmingham Mail . 25 August 2012 . 28 August 2012.
- News: Too many commercials, radio listeners say . Radio Today . 24 August 2012 . 28 August 2012.
- News: Russell Grant to host Smooth Radio show . Radio Today . 15 August 2012 . 16 August 2012.
- News: Smooth Radio presenters head to Smooth 70s . Radio Today . 22 August 2012 . 28 August 2012.
- News: Mark . Sweney . UTV Media gets mixed results from summer of sporting events . The Guardian . Guardian Media Group . 28 August 2012 . 28 August 2012.
- News: Smooth Ops lands 50-part Radio 2 series . Radio Today . 30 August 2012 . 31 August 2012.
- News: Absolute Radio moves behind registration . Radio Today . 30 August 2012 . 31 August 2012.
- News: West Midlands station ceases transmission . Radio Today . 31 August 2012 . 31 August 2012.
- News: Maria Miller appointed Culture Secretary . Radio Today . 4 September 2012 . 6 September 2012.
- News: Free Radio 80s replaces Gold on AM & DAB . Radio Today . 31 August 2012 . 31 August 2012.
- News: Mark . Sweney . Radio 4 announcers Charlotte Green and Harriet Cass to leave BBC . The Guardian . Guardian Media Group . 5 September 2012 . 6 September 2012.
- News: John . Plunkett . Familiar BBC radio voices to depart in 'night of the long mics' . The Guardian . Guardian Media Group . 5 September 2012 . 23 December 2012.
- News: Presenter Mark Goodier leaves Smooth Radio. Radio Today. 5 September 2012. 6 September 2012.
- News: Shane Richie to host new Radio 2 drama . Radio Today . 7 September 2012 . 8 September 2012.
- News: Simon Bates takes on a new breakfast show . Radio Today . 12 September 2012 . 14 September 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120914204729/http://radiotoday.co.uk/2012/09/simon-bates-takes-on-a-new-breakfast-show/ . 14 September 2012 . dead . dmy-all .
- News: Date set for new Radio 1 Breakfast show . Radio Today . 9 August 2012 . 9 August 2012.
- News: Gideon . Spanier . Capital boss vents fury over regulation on 'small deal' . London Evening Standard . Daily Mail and General Trust . 14 September 2012 . 16 September 2012.
- News: George Entwistle starts work as director-general of BBC. Johnston Press. The Scotsman. 17 September 2012. 23 September 2012.
- News: Matthew Bannister wins BBC Local evenings. Radio Today. 17 September 2012. 23 September 2012.
- News: Elisabeth . Mahoney . Nick Grimshaw's first Radio 1 breakfast show marks change of direction . The Guardian . Guardian Media Group . 24 September 2012 . 24 September 2012.
- Web site: Gridlocked DJ hosts show on phone . 28 September 2012 . BBC News . BBC . 15 October 2023.
- News: MW switch-off remains at BBC Local Radio . Radio Today . 2 October 2012 . 5 October 2012.
- News: Mark Forrest to host BBC networked show . Radio Today . 4 October 2012 . 5 October 2012.
- News: Absolute Radio 00s becomes 007 for 1 day . Radio Today . 5 October 2012 . 5 October 2012.
- News: BBC local radio celebrates The Beatles . Radio Today . 24 September 2012 . 5 October 2012.
- News: Lee . Dave . BBC launches iPlayer Radio to promote audio content . BBC News . Bbc.co.uk . 8 October 2012 . 8 October 2012.
- News: The OFT grants fast-track to Global Radio . Radio Today . 11 October 2012 . 13 October 2012.
- News: Date set for Global Radio's CC results . Radio Today . 11 October 2012 . 13 October 2012.
- News: Heart and Capital TV start broadcasting . Radio Today . 12 October 2012 . 13 October 2012.
- News: Josh . Halliday . Clare Balding to front her first radio show on Radio 2 . Guardian Media Group . The Guardian . 12 October 2012 . 15 October 2012.
- News: TV and Radio . Radio 2 axes Mike Harding from folk role . Telegraph Media Group . The Daily Telegraph . 17 October 2012 . 18 October 2012.
- News: OnFM in trouble with Ofcom for being off . Radio Today . 23 October 2012 . 23 October 2012.
- News: Smooth Xmas set to return on Digital 1 . Radio Today . 30 October 2012 . 30 October 2012.
- News: Letters From America gets online archive . Radio Today . 14 October 2012 . 15 October 2012.
- News: Neil . Lancefield . Danny Baker back on air after Thursday's rant at BBC bosses . https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/danny-baker-back-on-air-after-thursdays-rant-at-bbc-bosses-8280163.html . 1 May 2022 . subscription . live . Independent Print Limited . The Independent . 3 November 2012 . 7 November 2012.
- Web site: Meet D Love – digital radio's secret weapon . Radio Today . 5 November 2012 . 22 December 2012.
- News: Real Radio introduces networked daytimes . Radio Today . 15 October 2012 . 15 October 2012.
- News: George Entwistle quits as director-general over Newsnight fiasco . Telegraph Media Group . The Daily Telegraph . 10 November 2012 . 10 November 2012.
- News: Helen . Lewis . BBC's director-general, George Entwistle, resigns over Newsnight mistakes . New Statesman . 10 November 2012 . 10 November 2012.
- News: Tony Blackburn and Jameela Jamil cut cake . Radio Today . 14 November 2012 . 15 November 2012.
- News: BBC to network all radio stations for 90th . Radio Today . 10 September 2012 . 14 September 2012.
- News: AUDIO: BBC Radio celebrates ninety years . Radio Today . 14 November 2012 . 15 November 2012.
- News: DLT taken off-air with immediate effect . Radio Today . 15 November 2012 . 16 November 2012.
- News: BBC Radio 2 raises record amount for CiN . Radio Today . 19 November 2012 . 19 November 2012.
- News: Rob . Williams . BBC confirms Tony Hall to be appointed new Director General . https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/bbc-confirms-tony-hall-to-be-appointed-new-directorgeneral-8343625.html . 1 May 2022 . subscription . Independent Print Limited . The Independent . 22 November 2012 . 22 November 2012.
- News: Absolute Radio… now available on Xbox . Radio Today . 22 November 2012 . 24 November 2012.
- News: Radioplayer cancels non-Ofcom offerings . Radio Today . 28 November 2012 . 28 November 2012.
- News: Breakfast & Drive changes for Heart London . Radio Today . 19 November 2012 . 10 December 2012.
- News: Emma Bunton joins Jamie Theakston at Heart . Radio Today . 10 December 2012 . 10 December 2012.
- News: Galloway pulls commercials for wind-up CD . Radio Today . 10 December 2012 . 10 December 2012.
- Web site: BBC Radio 1 – The Radio 1 Breakfast Show with Nick Grimshaw, The morning after. BBC. 2012-12-14. 2016-08-17.
- News: Real and Smooth to air Hit Factory Live . Radio Today . 14 December 2012 . 14 December 2012 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20121218002118/http://radiotoday.co.uk/2012/12/real-and-smooth-to-air-hit-factory-live/ . 18 December 2012 .
- News: Kestrel FM stations rebrand as The Breeze . Radio Today . 12 December 2012 . 12 December 2012.
- News: Free Radio presents £750,000 to charities . Radio Today . 17 December 2012 . 18 December 2012.
- News: Parsons replaces Goodier on Smooth Radio . Radio Today . 23 October 2012 . 23 October 2012.
- Web site: AlterNation on NE1fm. NE1fm. 20 March 2013.
- News: Talks recommence to sell Absolute Radio? . Radio Today . 18 December 2012 . 18 December 2012.
- News: Adrian Van Klaveren to leave BBC 5 Live . Radio Today . 19 December 2012 . 21 December 2012.
- News: Kerrang! celebrates death & cancels Xmas . Radio Today . 27 November 2012 . 28 November 2012.
- News: OBE award for Classic FM's Darren Henley . Radio Today . 29 December 2012 . 30 December 2012.
- News: Ex Revolution DJ sets up his own station . Radio Today . 16 February 2012 . 18 February 2012.
- News: Solid Gold Gem.am celebrates first year . Radio Today . 5 November 2013. 5 November 2013.
- Web site: Gloomsbury. British Comedy Guide. 2021-02-27.
- News: Lancashire's Rossendale Radio closes down . Radio Today . 5 March 2012 . 7 March 2012.
- News: Bob Holness . Telegraph Media Group . The Telegraph . London . 6 January 2012 . 9 January 2012.
- News: Anthony . Hayward . Sarah Cullen: Reporter for ITN and 'Today' who found the authentic voices of the streets – Obituaries – News . https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/sarah-cullen-reporter-for-itn-and-today-who-found-the-authentic-voices-of-the-streets-7278681.html . 1 May 2022 . subscription . live . Independent Print Limited . The Independent . London . 22 February 2012 . 22 February 2012.
- News: Tributes paid to former BBC Radio 2 host . Radio Today . 26 June 2012 . 30 November 2012.
- Web site: Leigh . Spencer . Alf Pearson: Singer who moved successfully from music hall and variety . https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/alf-pearson-singer-who-moved-successfully-music-hall-and-variety-radio-and-television-8120614.html . 1 May 2022 . subscription . live . The Independent . 21 March 2021 . en . 9 September 2012.
- News: Silverman . Rosa . Sir Bernard Lovell's death could shed light on 'assassination' Cold War mystery . https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20120808101710/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/science-news/9460865/Sir-Bernard-Lovells-death-could-shed-light-on-assassination-Cold-War-mystery.html . dead . 8 August 2012 . Telegraph Media Group . The Daily Telegraph . 8 August 2012 . 8 August 2012.
- News: Coveney. Michael. John Moffatt obituary. The Guardian. London. 2012-09-17. 2023-10-31.
- News: Derek Jameson, Fleet Street veteran and television star, dies at 82 . London Evening Standard . Daily Mail and General Trust . 13 September 2012 . 14 September 2012.
- News: Liz Kershaw: Radio Queen makes waves. 8 April 2014. Yorkshire Post.
- News: Tributes paid to BBC presenter Chris Jones . Radio Today . 25 November 2012 . 27 November 2012.
- News: Daphne Oxenford, voice of Listen With Mother, dies . BBC News . BBC . 4 January 2013 . 4 January 2013.