Following the recent speculation about the future of the Beeb’s music station 6 Music, it has today be confirmed by BBC Director General Mark Thompson that the proposed closure of 6 Music and the BBC Asian Network is indeed on the cards.

Additionally, there will be a significant reduction in the BBC’s online presence, cutbacks on imports of programmes, and a reported possible loss of up to 600 jobs at the BBC (according to union BECTU)

The proposal is now subject to a 12 week public consultation period. There’s a glimmer of hope – if there’s enough public pressure, the BBC Trust could force a re-think. If you’re opposed to the changes, go to BBC Trust – Have Your Say.

If the plans go ahead, 6 Music could vanish by the end of 2011.

To read the reasons behind the BBC’s decisions, see the article by Mark Thomson at Guardian.co.uk

Good news for DAB radio listeners – another DAB station has joined the national commercial channel – NME Radio.

According to Sammy Jacob, NME Radio’s Managing and Programming Director, “NME Radio is extremely passionate about the music it plays, especially the promotion of great new acts. Being able to share that passion with a wider audience will make it all the more worthwhile.”

The station went live on the national commercial DAB multiplex on 22nd December 2009 – you may need to perform a channel scan / auto-tune to get this new station.

Digital station ourkindofmusic has been removed from the digital radio platform.

The station was available until today on the local DAB multiplexes for Bristol and Bath, Swindon, Reading and Basingstoke, and Southend and Chelmsford.

The station started in 2005 and featured jazz and easy-listening music from the likes of Cole Porter, Irving Berlin and Gershwin. The station was set up by radio veteran Eddie Blackwell, former Chairman of Essex Radio and director at GWR.

Apparently the station will continue as an online Internet service available at www.ourkindofmusic.net – you can listen online, or using a Wireless Internet Radio.

Update 28 Nov 2009: Website for Our Kind of Music no longer appears to be available.

Three National DAB digital radio services fell silent today, April 1st 2008.

The stations to go are theJazz, adult contemporary Capital Life, and the three months trial of forces station BFBS.

Planet Rock was also meant to go off-air today, but has a month’s extension, while the station continues to find a buyer.

The departure of these national DAB stations comes as radio group GCap Media branded DAB radio as ‘economically unviable’ in February.

No news on what stations will fill the gaps left, although RadioToday’s Birdsong +1 catchup service April Fools jape made us smile!

A stack of national radio stations from Channel 4 are due later this year, although with this year’s departures, Channel 4 must be having some reservations…

If you haven’t listened already, download episode 24 of our podcast, where we discuss the closures, and future of digital radio. www.frequencycast.co.uk/cast24.html