The Mix Network

People on these forums often complain about how the stations on "the mix network / GWR Network" are all the same, but many other station groups have just as much similarity, for example the capital group, and the network that own stations such as "Spire 102", "Win FM" and "Wessex Radio". As well as, but not to such an extent (bad spelling), the group that Kestrel FM and Kick FM are part of. Why do people pick on the Mix Network?
Not that I am standing up for them, because the amount of networked content content that they have is appaling, but why do so many station have identical jingles, similair sounding presenters? what happened to really local radio?

Also, does GWR tell what each station to play?,
because it seems that whenever i switch between "2-TEN FM" and "2CRFM" they are playing the same song, not just during syndicated programming.

Oh, and is my signature too big? i thought i did to the size, but it appears bigger below? I have resized it now, but is it now too small?

Well unfortunately the latest craze is that of a "centralised playlist". The big boys list the tracks, send em out and the stations have to play what they are told to play when. At least that's what happens with GWR, and now Capital has adopted this practise.

Yes and it is a shame as well... particularly for stations who don't have a sister Clasic Gold station, before GWR came in with their "Today's Best Mix" rubbish, the stations used to have a great variety of music on FM if the area wasn't served by a Classic Gold station, I'm not really a big fan of today's modern music but I still listen to it and in my opinion music from the 60's to late 90's is a lot better than some of the stuff today. I believe that what GWR consider to be "Today's Best Mix" consists of music from the 90's and 00's and maybe a small bit from the 80's (probably on the "C" playlist or lower)... Give us back some of our older stuff, GWR - It's called "Variety" if you haven't heard of it!

Probably the same reason why "Classic FM TV" tends to play some of the more modern "classical" music and not much of the older classics...

Same goes with EMAP. I can get both Hallam & Vikign here, and they both have the same playlist though Viking palys them at E-Crap standard Chipmunk speed, while Hallam plays them normally (a shock on the EMAP network)

Well around our part the monopoly is the BBC and EMAP, but here in Warrington he have the "wonderful" Wire FM 107.2, as that is probably the most independent staion there is, but they're owned by Wish FM in WIgan, but I assume they don't run many stations, but what other "Independent" choice do we have? As BBC GMR, Radio Merseyside, Key 103, Radio City, Rock FM, Century FM and Galaxy. As these aren't independent, through most of the day Key 103 and Rock FM play the same music all day long.

Both stations are part of EMAP!

I know that's what my post says above. The only difference is that Key 103 is for Manchester, but it goes well into Cheshire and Rock FM is supposed to be for Lancashire. But at night all three (K103, RFM, RC) all transmit the same thing, I assume EMAP does this accross the UK.

God knows what The Hits is like on DAB as that's supposed to be a national version of Key 103.

Radio City had "Todays Best Music Mix" i few years back and then Wirrals Buzz 97.1 came along with the slogon "Todays Better Music Mix" how sad. Also if Key 103 and RC etc have the same shows on at night where do they come from Radio City as its the biggest Station in the UK?

how the hell do you get both 2-TEN & 2CR?!

The funny thing about this is, for the average listener, it makes no difference weather their station is part of a network or not as they know no difference unless they can pick up more than one station from a group (I can get GWR Bristol, GWR Wiltshire, GWR Bath, 2-TEN FM & Severn Sound from GWR Group - FOX FM & Red Dragon FM from Capital)

GWR can producer some outstanding networked radio when they try, CoreControl is a good example, but they can also produce utter crap, such as the Request Fest & Late Night Love.

Capital are not scared of admitting to networked shows, even though 90% of their playlist is centralised, not all of it is, the 10pm - 1am slot is independant to each station, they also include more listener requests, unlike GWR.

I will say that I dont listen to much GWR, I only tend to listen to Core Control, the rest of the time I listen to FOX FM.

Will

Key 103, Radio City, and the rest of the EMAP stations don't network at night. They only network a few big shows at weekend, such as Friday Night Kiss (from Kiss 100) and the Smash Hits Chart on Sunday.

BTW, Todays Better Music Mix was the GWR tag-line until Spring 2001. Buzz 97.1 used it even though they wern't part of GWR at the time as the Marcher Radio group had some sort of relationship with GWR which led to GWR taking over eventually.

EMAP are FAR better than GWR, just listen to the production on an EMAP station, and then compare it to that of a GWR station. Theres no competition.

Yeah i don't listen to The Buzz much mostly Radio City and the Kev Seed Breakfast show.

Check out my local, Thames 107.8, 100% local with live programming during evenings and weekends except for early Sunday morning and 9-midnight on Sunday night.

Soon, Thames will re-launch as the legendary SW London pirate Radio Jackie. And for those of you who remember how Radio Jackie closed down, Radio Mercury, now owned by GWR got a court injunction to close the station after it claimed that Jackie was stealing listeners. Jackie broadcasted to SW London, Mercury to Reigate and Crawley.

Thames 107.8 Website