The BBC is to launch a radio player allowing internet users to listen to more than 400 commercial and BBC stations.

Tim Davie, BBC director of audio and music, said today that the project would give web users access to more than 400 Ofcom-licensed national and local UK stations, in an initiative involving partnerships with the commercial radio trade body the Radio Centre, Global Radio and Guardian Media Group. Davie added that the move was a "first step" in the BBC forming such partnerships.

Global Radio is the UK's biggest commercial radio company, owning brands including Classic FM, Capital, Heart and LBC. GMG Radio operates the Smooth and Real Radio station networks.

Due for launch early next year, The UK Radioplayer will be a pop-up console able to stream more than 400 national, local, community and student radio stations, offering a unique, constantly-updated live and on-demand audio service, according to the BBC.

Listeners will be able to search every station on the UK Radioplayer network, identifying news programmes, sports highlights, musical genres or even individual songs, using a new search engine designed for radio. Users can store their favourite stations on preset buttons.

"This is a really exciting development and a result of focussed, collaborative thinking within the radio industry," said Davie. "The aim of this service is to grow listening across the industry and help preserve radio's unique position."

The BBC said it had signed heads of terms for the UK Radioplayer project with the Radio Centre, Global Radio and GMG, which publishes MediaGuardian.co.uk.

Ashley Tabor, Global Group founder and chief executive, said: "Radioplayer has been developed with the listener in mind and is a big step forward for the radio industry as a whole, providing further cohesion between commercial radio and the BBC as we drive to digital."

Andrew Harrison, the Radio Centre's chief executive, added: "The Radioplayer brings together all of the UK's radio output in one online console. This is a breakthrough for listeners and an attractive new proposition for advertisers."

GMG Radio's chief executive, Stuart Taylor, said: "This collaborative project reflects the industry's commitment to an improved user experience for radio online as IP enabled devices proliferate. The new opportunities for advertisers will add to the growing number of cross platform solutions already in place."

Taken from the Guardian

Much was made of the chemistry between Johnny Vaughan and Denise Van Outen when they co-presented The Big Breakfast on Channel 4, but Capital FM's attempt to recreate this winning formula on its radio breakfast show fell flat.

Within six months, Van Outen - Vaughan's third co-host since he replaced Chris Tarrant as the Capital Breakfast Show's presenter - had left, and the station was lagging behind Magic and Heart in the London ratings.

But Capital now seems to have found a winning combination in Vaughan and Lisa Snowdon - the model, TV presenter, Strictly Come Dancing sensation and ex-girlfriend of George Clooney.

For the fifth consecutive quarter, the station held on to its position as the most popular commercial radio breakfast show in London, outstripping nearest rival Heart by 200,000 listeners in the latest Rajars.

'We think we have found a combination that has stuck,' says Paul Jackson, group programme director at Global Radio, Capital's parent company. 'Johnny is a vibrant, energetic character and he and Lisa absolutely click. You cannot fabricate that kind of chemistry.'

Bright Young Things director Niall Cowley says Snowdon has the clout to match Vaughan. 'Her Strictly Come Dancing and Britain's Next Top Model jobs dovetailed beautifully, making her one of the most sought-after celebrities in London,' he says. 'When we get wish lists from clients, she is always top.'

Helen Moore, editorial services director at markettiers4DC, says: 'Capital is increasingly doing a great job of owning London. We have incorporated it into a number of campaign strategies for clients trying to reach the cool, London-centric "it girl" audience.'

Since Global bought Capital's former owner, rival radio company GCap, the station has blossomed. Jackson says: 'We have really focused on getting it back to being a core hit music station. The breakfast show is in good shape, and pop artists know they have to be on Capital if they want to be successful.'

Moore agrees: 'While traditional opportunities are limited because Capital is used to interviewing A-listers and people with high media profiles, a strong opportunity does exist for relevant events happening in the vicinity, especially if there is celebrity attachment.'

Capital's own events programme reflects its clout in London. Its annual Jingle Bell Ball has been extended to two nights this year and will feature performances from pop heavyweights including Janet Jackson, Lady Gaga, Alexandra Burke and Shakira.

James Herring, joint MD of Taylor Herring, says: 'Getting out there and mingling with London off-air is really important and it seems to be working for Capital.'

QUICK FACTS
Audience: 1.62 million listeners (Source: Rajar)
Frequency: 95.8 FM
Website: capitalfm.com
Contacts: firstname.surname@capitalradio.com

A MINUTE WITH ... Paul Jackson, group programme director, Global Radio

- What is the competition like for Capital?

There are a lot of good breakfast shows in London, but for us the main competition would be The Chris Moyles Show on BBC Radio 1.

- How did you react to Moyles goading Johnny Vaughan when he joined Capital?

- We didn't, and don't, take that kind of thing seriously. We just got on with it.

- What makes an ideal feature or guest?

We cover big London events. We do red-carpet premieres at Leicester Square and have the stars on. We work with all the big London organisations. But our audience tends to want the likes of JLS and Lady Gaga. We have LBC for more serious topics and guests.

- Tell us about your charity, Help a London Child

We are doing a big push at the moment. Lisa Snowdon is jumping out of a plane and drive-time presenter Greg Burns appeared in Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and ran a half-marathon. We try to keep the momentum going year-round, but a couple of times a year we really focus on it.

Taken from PR Week

That’s certainly the view of WPP chief executive Sir Martin Sorrell, claiming that brands are not spending enough online because the people who run their agencies are too old and resistant to change.

Sorrell criticised brands for investing an average of just 13 per cent of their marketing budget online despite the rapid increase in digital media consumption.

"The companies that win are those that innovate successfully," he said. The shift from traditional to digital media will be helped by the fact that brands are becoming increasingly focussed on ROI.

Sixty-three percent of UK households now have broadband access, up from 56% last year, according to the Office for National Statistics.

The 2009 National Statistics Opinions (Omnibus) Survey revealed 16.5m households now have broadband access, up from 6.6m since 2006. The penetration of broadband is now at 90% of all households with internet access.

Around 18.3m UK households have internet access, representing 70% of all UK households. This is 1.85m higher than a year ago.

Use of the internet has increased the most among those aged 65 and over, up 15% in the past year, compared with a 3% increase for 16-24-year-olds.

The report also highlighted the relationship of internet access and social inclusion as almost all people who had a degree or equivalent (95%) have internet access, while only 52% of those with no formal qualifications do.

Read Robin Parker's article