Rough with the Smooth.

At mission control in Western House, R2 Controller Bob Shennan is leading the tactical response to the launch of a national (though not in Scotland) Smooth Radio. 

Signing Tony Blackburn to take over Pick of the Pops from Dale Winton was one move, with a condition of the BBC contract being no more work for Smooth.  Tony's been doing the Smooth London weekend breakfast shows from their tiny base in Castlereagh St W1 for three years.   One presumes Tony's agent made sure the fee was like for like - eight hours work at Smooth = 2 hours on-air for R2 (plus prep, of course).  

Bob is ok about Tony continuing for KMFM (serving Medway) where P&O Ferries sponsor his Sunday 4pm-7pm show, and KCFM (serving Hull and environs) where Tony does 10am-2pm Fridays.  Bob might, however, want the R2 Compliance Officer across the modern Tony Blackburn, if his current tweets are anything to go by.  Take this from 8am this morning "Thanks to that big overpaid Dinosaur Union leader Bob Crow the roads are a mess this morning. How does he get away with it !!!". 


Meanwhile, after some weekend confusion, it's now clear that the Chris Evans Breakfast Show starts half-an-hour earlier, at 6.30am, from next week. This, down the line, should improve RAJAR figures (is that necessary ?)   In terms of R2 finances, an extra 30 minutes of Chris Evans five days a week is much more expensive than, say, the last half hour of the Early Breakfast (this week with Aled Jones).    But perhaps Chris is doing it for the same money, rather than taking the 13% pay cut apparently imposed on Chris Moyles.