Glyn Jones, Acting Chief Executive of Digital One, has expressed regret at the planned closure of the company’s world-famous Birdsong Channel on Sunday night. “When the channel went on air, back in January 2008, we warned that the transmission could cease at any time. There’s never going to be a good time to pull the plug on what some regard as a national treasure, but we’re hoping that at this time of year many people will find an alternative simply by opening a window or taking a walk in the park or countryside.”
The audio was originally recorded for the test transmission of Classic FM prior to its launch in 1992. It was later used for the imaginatively named station “D1_temp” and won plaudits from listeners who complained when it was taken off air in June 2005. Birdsong returned to the airwaves in early 2008 and was upgraded in April of the same year to become available in stereo and for 24 hours a day.
Listeners who are not able to access performances by live birds can click here to listen to the Birdsong, which will continue online at least until the autumn of 2009.
“Birdsong has been more popular with journalists than real listeners”, Glyn Jones added. Stories about the station have appeared in most of the UK’s national newspapers but also on television, radio and in papers around the world. “Many journalists have suggested that as many as half a million people listen to Birdsong each week. But sadly, there’s no evidence for that as the channel’s audience has never been measured. But it’s been a lovely story on slow news days and loads of fun.”
More information about the Birdsong Channel is available at the Radio Birdsong website.
(Source: ukdigitalradio.com via Ray Woodward)
on May 29th, 2009 at 16:27
Hopefully it’s being replaced with an actual radio station, but I won’t hold my breath.
on May 30th, 2009 at 11:42
Well if it is, it most certainly won\’t be Transworld Radio.
The handed their national DAB licence back to OFCOM in exchange for a London local one …
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/radio/ifi/rbl/rbupdates/update0509/
on May 30th, 2009 at 13:43
If anyone is wondering where the half million figure that Mr. Jones now says that there has never been any evidence for came from here’s a quote from the Telegraph April 7 2008:
“Glyn Jones, operations director at DigitalOne, said: “Most of the 159,000 weekly audience from OneWord have listened [to Birdsong] and now, because it has caught the public’s imagination, at least 340,000 have come on board as well.”
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1584062/Campaign-to-save-birdsong-on-the-radio.html
on May 30th, 2009 at 15:44
I wonder if RFI can possibly pick up Radio Birdsong’s carrier as a filler while the station is on strike. I’m sure many listeners would turn on their SW receivers to hear that.
on May 31st, 2009 at 21:40
I have really enjoyed listening to the Birdsong channel.
what better way of ending a stressful day during the cold dark evenings of winter , then hearing the sound of birdsong before going to bed and thinking of the Spring ahead.
It is a unique service and will be missed.
on Jun 1st, 2009 at 06:50
We are very sad! Bird song was great for kitsch appeal at least.
on Jun 1st, 2009 at 08:05
Now replaced by something called ‘Amazing Radio’ on a six month trial contract.
A similar service was tried on satellite ‘Pulse’ and died a death.
I fully expect this take off of ‘Pulse’ to go the same way …