The following is a list of events affecting radio broadcasting in 2024. Events listed include radio program debuts, finales, cancellations, station launches, closures, and format changes, as well as information about controversies and deaths of radio personalites.
Notable events
January
February
| Date | Event | Source |
|---|
| 5 | Manila Broadcasting Company in the Philippines reverts from the FM radio brand Yes the Best to its original name Yes! FM. | [citation needed] |
| 6 | Linda Wertheimer announces her retirement from NPR after 53 years with the American public radio network. | [4] |
| 8 | iHeartRadio Canada, the radio division of Bell Media, announces the divestiture of 45 stations in rural and smaller markets, constituting nearly half of its station count, stating that the business of small market radio was failing. The stations will be split up among multiple, mostly independent, broadcasters. | [5][6] |
March
| Date | Event | Source |
|---|
| 31 | BBC Radio 4 stops broadcasting opt-outs on longwave and will permanently simulcast the FM service until the longwave transmitters get turned off for good. | [7] |
April
| Date | Event | Source |
|---|
| 9 | Local community station The Voice 2 begins broadcasting on DAB digital radio in North Devon, UK. | [8] |
| 14 | Local radio station DWDU in Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga, Philippines – broadcasting as UFM 105.5 – made its final broadcast. | [citation needed] |
| 15 | BBC Radio 4 turns off its mediumwave transmitters forever after they served as LW relays for areas with a weak LW signal. | [9] |
| CBS Sports Radio rebrands as Infinity Sports Network, resurrecting the Infinity brand used by one of the predecessors to its owner, Audacy, Inc. The move comes four years after the originally planned expiration of a licensing agreement with CBS Sports. Audacy and CBS issued cease and desist orders to all Infinity affiliates to stop any further use of the CBS brand. | [10] |
| In Manila, Philippines, DWAV – broadcasting as Wave 89.1 – quietly made its final broadcast, and Adventist Media took over the station's operations, effectively reformatted as AWR Manila 89.1. | [11] |
| In Davao, Philippines, Brigada News FM transferred its broadcast from 91.5 (owned by Primax Broadcasting) to 93.1 (owned by Mareco Broadcasting Network). | [citation needed] |
| 22 | Asian Sound Radio gets merged into Lyca Radio after they acquired Lyca Media acquired Asian Sound's license. Lyca Radio expands their mediumwave transmissions into Greater Manchester. | [12][13] |
| 22 | Gow Media announces the closure of US radio network SportsMap, after 33 years of operation, with stations being switched to the betting-centric Vegas Stats & Information Network. | [14] |
| 30 | Gold turns off their final mediumwave transmitter in Manchester for good along with Smooth Radio's mediumwave transmitters in Kent and Hampshire. | [15] |
May
| Date | Event | Source |
|---|
| 5 | Genesis Communications Network ceases operations after 26 years. The broadcast syndication company, whose best-known hosts include Alex Jones and Michael Medved, will migrate its remaining programming to competing networks. | [16] |
| 20 | Wisconsin Public Radio realigns its statewide over-the-air services, with its "Ideas Network" and "NPR News & Music" networks retired in favor of one solely for NPR news and local and national talk programming (WPR News) and one devoted exclusively to classical and other music genres (WPR Music). | [17] |
June
July
September
Deaths
- January 6 – Peter Dixon "Dix" Davis, 97, American child actor in radio and film[22] (inc. "Randolph" on A Date With Judy, "Pinky" on One Man's Family, "Alvin Fuddle" in Blondie, and "Belly Laugh Barton" on The Jack Benny Show;[23] also "Stanley" on Hap Hazard,[24] "Brad Burton" in The Second Mrs. Burton[25] and "Robert Barton" on The Charlotte Greenwood Show[26])
- January 9 – Karel Janovický, 93, Czech-born composer, pianist and radio producer (BBC World Service).[27]
- January 11 – Robin Brownlee, 65, Canadian sports journalist and radio host (CFRN)[28]
- January 26 – Walter Love, 88, Northern Irish broadcaster (BBC Radio Ulster).[29]
- January 31 – Joe Madison, 74, American radio talk-show host (SiriusXM Urban View, WOL).[30]
- February 6 – Chuck Dickerson, 86, American football player and coach, and longtime radio host for WGR[31]
- February 7 – Mojo Nixon, 66, American rockabilly musician (numerous shows for Sirius Satellite Radio)[32]
- February 10 – Bob Edwards, 76, American radio host and journalist (All Things Considered, Morning Edition, Bob Edwards Weekend)[33]
- February 12 – Steve Wright, 69, English radio personality (Steve Wright in the Afternoon, Pick of the Pops)[34]
- February 28 – Bob Heil, 83, American organist, sound engineer (founder of Heil Sound), amateur radio operator (K9EID) and host (Organ Music on WTWW, Ham Nation on TWiT)[35]
- March 8 – Ramya Wanigasekara, 73, Sri Lankan actress, singer, and radio broadcaster[36]
- March 10 – Svetlana Morgunova, 84, Russian television and radio host[37]
- April 3 – "Young Ron" Brewer, age unknown. Co-host of The Paul and Young Ron Show on WBGG-FM.[38]
- April 10 – Mister Cee, 57, American hip-hop disc jockey[39]
- April 26 – Graham Webb, 88, Australian radio and TV broadcaster[40]
- April 27 – Andy Santillan, 65, Filipino disc jockey of DWRR & DWAV (now Adventist World Radio Manila 89.1) and Filipino voice over announcer of Radio Philippines Network
- April 28 – Francis Cardona, 64, Filipino veteran broadcaster, creator, producer and host of Asenso Ka Pinoy
- May 15 – Washington Rodrigues, 87, Brazilian sports commentator[41]
- May 29 – Bob Rogers, 97, Australian DJ and radio broadcaster[42]
- June 5 – Petter Nome, 69, Norwegian journalist, founder of Radio Oslo (cancer)[43]
- July 9 – Joe Bonsall, 76, American country singer (member of the Grand Ole Opry by way of membership in The Oak Ridge Boys)[44]
- July 12 – Ruth Westheimer, 96, American sex therapist and talk show host[45]
- July 13 – Ron E Sparks, 72, Australian broadcaster[46]
- July 17 – David Morrow, 71, Australian sports commentator (Radio Australia, 2GB)[47]
See also
References
External links
