NME Radio canned as free TV station launches

NME Radio has been cancelled on digital radio and TV platforms and is now only available on the magazine’s website.

The station, which was launched in 2008, came to an end when DX Media terminated their agreement with NME owners IPC media to produce the show for DAB radio and TV.

NME publishing director, Paul Cheal, said in a statement: "We have enjoyed a great working relationship with DX Media and we would like to thank them for all the excellent work that has gone into NME Radio”.

The station had an average weekly reach of 226,000 listeners in the first quarter of 2010 and had recently signed up former XFM presenter Alex Zane.

In related news, it was announced that the NME TV station will become available on the subscription free ‘Freesat’ service from July.

Generate debate: Clearly, this opens up a wider discussion about who will plug the gap should the much talked about 6Music closure go through. If the argument is that commercial radio will fill such a void, then exactly which services? Also- if the NME, with the strength of their brand identity and all of its diversification can’t create a sustainable new alternative DAB station then is it possible? Will a migration to a TV channel be more successful for them?