Jazz radio has never really taken off in this country, certainly not commercially, though people do keep trying. The Guardian's radio division, GMG Radio, has announced plans to relaunch Jazz FM as a digital station broadcasting via DAB.
The GMG decision follows that recent announcement from their rivals GCap who confirmed they were closing their barely a year old digital jazz service theJazz as part of its withdrawal from the world of digital audio broadcasting. Jazz FM, which used to broadcast via FM in London and Manchester but was dropped to make way for Smooooooth Radio, has existing as an internet only service in recent times.
Confirming the DAB plans, the radio group told reporters this week: "GMG Radio believes Jazz FM is a niche listen and with the demise of theJazz, this is an opportunity to provide listeners with their own jazz station 24 hours a day, rather than have it squeezed into the Smooth Radio output through the night".