Why do you play so many ads?

Actually, we play a lot fewer than most commercial stations, and we plan to stay that way. 

The amount moves up and down  - and at times since we launched in 2021, we've played more than we do now.  It does not keep increasing! We’re delighted that a greater variety of major advertisers are now choosing Boom.

Boom receives nothing from the money you pay the BBC for its radio  - so we need to play sufficient ads to pay the bills. 

Radio is an expensive business - with fees for presenters,  technicians, producers, admin - and to the musicians whose music you hear. There are huge fees too for transmission on DAB and online - plus marketing if new listeners are to hear about us.

No ads - no money - no Boom. Fewer ads - not enough money - still no Boom!

 

Why are ads repeated so much?

The majority of Boom listeners - like those of most stations - dip in and out. Many listen for under an hour a day. Those who plan ad campaigns want as many listeners as possible hear their commercials sufficient times to recall the message.

 

I don't like one of the ads - can you stop it?

The majority of the ads you hear on Boom are not sold directly by us. They are bought and sold across many stations and we are but one of them - and not all listeners hear the same ads

So - we cannot control which you hear. Sorry! Campaigns will stop though  - so it will end at some stage!

 

Why are some of the ads not aimed at people my age?

We don't choose them.

Most of the ads you hear on Boom are not sold directly by us. They are often bought by agencies who buy campaigns across many radio stations aimed at different audiences. We get swept up into those. A little like ITV, where you see products which you feel aren't relevant - advertised in a variety of styles.

Thankfully, they still pay the bills for the station you’re listening to.

 

Why do the ads have fast gabbling at the end for the 'small print'?

Certain announcements are required for legal or compliance reasons - just like 'small print' on posters.  If not spoken quickly, they'd  take up so much time that few advertisers would bother using radio for marketing.

Boom believes that many announcements serve little purpose to consumers and are disproportionately onerous. Research bears this out - and relevant detailed terms and conditions will be made clear at the point of sale. We - and others - have made representations on this topic, but to little avail.

And the ads you hear with these terms in are not sold directly by us and we do not produce them, so we cannot change the format or influence them.  We are just one of the many stations carrying each one.

And, as ever, whilst we agree some can sound daft, they still pay the bills.

 

Can I pay a monthly fee and have Boom without ads?

We are not equipped to deliver that at present sadly and the infrastructure would be too complex and expensive for our stand-alone station.

 

Why do some ads mention an area where I don't live!

You are listening online - and everyone listening in that way hears different ads.  The system detects roughtly where you are and tries to serve relevant ads! In some cases, for various reasons, it thinks you are somehwere else! Reconnecting, or listening in a different way can change things.

 

How do I complain about an ad as I think it breaks rules?

Drop us a line.