Commercial radio rivals including GCap, Emap, Chrysalis and Virgin Radio have been talking at senior level about developing and sharing shows across their local radio networks, having seen the BBC steadily encroach on their market share.
Their initiative, apparently sparked by the success of the industry's fundraising response to the Asian tsunami in January, coincides with Evans' reappearance on the media scene.
More than 250 stations broadcast a special 12-hour joint schedule, which got 27m listeners and raised more than £3.3m.
However, the Financial Times reports today that their moves to sign the former Radio 1 and Virgin Radio breakfast DJ have stalled because he is currently presenting on Radio 2. He recently hosted the station's afternoon slot on the Bank Holiday at the end of May.
BBC stations, driven by Radio 1 and 2, have increased their share of listening from 52.6% in the first quarter of 2004 to 54.2% in the first quarter of 2005, at the expense of the commercial sector.
The mooted shows would be spread across local networks, offering advertisers wider coverage at a time when the major operators have seen demand for airtime weaken. Another show proposal is a nationally syndicated mid-week entertainment news programme.
Commercial radio has restricted national coverage because there are only three analogue national commercial stations, Classic FM, TalkSport and Virgin Radio, although the growth of digital radio is providing a listening boost.
The share of listening for national commercial radio has grown from 9.9% in the first quarter of 2004 to 10.2% in the first quarter of 2005. However, local commercial radio's share of listening dropped from 35.6% to 33.6%.
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