AbracaDABra! A bit of internet radio magic

On Saturday 11th July, in perfect time for the summer holidays, the children’s radio service AbracaDABra! will be on air on the nation’s leading internet radio network, Play Radio UK, providing all-day music, songs, stories and entertainment for younger children and their families.

AbracaDABra! – DAB radio for children – has been on air since 2002, and has proved that radio has a special place in children’s lives. On 11th July , the radio service will also be launching on internet radio, making it more accessible and more widely available than ever.

Sound start

Designed to support the Government’s Communication Action Plan in the run up to the proposed National Year of Speech, Language and Communication 2011- 2012, the service will also host ‘Sound Start’: an independent evaluation of radio’s role in children’s leisure and learning, with a special focus on their listening and speaking skills.

A serious increase in language delay in UK children was identified by the Bercow Report and the Primary Curriculum Review and educators believe that radio can help to balance excessive early exposure to screen and keyboard activity that is frequently blamed for attention deficit, obesity and language problems.

PURE EVOKE Flow internet radios will be distributed to homes and children’s centres where the benefits of regular listening to stories, songs, music and movement will be monitored over a six month period.

More choice

Programme Controller of Play Radio UK, Lee Moulsdale, said: “We’re delighted to welcome abracaDABra! into our family and give young listeners more choice in our exciting new radio developments.”

Colin Crawford, director of marketing for PURE, added: “We are delighted that PURE’s EVOKE Flow internet radio has been chosen as part of this project. The key to the fast growing internet radio market is the choice of quality, specialist broadcasting of which abracaDABra! is a brilliant example and we certainly welcome more services for children. Young listeners can enjoy the new service online at Play Radio UK, or via www.thelounge.com, and also direct from the latest PURE internet radio sets.”

PURE Fun Packs

PURE has also teamed up with Fun Kids, the 2009 Sony Radio Digital Station of the Year, and the National Literacy Trust to launch the PURE Fun Pack. The pack shows parents how they can support their child’s listening and speaking skills by interacting with radio programmes together.

The free pack includes a special summer PURE Fun comic, a “Do not disturb, I’m listening to Fun Kids” bedroom door hanger and stickers specially designed for the PURE ONE Mini portable radio featuring characters such as Angelina Ballerina, Bob the Builder, Fireman Sam and Barney, as well as Fun Kids’ very own Robot.

The pack encourages families to visit www.pure.com/funkids where they can enter a story writing competition for the chance to win ONE Mini radios and sets of Dorling Kindersley books. The winning stories will be read out on Fun Kids over the summer period. There is also a set of tips for parents developed by the National Literacy Trust as part of the Reading for Life campaign to help develop their child’s speaking and listening skills.

Gregory Watson, Managing Director of Fun Kids says: “We recognise that in 2009 more families than ever will be taking their holidays within the UK. Over the summer holiday period to 3rd October 2009, Fun Kids will be able to entertain families across the country – telling them about things to do and great places to visit, wherever they are.”

The PURE Fun Pack can be ordered from the PURE and Fun Kids websites or by emailing purefun@pure.com and will be available as long as stocks last.

For more information, log onto www.pure.com/funkids,, www.funkidslive.com,, www.readingforlife.org or call 0845 1489001.