Good news for speech wireless fans

It was reported on BBC Radio 4's 6 o'clock news that Channel 4 is intending to launch digital speech radio channels. Curiously there's nothing about it on the Channel 4 or BBC News sites that I can see. But there is something in the Media Guardian. Channel 4 do however own up to Jon Snow's new podcast. I wonder what he's like without the ties.

Much as I love the BBC Radio output, some competition in the serious speech area should be good especially if it takes away the slightly arrogant edge that sometimes creeps in. Perhaps they'll offer a better alternative to Radio 4's increasingly lacklustre Today programme than Radio Five currently provides. But given that it's Channel 4 there's still likely to be plenty of anti-government gloom to contend with....