To me, the most sinister aspect of this is the fact they will no longer be referring to GMR a 'local' station - it is to be known as a 'regional' station.

Semantics, maybe... but it may be a way of wriggling out of obligations, methinks.

Perhaps 'mainstreaming' is a polite way of saying 'dumbing down'?

Clogger... telling them why you are ringing in is almost certainly why you didn't get air time. Don't forget, the person you speak to on the telephone is likely to be the programme's producer (or the person sitting next to them in the Ops Room!), and they will be reluctant to discuss something that hasn't been officially announced...