National radio station Greatest Hits Radio has increased its coverage on DAB digital radio and FM in the UK.
From today the classic hits station replaces local radio stations including The Beach in Suffolk, The Breeze in the South of England and Minster FM in York. Greatest Hits Radio will broadcast on DAB digital radio and the FM frequencies formerly used by the stations.
Local news bulletins and traffic updates will still be broadcast in local areas. The breakfast show is hosted by Rossie, followed by Mark Goodier and Andy Crane during the day. Drivetime will be hosted by a regional presenter before Rick Houghton and Alex Lester host the evening programmes.
Greatest Hits Radio plays music from the 70s, 80s and 90s from artists like David Bowie, Blondie, Tina Turner and Queen. The local radio stations have been transitioning to the new playlist over recent weeks and will no longer play recently released songs.
At the weekend well known presenters Pat Sharp, Simon Mayo, Janice Long and Paul Gambaccini present music programmes. Greatest Hits Superstars on Sunday afternoons looks at the music and stories of a single artist or band.
The move comes after Bauer Media, owners of Greatest Hits Radio, acquired local radio stations operated by Celador, Lincs FM, UKRD and Wireless. Bauer also operates radio stations Absolute Radio, KISS, Magic, Planet Rock and Scala Radio as well as local stations including Metro Radio and Viking FM.
Local stations which have been rebranded will no longer have locally-presented daytime programmes except for a regional drive time show.
Dee Ford CBE, Group Managing Director Radio, Bauer Radio comments, “We’re so pleased to be officially bringing the all-new Greatest Hits Radio Network to air today. It will be a major part of the UK’s biggest commercial radio network – offering the most popular music format in UK radio brought to life by the most loved and trusted broadcasters. Listeners from all corners of our nation will benefit from the local news and information they value and from having local teams support on-air and off-air initiatives. Advertisers, both locally and nationally, will be able to access deeply engaged audiences on all broadcast platforms.”
The station has today also launched its ‘Getting You Back to Work’ scheme. Employers will be able to submit job vacancies to be broadcast and listed online at no cost. Bulletins with the vacancies will be broadcast four times a day on each station.