Industry News

Bauer Media Creates UK's Largest Commercial Radio Network

Bauer Media is creating the largest commercial radio network in the UK, as stations from the acquired ex-Celador Radio, Lincs GM, UKRD and ex-Wireless groups are integrated in the Hits Radio Brand Network.

The national network is comprised of Hits Radio, Country Hits Radio and Greatest Hits Radio. Most of the stations which joined Bauer following the acquisitions will rebrand to Greatest Hits Radio, while a small number retain their own branding, and welcome content and presenters from Hits Radio.

On Greatest Hits Radio, upbeat classic hits from the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s – the most popular music format in the UK – will be complemented by a team of some of Britain’s most loved and trusted broadcasters.

Audiences listening to Greatest Hits Radio in all corners of the UK will be served news bulletins carrying locally gathered stories, local traffic bulletins and local information to reflect the interests of each market. The station will be marketed nationally through a campaign blending TV activity, national and regional press, digital ad social platforms, and of course radio. Central to the campaign is the idea of ‘music bringing good times’ to our lives.

Today also marks the official launch of Greatest Hits Radio’s ‘Getting You Back to Work’ scheme. This is all about enabling local employers to submit job vacancies to be promoted both on-air and online, at no cost, to reach a wide pool of local jobseekers. Job vacancy bulletins will be broadcast four times a day in each market.

Dee Ford CBE, Group Managing Director Radio, Bauer Radio commented: “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.”

Stations will be available on FM and AM and also where possible DAB and IP, so that as listening continues its accelerating migration to digital, consumers will always be able to find the stations they love on all broadcast platforms.

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