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Smooth to replace Gold on the AM network

By | Published on Tuesday 4 March 2014

Global Radio

As it ploughs on with its latest brands rejig, initiated by the acquisition of the former GMG Radio business, Global Radio has confirmed that its Gold brand will disappear from a plethora of AM frequencies later this month.

Many of the Gold outposts on the AM dial began as golden oldie spin-offs to the old fashioned local FM stations owned by Global Radio’s predecessors, and came about when launching golden oldie spin-offs on the medium wave became fashionable in commercial radio in the 1990s. Over the years acquisitions and rebrands – via the Classic Gold or Capital Gold call sign – led to the creation of the Gold network.

But from 23 Mar most Gold frequencies will start broadcasting Smooth Radio instead, the one former GMG Radio brand Global is retaining. Though Gold will remain on AM in those markets where Smooth already operates on FM, namely London, Manchester, Derby and Nottingham, and will continue to be available via the regional DAB networks in London and the East Midlands, on the Sky and Virgin Media platforms nationwide, and online. It’s thought that Gold may also be added to the national DAB network in due course.

With that in mind, a spokesman from Global continued to talk up the company’s Gold network yesterday, despite the considerable cut back in its analogue reach later this month, telling RadioToday: “We will continue to play the greatest hits of all time on Gold for our loyal and valued listeners. If you love Gold you can still listen on AM in Greater London, Manchester and The East Midlands, and if you live in other areas of the country you can listen on DAB Digital radio or your Digital TV, on the website and on the Gold mobile app”.



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