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Bauer announces further sharing of shows on its local radio network
By Chris Cooke | Published on Tuesday 6 August 2019
Yet more sharing of programmes has been confirmed for the UK’s local radio network, with Bauer Media announcing that, from next month, the same drivetime show will air on its FM outlets in the North East, the North West, Yorkshire and the West Midlands.
It means that from 2 Sep the Wes Butters fronted drivetime show that already airs on Bauer’s national and Manchester-based Hits Radio franchises will also go out on Metro Radio, TFM, Rock FM, Radio City, Hallam FM, Radio Aire, Viking FM and the four local outposts of Free Radio in the West Midlands. That said, more localised news and travel will continue to be aired during that time slot.
Both Bauer and its rival Global have been busy capitalising of late on the latest changes to the rules that govern AM and FM radio stations in the UK. Media regulator OfCom has allowed a further reduction of locally-made programming on the local AM/FM stations run by the bigger radio groups, which already shared the majority of their output.
In recent years those stations have generally run local shows in the two key peak time slots during the week – breakfast and drivetime – and at some point during the day at the weekend. But earlier this year Global announced that it was reducing the number of breakfast and drivetime shows on its Capital, Heart and Smooth stations. Then Bauer announced plans to cut back on local programming at the weekend and to network more shows on its Free Radio stations.
Confirming the latest cut backs during drivetime, Bauer Media’s Gary Stein told RadioToday: “Our ambition is first and foremost to provide programming best suited to the needs of our listeners in a rapidly evolving media landscape. Our research has identified an opportunity to create a new drive show that combines all the elements our listeners want – high-quality relatable presenters that connect with our audience alongside all the local news, traffic and travel and other local information important to them”.
Acknowledging that the move means a number of DJs will be exiting the company at the start of next month, Stein added: “I’d like to personally thank our drivetime broadcast teams for their professionalism and tremendous contribution. We wish them the very best for the future”.
