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Bauer follows Global in cutting back local shows on local radio

By | Published on Friday 31 May 2019

Bauer Media

As expected, Bauer Radio is following Global’s lead in reducing the amount of locally made programmes on its local radio stations around the UK. Both media firms are capitalising on changes to the rules that govern AM and FM radio stations.

Unlike Global – which long ago abandoned regional radio station brands, making all their local stations part of the national Capital, Heart and Gold networks – Bauer does still operate different brands in different markets. However, those local stations nevertheless share an awful lot of national networked programming.

And the amount of national networked programming will increase this summer. According to Radio Today, twelve local stations in what Bauer calls its Hits Radio Network will cease to have local programming over the weekends as of July. It will mean that all the English stations in that network – with the exception of Radio City in Liverpool – will broadcast the same show between midday and 4pm on Saturdays and Sundays instead of the current local show in that slot. A different show will air on the Scottish stations.

Meanwhile, the Free Radio stations in the Midlands – acquired by Bauer back in 2016 – will see the amount of local programming reduced in the week too. There are currently four outposts of Free Radio, each of which carries its own breakfast and drivetime show. But from July there will be two breakfast shows (the Warwickshire one will also go out in Herefordshire, and the Birmingham edition in the Black Country), meanwhile one drive time programme will air on all four Free Radio channels.

The ultimate aim of this further networking of shows, of course, is to save money, with fewer presenters and producers required. Radio firms argue that further downsizing is needed as they face increased competition from other online and digital media and music services, for both audiences and advertisers.

Radio Today quotes Bauer’s Gary Stein as delivering the official line on the Free Radio cutbacks. He said: “We are driven by the needs of our listeners and advertisers, and these changes have come about in order to meet the renewed requirements of audiences in the West Midlands”.

He went on: “Habits and lifestyles are shifting, and in this territory, we saw a desire for a more regionalised broadcast offering, as well as appointment to listen programming on the weekends – all delivering the local news, traffic and travel, and information that our listeners seek. We thank our broadcast teams who have made tremendous contributions, and wish them the very best as they pursue new opportunities”.



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