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Business News Media
Bauer further expands Greatest Hits Radio network in UK, completes Red FM acquisition in Ireland
By Chris Cooke | Published on Thursday 2 March 2023
Bauer Media is extending its Greatest Hits Radio network even further, giving the brand FM frequencies currently used by its local radio station in Lincolnshire and its Kiss service in Cambridge, Peterborough and Suffolk .
Lincs FM will cease to be available on FM from the start of April, but will continue to broadcast on the DAB digital radio network. That will allow Greatest Hits Radio to air on FM within Lincolnshire just in time for the arrival of its big new hire Ken Bruce.
John Marshall, who currently presents the morning show on Lincs FM, will also host a new local afternoon show on the FM version of Greatest Hits Radio within the county.
Commenting on the switch, Gary Stein, Group Programme Director for Bauer’s Hits Radio Brand Network, says: “With Ken Bruce set to join Greatest Hits Radio from 3 Apr, there’s been a huge desire from FM audiences to be able to listen to his show along with the rest of our fantastic programming”.
“This change means that listeners in Lincolnshire can enjoy greater access to the station with a new local programme hosted by the fantastic John Marshall”, he goes on, “while our loyal legion of Lincs FM listeners can continue to enjoy the station on DAB digital radio and online. Win, win!”
The plan to switch some of the FM frequencies currently used by Bauer’s Kiss station in Cambridge, Peterborough and Suffolk over to the Greatest Hits Radio network will require approval from media regulator OfCom, as it constitutes a change of the format described in the licences for those FM outlets. So there is currently no fixed switchover date for that.
Talking of both Bauer and regulators, the media firm has also confirmed that its acquisition of Irish radio station Red FM in Cork is now completed. That was first announced last year but was subject to regulator approval.
On that, Bauer’s President Of Audio Richard Dawkins says: “We’re delighted to be welcoming Cork’s Red FM to Bauer Media Audio. The station has been playing an important role in the lives of its listeners for the past two decades, providing great music, speech, entertainment and important local news”.
“We’re excited to be expanding within Ireland with the acquisition of this high-quality business”, he adds, “and look forward to the opportunities this brings to deepen our relationships with listeners and commercial partners in broadcast and in digital audio”.
