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Bauer Media to further expand its Greatest Hits Radio network on FM in Staffordshire, Cheshire and Cumbria
By Chris Cooke | Published on Wednesday 30 November 2022
Bauer Media’s Greatest Hits Radio is further expanding its reach on the FM Network replacing local stations in the company’s Hits Radio Network in Staffordshire, Cheshire and Cumbria.
The expansion of the GHR service – on AM, FM and DAB – has been a key priority for Bauer of late. Many of the local radio stations it has acquired in recent years have been relaunched as part of the GHR network, while some of the stations it has owned for longer have also been rebranded.
The latest rebrand is happening at CFM – the local station that broadcasts in Cumbria and south west Scotland, and which has been owned by Bauer ever since it acquired the EMAP radio business all the way back in 2008. From next April the CFM frequencies will start to air Greatest Hits Radio.
Given that CFM, despite the local branding, is part of Bauer’s Hits Radio Network, most of its programming is made up of Hits Radio shows that air across England. Its breakfast show is made locally, though, hosted by Robbie Dee, and he will continue to host a local programme once the station becomes Greatest Hits Radio, albeit early afternoon rather than breakfast.
Of course, the music policy of Greatest Hits Radio is different to that of Hits Radio Network stations like CFM. However, the England-wide line up Hits Radio shows will still be available in the region on the local DAB network, where a version of Greatest Hits Radio is already airing.
Confirming the switchover, Bauer’s Chief Content And Music Officer, Ben Cooper, told Radio Today: “Greatest Hits Radio has been going from strength to strength and we’re delighted to be able to bring it to listeners to Cumbria and south west Scotland on FM with this exciting rebrand. We’re really proud of the mixture of regional and nationally produced shows that the network delivers and know that listeners will love to continue hearing from Robbie Dee each weekday, as well as from lots of our other legendary broadcasters”.
Dee himself adds: “I am absolutely delighted to be joining the Greatest Hits Radio family 1pm-4pm weekday afternoons across Cumbria and south west Scotland from April 2023. The music is fantastic from the 70s, 80s and 90s and as soon as you switch the radio on you know every great song! And after 20 years on the breakfast show I’m also extremely excited about not getting up at 4am! ‘Robbie Dee In The Afternoon’ on Greatest Hits Radio – the good times sound like this”.
Down in Cheshire and Staffordshire, FM frequencies currently used by another Hits Radio Network station – the Stoke-based Signal 1 – will also switchover to Greatest Hits Radio in the new year. Although Signal will continue to air in North Staffordshire and South Cheshire on its 102.6FM frequency.
