Chrysalis Radio have poached the deputy controller of BBC Radio 5 Live to run the relaunched London news station LBC, which the media group took over last month. Steve Kyte will be editorial director at the revamped station. His appointment is part of Chrysalis' attempts to regenerate the station which once played a central role in London life. It has already signed Capital news presenter Howard Hughes in a bid to win breakfast show listeners from the station. Kyte's appointment is be part of the station's bid to lure Radio 5 listeners who want a more local approach but who are disappointed with BBC London Live.
Launched in 1973 LBC was the UK's first commercial station and for years was a crucial medium in the capital. Increased competition coupled with bad management saw the station go in to decline and in 1994 it lost its licence. But another talk radio consortium headed by ITN (LBC's original owners) bought the name back for its AM service. Now new owners Chrysalis want to but the station back on FM and regain its position as a leading news source and discussion point for London.
LBC's new MD, Mark Flanagan, told the Media Guardian he wants to make LBC "the most talked about station in London" saying to lookout for other big-name signings soon.