Hits Radio North East
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| Broadcast area | Tyne and Wear, Northumberland and County Durham |
|---|---|
| Frequency | |
| RDS | METRO |
| Branding | The Biggest Hits, The Biggest Throwbacks Across The North East |
| Programming | |
| Format | CHR/Pop |
| Network | Hits Radio |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Bauer Media Audio UK |
| Hits Radio Teesside Greatest Hits Radio North East | |
| History | |
First air date | 15 July 1974 |
Former frequencies | 97.0 MHz 1152 KHz |
| Technical information | |
Licensing authority | Ofcom |
| Links | |
| Webcast | Hits Radio North East Player |
| Website | Hits Radio North East |
Hits Radio North East WAS an Independent Local Radio station based in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, owned and operated by Bauer Media Audio UK as part of the Hits Radio network. The station launched in 1974 as Metro Radio. It broadcasts to County Durham, Northumberland, and Tyne and Wear.
As of December 2023, the station has a weekly audience of 299,000 listeners according to RAJAR.[1]
History[edit]
Launch as Metro Radio[edit]
The Newcastle-based station, broadcasting to North-East England, launched on 15 July 1974.[2] The first breakfast show was presented by Don Dwyer, an Australian radio presenter formerly at ABC and the United Biscuits Network. The first show included messages of congratulations from Kenny Everett at the equivalent local commercial station in London, Capital Radio.
Studios[edit]
The station transmitted from a studio in Swalwell, Gateshead, which in later years would be adjacent to the Metrocentre and is now Metropolitan House—a business centre providing serviced office accommodation. Metro, and sister station Magic 1152, moved in 2005 to the former BT building previously known as Swan House – now known as 55° North – next to the Tyne Bridge in Newcastle upon Tyne. In April 2021, it was announced that Metro Radio were relocating their studios once more. Later in 2021 as planned, they relocated their broadcasting studios to the Grade II listed building, Gainsborough House on Newcastle's Grey Street. Before the move, the studio had undergone a purposed fit-out which included 2 additional studios and a contemporary, flexible office space.
Football commentary[edit]
Until 2005 the station broadcast live football commentary for the region's two biggest clubs; Newcastle United and Sunderland. In an attempt to boost ratings, the football commentary was stopped. However, a negative response from football fans prompted the owners to cover all Newcastle and Sunderland games on sister station Magic 1152.
TFM co-location[edit]
From 8 April 2013, all Metro Radio's programming has been shared with TFM. However, the Metro Radio branding was retained along with separate advertising and local news bulletins.[3] The two stations were able to co-locate without consultation, for the Metro Radio licence area is located in one approved broadcast area (north-east England).[4]
Hits Radio rebrand[edit]
On 10 January 2024, station owners Bauer announced Metro Radio would be rebranded as Hits Radio North East from April 2024, as part of a network-wide relaunch involving 17 local radio stations in England and Wales.[5] The announcement signalled the end of the Metro Radio brand after nearly 50 years of broadcasting.[6]
The station's local news and regional output will not be affected as a result of the relaunch.
On 17 April 2024 at 6am, Metro Radio was rebranded to Hits Radio North East, officially marking the end of the Metro Radio brand, the website for which had been replaced with the Hits Radio website earlier that morning.[7]
Programming[edit]
Regional programming (Steve & Karen's Breakfast Show) is broadcast and produced from Bauer’s Newcastle studios.
National programming originates from Bauer’s London headquarters, Manchester and at times, Birmingham & Liverpool studios.[8]
News[edit]
Regional news bulletins air hourly from 6am-7pm on weekdays, and from 7am-1pm on Saturdays and Sundays. Headlines are broadcast on the half-hour during weekday breakfast and drivetime shows, alongside traffic bulletins.
National bulletins from other Bauer newsrooms or Sky News Radio are at other times.[8]
Notable former presenters[edit]
 |
- Allan Beswick (later with BBC Radio Lancashire, now retired)
- Rich Clarke (Heart South)
- Mark Goodier (Greatest Hits Radio)
- Pete Graves (Sky Sports News)
- Ingrid Hagemann
- Lucy Horobin (Heart Dance)
- Jason King (Heart London)
- Gabby Logan
- Jonathan Morrell (BBC Radio Newcastle)
- Anna Foster (broadcaster) (BBC Radio Newcastle)
- Jenny Powell (Greatest Hits Radio)
- Alan Robson (later at Greatest Hits Radio, now on the Internet)
- Joel Ross (Rock FM)
- Lisa Shaw (deceased) [9]
- Bill Steel
- Pip Tomson (Good Morning Britain)
- Clive Warren
- James Whale (talkRADIO)
- Russ Williams (Nation Radio UK)
References[edit]
- ^ "RAJAR".
- ^ Metro Radio Media UK
- ^ TFM leaves Teesside to share with Metro, RadioToday, 5 April 2013
- ^ Leading MEP to demand action from Ofcom over TFM/Metro merger The Northern Echo, 7 April 2013
- ^ "Fifteen local stations get set for Hits Radio rebrand". Bauer. 10 January 2024. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
- ^ "Bauer to rebrand heritage FM stations in England and Wales to Hits Radio". RadioToday. 10 January 2024. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
- ^ "Hits Radio has arrived!". 17 April 2024. Archived from the original on 17 April 2024. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
- ^ a b Hits Radio - Public File - North East
- ^ "Lisa Shaw: BBC Radio Newcastle presenter dies aged 44". BBC News. 23 May 2021. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
External links[edit]