The rebrand of the Bauer Media Group owned stations takes place this April

Bauer Media Audio UK is announcing today that fifteen of its local stations in England and Wales are to rebrand to Hits Radio from April this year.

The stations, which include Gem Radio in the East Midlands and Radio City in Liverpool, are all currently part of the Hits Radio Network in England and Wales – home to shows from nationally known presenters including Fleur East, Sam Thompson, Gemma Atkinson and Sarah Jane Crawford, along with local Breakfast shows.

Alongside Hits Radio’s ARIA award winning music formula of today’s biggest hits and biggest throwbacks, listeners will still be able to enjoy a mixture of locally and nationally produced programming as well as all of their regular local news, information, traffic and travel.

Bauer Media Audio UK CEO, Simon Myciunka said: ‘Today marks a brand-new chapter in the history of these local stations as they become Hits Radio. The stations’ transformation into a nationally recognised brand ensures that we will continue to provide our listeners with the content they love, seamlessly blending the best that local and national radio has to offer.’

Gary Stein, Group Programme Director for the Hits Radio Network said: ‘We are passionate about radio and the unique mix of companionship, information and entertainment that it offers and want to make sure it thrives in years to come. The audio landscape has evolved dramatically in recent years and, thanks to advances in digital listening, there is even more choice for audiences than ever before. By transforming local stations into this nationally recognised brand, we’re really excited by the potential that Hits Radio has to grow.’

There will be no scheduling or local presenter changes as a result of this rebrand and all stations will retain their Breakfast shows.

The following stations will be rebranded to Hits Radio:
Free Radio Birmingham
Free Radio Coventry & Warwickshire
Free Radio Herefordshire & Worcestershire
Free Radio Black Country & Shropshire
Gem Radio
Hallam FM
Lincs FM
Metro Radio
Pulse 1
Radio City
Rock FM
Signal 1
TFM
Viking FM
Wave Swansea

– ENDS –

For further press information, please contact:

Amelia O’Shea – Head of Communications, Bauer Media Audio UK
M: 07531 949693

Beth McDonald – Communications Manager, Bauer Media Audio UK
M: 07513 823447

Notes to Editor

Free Radio Birmingham becomes Hits Radio Birmingham

Free Radio Coventry & Warwickshire becomes Hits Radio Coventry & Warwickshire

Free Radio Herefordshire & Worcestershire becomes Hits Radio Herefordshire & Worcestershire

Free Radio Black Country & Shropshire becomes Hits Radio Black Country & Shropshire

Gem Radio becomes Hits Radio East Midlands

Hallam FM becomes Hits Radio South Yorkshire

Lincs FM becomes Hits Radio Lincolnshire

Metro Radio becomes Hits Radio North East

Pulse 1 becomes Hits Radio West Yorkshire

Radio City becomes Hits Radio Liverpool

Rock FM becomes Hits Radio Lancashire

Signal 1 becomes Hits Radio Staffordshire & Cheshire

TFM becomes Hits Radio Teesside

Viking FM becomes Hits Radio East Yorkshire & North Lincolnshire

Wave Swansea becomes Hits Radio South West Wales

About Hits Radio Network   
The Hits Radio Network brings together a family of exciting digital radio stations across the UK, available on DAB Digital Radio, Freeview, online and via listen apps. Alongside shows from much loved names including Fleur East, Sam Thompson and Gemma Atkinson are a suite of award-winning Breakfast shows, life-changing competitions and live events.

Aimed at an audience of 25-44 year olds, the Hits Radio Network is there to connect with listeners that lead busy and chaotic lives, by providing an entertaining and fun escape. Bursting with huge tunes and big personalities, stations are led by original, authentic presenters who love to surprise and entertain. But above all they love music and listeners to stations on the Hits Radio Network can expect to hear a soundtrack of the biggest hits and the biggest throwbacks from the last 20 years.