Real Radio

Last updated

Real Radio
Real radio.png
Broadcast area North East England, North West England (exc. Cumbria), Scotland, Wales, Yorkshire
Programming
Language(s)English
Format Adult Contemporary
Ownership
Owner Communicorp/Global Radio
History
First air date
3 October 2000
Last air date
6 May 2014 (Merged with Heart)
Former frequencies
88–108FM
Links
Website Heart

Real Radio was a network of five regional radio stations broadcasting to North East England, North West England, Scotland, Wales and Yorkshire. Each station broadcasts a mix of local and networked programming. On Tuesday 6 May 2014, the stations were merged with the Heart network.

Contents

History

Real Radio logo, 2001-2012 Real radio.jpg
Real Radio logo, 2001–2012

Sir Robert Phillis, the former GMG chief executive, enlisted John Myers to establish GMG Radio. [1] Myers became the company's managing director in 1999, and won GMG its first licence in South Wales in April 2000. [2] Real Radio (Wales) launched on Tuesday 3 October 2000. Initially serving south and west Wales, the station expanded to north and mid Wales in January 2011, over two years after winning a second licence. [3]

In June 2001, Scot FM was acquired from the Wireless Group for £25.5 million. [4] Scot FM would become Real Radio's second station at 8 am on Tuesday 8 January 2002. [5] A bid to expand the service to Aberdeenshire in 2006 proved unsuccessful, losing out to Original 106.

Real Yorkshire, the third station, launched on 25 March 2002 and broadcast to South & West Yorkshire. [6]

In 2008, John Myers convinced the GMG board to invest £1 million in documentaries, a first for modern-day UK commercial radio which would lead to several industry awards. [7] [8] Myers left GMG shortly afterwards.

Real North East and Real North West were introduced from the Century Network on 30 March 2009. [9] Both stations were founded by GMG Radio chief executive John Myers, who acquired the two from GCap Media in October 2006. [10] [11] [12] [13] The Discover the Real You strapline was introduced to all stations. [14]

In July 2008, networked programming was introduced across all stations during evening and overnight timeslots, [15] and in November 2012 this was increased to daytime timeslots. [16] Most networked programming was broadcast from studios in Salford Quays. Notable presenters included Chris Tarrant [17] and Ryan Seacrest who fronted a bespoke version of his syndicated US entertainment show On Air with Ryan Seacrest . [18] [19]

The most recognised strapline Real good, feel good radio, was introduced in March 2012. [20]

In August 2012, the two former Century Network stations, in the North East and the North West, were gaining just half the listeners they once had.[ citation needed ] Both saw a decline in Listening Share In TSA % when comparing Q2 period in 2011 and 2012, from 6.30% to 4.8%, and 3.9% to 3.0% respectively. [21] Figures for Scotland also lowered whilst Wales and Yorkshire steadied. [22]

Closure and merger with Heart

Heart logo, 2014 onwards The Heart Network logo.svg
Heart logo, 2014 onwards

On 25 June 2012, Global Radio (the owner of stations such as Capital and Heart) announced it had bought GMG Radio, [23] however the GMG radio stations would continue to operate separately until a regulatory review into the sale took place. [24]

Secretary of State Maria Miller announced in October 2012 that the sale would not be investigated on the grounds of plurality. [25] The Competition Commission was due to publish its final report on 27 March 2013, [26] but delays over the decision left the former GMG stations in a hold separate situation. [27] A holding company called Real and Smooth Limited was formed.

On 21 May 2013, the Competition Commission ruled Global would have to sell radio stations in seven areas of the UK - including all areas served by a Real Radio station. [28] A subsequent appeal by Global was rejected at a tribunal. [29]

On 6 February 2014, Global Radio announced it would be rebranding all Real Radio stations as Heart and be selling Real Radio Yorkshire and the Northern licence of Real Radio Wales to Communicorp. Heart's network programming and brand name will be used under a franchise agreement. [30]

On 25 March 2014, the stations began a transition period to the Heart branding. The Real Radio branding was phased out on Sunday 20 April 2014 - for the time being, all stations are referred to on air as The Heart of (TSA).

The full launch of the new Heart stations took place at 6 am on Tuesday 6 May 2014. All local programming is retained with networked output on all stations carried from Global's Leicester Square studios in London, replacing the once networked output from Real Radio's Laser House studios in Salford Quays. Real Radio Wales has now been split into two separate stations following the changes, by providing localised programming from Cardiff and Wrexham respectively.

List of former Real Radio stations

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Capital Cymru</span> Welsh-language radio station

Capital Cymru is a local Welsh-language radio station owned and operated by Global. The station broadcasts to Gwynedd and Anglesey from studios in Gwersyllt, Wrexham via the Arfon transmitting station.

Century Radio was the brand name of a group of Independent Local Radio stations in England. The brand was developed with the launch of 100-102 Century Radio in North East England in 1994, with John Myers as managing director and John Simons as programme director. The brand grew when Myers launched 106 Century FM for the East Midlands, and further when 105.4 Century Radio was launched in North West England in 1998. Ocean FM used the Century format, but not the brand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heart North East</span> Radio station in Newcastle upon Tyne

Heart North East is a regional radio station owned and operated by Global as part of the Heart network. It broadcasts to North East England from studios in Newcastle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heart North West</span> Radio station in Manchester

Heart North West is a regional radio station owned and operated by Global as part of the Heart network. It broadcasts to North West England from studios in the Spinningfields area of Manchester city centre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heart Yorkshire</span> Radio station in Leeds

Heart Yorkshire is a regional radio station owned by Communicorp UK and operated by Global as part of the Heart network. It broadcasts to South and West Yorkshire from studios in Leeds.

GMG Radio was a company that owned the Real Radio and Smooth Radio networks. As GMG Radio, the company was the radio division of the Guardian Media Group until it was bought in 2012 by Global Radio, however pending regulatory review of the merger the company was renamed Real and Smooth Limited and operated as a separate entity, until May 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heart South Wales</span> Radio station in Cardiff

Heart South Wales is a regional radio station that broadcasts to South and West Wales from studios in Cardiff Bay. The station is owned and operated by Global Radio and forms part of the expanded Heart radio network of stations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Myers (radio executive)</span> British radio executive, consultant and presenter

John Myers was a British radio executive, consultant and presenter. He was Chairman of the UK Radio Academy Awards, The Commercial Radio Awards and owner of Myers Media. Myers developed the Century Radio brand for Border Radio Holdings in the early 1990s, launching two more stations later in the decade. He presented programmes under the pseudonym "John Morgan". He then became Chief executive of GMG Radio, developing the Real Radio, Smooth Radio and Rock Radio brands and overseeing GMG Radio's acquisition of the Century network from GCap Media. He served as Chief executive of The Radio Academy from April 2011 until June 2012 and the founding Chairman of TeamRock, retiring in May 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heart (radio network)</span> British radio network

Heart is a network of thirteen independent adult contemporary radio stations in the United Kingdom, broadcasting a mix of local and networked programming. Ten of the stations are owned and operated by Global, while the other three are owned and operated under separate franchise agreements. The national version of the network is widely available on Global Player, Freeview, Sky, Freesat, Virgin Media and Digital One DAB.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nation Radio Scotland</span> Radio station in Renfrewshire and Glasgow, Scotland

Nation Radio Scotland is a Scottish Independent Local Radio station for Renfrewshire, Glasgow and West Central Scotland, owned by Nation Broadcasting.

John Simons is a British radio executive, former group programming director for GMG Radio now working as an International Radio Consultant, mainly in Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Global Media & Entertainment</span> British media company

Global Media & Entertainment Limited, trading as Global, is a British media company formed in 2007. It is the owner of the largest commercial radio company in Europe having expanded through a number of historical acquisitions, including Chrysalis Radio, GCap Media and GMG Radio. Global owns and operates seven core radio brands, all employing a national network strategy, including Capital, Heart, Gold, Classic FM, Smooth and LBC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heart North and Mid Wales</span> Welsh radio station

Heart North and Mid Wales is a regional radio station owned by Communicorp UK and operated by Global Radio as part of the Heart network. It broadcasts to North and Mid Wales from studios in Gwersyllt, near Wrexham.

Capital North West and Wales is a regional radio station owned and operated by Global as part of the Capital network. It broadcasts to Cheshire, the Wirral Peninsula & North Wales. The station broadcasts from its studios in Gwersyllt, Wrexham, the former headquarters of Marcher Radio Group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heart Cheshire and North East Wales</span> Radio station in Wrexham

Heart Cheshire and North East Wales was an Independent Local Radio station broadcasting to north east Wales and Cheshire from its Mold Road studios in Gwersyllt, Wrexham, also shared with Gold and Heart Wirral.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Real Radio XS</span> Radio station

Real Radio XS was a radio station brand operated by Real and Smooth Ltd based in Salford, Greater Manchester, broadcasting a variety of peak-time news, rock music and talk output. The Manchester-based version of the service was broadcast to Greater Manchester on FM, and to a number of areas on DAB: the closure of the MXR regional multiplexes ended most digital carriage of the service, with the last remaining digital transmission, to Yorkshire, ending in 2014. The other Real Radio XS service, covering Paisley and Renfrewshire on FM and central belt Scotland digitally, became Xfm Scotland in 2014 following Global's purchase of the franchise, before closing entirely in 2015. The Manchester frequency now transmits as XS Manchester under the control of Communicorp UK, whilst the Scottish license was re-advertised by Ofcom and now carries Nation Broadcasting-owned Nation Radio Scotland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">XS Manchester</span> Radio station in Manchester

XS Manchester is an Independent Local Radio station serving Greater Manchester, broadcasting a mix of indie and alternative rock music, speech and news output. The station is owned and operated by Communicorp UK and broadcasts from studios at Spinningfields in Manchester. It is Communicorp UK's only station that does not broadcast a programme service supplied by Global.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Smooth Radio (2014)</span> Radio station in London

Smooth Radio is a network of local radio stations broadcasting on FM and DAB in the United Kingdom. It retains one outlet on AM. Smooth Radio previously featured a soft adult contemporary radio format but has introduced more upbeat music since 2023. Launched in March 2014, it replaced the national Smooth Radio that had launched in 2010 on FM and DAB, and most outlets of Gold on AM.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heart Scotland</span> Regional radio station in Scotland

Heart Scotland is a regional radio station owned and operated by Global as part of the Heart network. The station relaunched as Heart on 6 May 2014, serving central and southern Scotland from studios in Glasgow city centre.

A timeline of notable events relating to Global Radio, a British media company founded in 2007.

References

  1. ↑ Andrews, Amanda (28 February 2008). "John Myers tends Guardian Media's radio unit". The Times. London. Archived from the original on 12 May 2008. Retrieved 18 November 2008.
  2. ↑ GMG Radio wins Yorkshire radio licence Georgina Lipscomb, Broadcast, 18 July 2001
  3. ↑ "GMG Radio sale: Look back at group's history". RadioToday. 25 June 2012. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
  4. ↑ Lorna Martin (9 January 2002). "Real Radio launches big bold challenge to rivals". Sport | SPL | Aberdeen. Herald Scotland. Retrieved 6 July 2010.
  5. ↑ agnes stevenson (8 January 2002). "A new station joins the air wars". Sport | SPL | Aberdeen. Herald Scotland. Retrieved 6 July 2010.
  6. ↑ Radio Authority publishes assessment of South and West Yorkshire licence award Ofcom, 23 July 2001
  7. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 December 2013. Retrieved 13 April 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. ↑ Andrews, Amanda (28 November 2010). "BBC enlists commercial sector help to shake up radio". The Telegraph. Retrieved 12 March 2011.
  9. ↑ "This page has been removed". The Guardian– via www.theguardian.com.
  10. ↑ Guardian buys GCap radio stations Julia Day, The Guardian, 18 October 2006
  11. ↑ GMG Radio purchase Century FM Radio Today, 18 October 2006
  12. ↑ Who are Real Radio? Real Radio North East
  13. ↑ Day, Julia (18 October 2006). "Guardian buys GCap radio stations". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 March 2006.
  14. ↑ Real Radio launches £2m ad push Mark Sweeney, The Guardian, 31 March 2009
  15. ↑ Galloway to replace Davis for Real, Radio Today, 27 June 2008
  16. ↑ Real Radio introduces networked daytimes Radio Today 15 October 2012
  17. ↑ Shepherd, Robert (3 July 2008). "Nissan pays Tarrant£1m in US-style radio deal". Broadcast.
  18. ↑ "Ryan Seacrest joins Real Radio network". 7 July 2011.
  19. ↑ "Ryan Seacrest disappears from Real Radio". 6 January 2013.
  20. ↑ Real Radio has a rebrand Jonathan Jacob, Earshot Creative, 17 March 2012
  21. ↑ "RAJAR". www.rajar.co.uk.
  22. ↑ Around the groups and brands in Q2, 2012 Radio Today, 2 August 2012
  23. ↑ Global Radio seals £50m purchase of GMG Radio Maisie McCabe, Media Week, 25 June 2012. Retrieved 25 June 2012.
  24. ↑ GMG Radio sold to Global for £50m Mark Sweeney, The Guardian, 25 June 2012. Retrieved 25 June 2012.
  25. ↑ No plurality issues for Global GMG merger Radio Today, 11 October 2012
  26. ↑ Date set for Global Radio’s CC results Radio Today, 11 October 2012
  27. ↑ CC delays Global GMG takeover decision Radio Today, 21 February 2013
  28. ↑ Global/GMG final report Archived 2 April 2014 at the UK Government Web Archive Competition Commission, 21 May 2013
  29. ↑ Global Radio appeals against order to sell off GMG Radio stations Mark Sweney, The Guardian, 14 June 2013
  30. ↑ Martin, Roy (6 February 2014). "Communicorp buys 8 Global stations". RadioToday. Retrieved 6 February 2014.
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