Oldham FM Limited was incorporated on 5 June 1997 - Bernard Stone, Philip Hirst and Christopher Hirst of Hirst Kidd and Rennie Ltd., owners of local newspaper Oldham Evening Chronicle, were appointed company directors. The following December, David Bruce and Stephen Kitney of UK Radio Developments LTD, as well as Nichola Atkinson, John Gracie and Liam Forristal were also added as company directors.[1][2]
The new owners launched a bid for a full-time broadcasting licence, while using temporary RSL licences, broadcasting for one month per year. After two years, a licence was granted. On 30 August 1999, Oldham FM began broadcasting under the name 96.2 The Revolution. The name was chosen because of the Industrial Revolution, in which the region took a major role, and the initial letters of its three main target areas –Revolution. [citation needed]
The Revolution initially ran a mainstream pop and rock music format, but in 2005, the station's playlist changed to a specialist mix of new and classic alternative, soul & rock and roll music, spanning the last 40 years. Inspiral Carpets keyboard player Clint Boon briefly took over as its head of music,[3] before leaving to join rival station XFM Manchester.
Following a big fall in listening figures, The Revolution was put up for sale in 2008, and its music format reverted to heavily rotated mainstream pop and rock - a change reportedly imposed by the station's owner during an afternoon in late August 2008. Most of the station's presenters walked out, resulting in long periods of non-stop automated music.[4]
A fortnight after the walkout, it was announced that The Revolution had been purchased by former Key 103 and Capital FM presenter Steve Penk, who reverted the format change and took over the station's breakfast show.[5]
In January 2014, Penk sold the radio station to Credible Media, which sought to create stronger links with local businesses and institutions in the target service area.[6]
On 30 August 2015, Niocast Digital began a trial of broadcasting six radio stations on small-scale DAB multiplex 10B in Greater Manchester, including The Revolution.[7]
On 23 October 2020, it was announced Bauer had brought the station.[8] Revolution 96.2 ceased broadcasting on 16 November 2020 and was replaced by Greatest Hits Radio North West.
Hits Radio is a network of 25 contemporary hit radio stations in the United Kingdom, owned and operated by Bauer Media Audio UK.
The Wave is an Independent Local Radio station based in Swansea, Wales, owned and operated by Bauer as part of the Hits Radio network. It broadcasts to Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and East Carmarthenshire.
Minster FM was a local radio station serving York and the surrounding areas such as Selby, Tadcaster, Thirsk, Northallerton and Goole. The station closed on 31 August 2020 and its frequency is now a relay of Greatest Hits Radio Yorkshire York & North Yorkshire. It broadcast on 104.7 FM from the Acklam Wold transmitter, near Leavening, on the Yorkshire Wolds.
Hallam FM is an Independent Local Radio station based in Sheffield, England, owned and operated by Bauer as part of the Hits Radio network. It broadcasts to South Yorkshire.
Steve Penk is a British radio and television presenter. He was born in Rusholme, Manchester. Penk has worked for various national and local UK radio stations. Aged just 16 he started his radio career at Piccadilly Radio in 1978, where his breakfast show delivered record ratings, the highest in the station's history to this day.
Greatest Hits Radio Manchester & The North West is an Independent Local Radio station based in Manchester, England, owned and operated by Bauer as part of the Greatest Hits Radio Network. It broadcasts to Greater Manchester and North West England.
Clinton David Boon is an English musician, DJ and radio presenter. Boon originally rose to fame as the keyboard player of Inspiral Carpets.
XFM Manchester was a commercial radio station broadcasting alternative and indie music to Manchester in North West England.
Nation Broadcasting is a British media company headquartered in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales. It currently owns and operates twelve Independent Local Radio stations across the United Kingdom.
Hits Radio Manchester is an Independent Local Radio station owned and operated by Bauer as part of the Hits Radio network. It broadcasts to Greater Manchester.
Radio Aire was an Independent Local Radio station, serving Leeds and West Yorkshire.
Sam FM was an adult hits format radio station that broadcast on 106.5 MHz FM in Bristol, United Kingdom and owned by Bauer Radio. The station formed part of the Hits Radio network, although its entire output and playlist was locally produced and took no network programming. It ceased broadcasting on 6 September 2021 when it rebranded to Hits Radio Bristol & The South West.
Viking FM is an Independent Local Radio station based in Kingston upon Hull, England, owned and operated by Bauer as part of the Hits Radio network. It broadcasts to the East Riding of Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire.
Greatest Hits Radio is a classic hits radio network in the United Kingdom, owned and operated by Bauer.
This is a timeline of the development of independent radio in the UK.
A timeline of notable events relating to Absolute Radio and its spin-off stations, and its predecessor Virgin 1215/Virgin Radio.
A timeline of notable events relating to Bauer Media Audio UK, a British media company established as a division of German company Bauer Media Group in 2008.
This is a timeline of the development of radio in Greater Manchester, from when the first local station for the area began broadcasting.
Greatest Hits Radio North West is a regional radio network serving North West England and North Wales, as part of Bauer’s Greatest Hits Radio network.
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