Hits Radio North East
| |
|---|---|
| History | |
First air date | 15 July 1974 |
Former names | Metro Radio Metro FM |
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 is 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
Launch as Metro Radio
The Newcastle-based station, broadcasting to North-East England, launched on 15 July 1974.
Studios
The station transmitted from a studio in
Football commentary
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
TFM co-location
From 8 April 2013, all Metro Radio's programming has been shared with
Hits Radio rebrand
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
Regional programming (Steve & Karen's Breakfast Show) airs 6-10am on weekdays from Bauer’s Newcastle studios.
At all other times networked programming airs via Bauer’s London headquarters or studios in Birmingham, Liverpool and Manchester.[8]
News
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
 |
- 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)
- Rock FM)
- Lisa Shaw (deceased) [9]
- Bill Steel
- Pip Tomson (Good Morning Britain)
- Clive Warren
- James Whale (talkRADIO)
- Russ Williams (Nation Radio UK)
References
- ^ "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