Radio station in Newcastle upon Tyne
Hits Radio North East
, formerly
Metro Radio
, 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 March 2024, the station has a weekly audience of 382,000 listeners according to
RAJAR
.
[1]
History
[
edit
]
Launch as Metro Radio
[
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]
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
[
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]
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.
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
[
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]
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
[
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]
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
[
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]
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
[
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]
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
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]
References
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]
External links
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]
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