Hits Radio North East
Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use British English Template:Infobox radio station
Hits Radio North East, formerly Metro Radio, is an Independent Local Radio station, 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 September 2024, the station has a weekly audience of 338,000 listeners according to RAJAR.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
History
Launch as Metro Radio
The Newcastle-based station, broadcasting to North-East England, launched on 15 July 1974.Template:Citation needed 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
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 HouseTemplate:Sndnow known as 55° NorthTemplate:Sndnext 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.<ref>METRO RADIO TO MOVE INTO GAINSBOROUGH HOUSE, Adderstone Group, 21 April 2021</ref>
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 Newcastle and Sunderland games on sister station Magic 1152.
TFM co-location
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.<ref name=mergerradiotoday>TFM leaves Teesside to share with Metro, RadioToday, 5 April 2013</ref> 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).<ref>Leading MEP to demand action from Ofcom over TFM/Metro merger The Northern Echo, 7 April 2013</ref>
Hits Radio rebrand
On 17 April 2024 at 6am, Metro Radio was rebranded to Hits Radio North East, officially marking the end of the end of the Metro Radio brand after nearly 50 years of broadcasting.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The website for which had been replaced with the Hits Radio website earlier that morning.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The station's local news and regional output was not affected as a result of the relaunch at the time. The rebranding was part of a network-wide relaunch involving 17 Bauer-owned local radio stations in England and Wales.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
From 10-14 February 2025, no local breakfast programming was broadcast from studios in Newcastle. Instead, London-based networked programming was relayed. This was partially because of the new Media Act which now allows 24/7 programming from outside the broadcast area, and was the first time that Bauer has used the existing Hits Radio national station's breakfast show as cover, instead of a using a local cover presenter.<ref>Fleur East, James and Matt cover Steve and Karen at Hits Radio North East, Roy Martin, Radio Today, 12 February 2025</ref>
On 20 March 2025, Bauer announced it would end its regional Hits Radio breakfast show for the North East to be replaced by a new national breakfast show for England and Wales on 9 June 2025.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Local news and traffic bulletins continue and the station's Newcastle studios were retained.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The station's final regional programme aired on 6 June 2025<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> with breakfast presenters Steve Furnell and Karen Oxley moving to a national breakfast show on sister stations Hits Radio 90s, broadcast from Newcastle.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Programming
Hits Radio network programming is broadcast and produced from Bauer’s London headquarters or studios in Manchester & occasionally Newcastle.
News
Hits Radio North East broadcasts 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.<ref name=publicfile>Hits Radio - Public File - North East</ref>
Notable former presenters
- Allan Beswick (later with BBC Radio Lancashire, now retired)
- Rich Clarke (Heart South)
- Mark Goodier (BBC Radio 2)
- Pete Graves (Sky Sports News)
- Ingrid Hagemann
- Rod Lucas (Metro Radio)
- 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)
- Joel Ross (Rock FM)
- Lisa Shaw (deceased) <ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- Bill Steel
- Pip Tomson (Good Morning Britain)
- Clive Warren
- James Whale (deceased)
- Russ Williams (Nation Radio UK)
References
Further reading
- Paul Donovan. "Metro Radio". The Radio Companion. 1991. p 176. See also p 261.
- David Morton. "As Metro Radio is rebranded after half a century: 10 photos from the station’s early years". Chronicle Live. 20 January 2024.
- Eric Croston (ed). "Metro Radio". Television & Radio 1978. IBA. p 162.
External links
Template:Hits Radio Template:Radio stations in North East England