View source for Greatest Hits Radio North East

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2016}}
{{Infobox radio station
| name = Greatest Hits Radio North East
| logo = 
| city = [[Newcastle upon Tyne|Newcastle]]
| country = United Kingdom
| area = [[North East England|North East]]
| branding = ''The Good Times Sound Like This''<br />''Across The North East''
| airdate = March [[1989 in British radio|1989]]
| frequency = [[Digital Audio Broadcasting|DAB]]: 11C
| former_frequencies = 1152 MW
| former_names = Great North Radio<br />Magic 1152<br />Metro Radio 2<br />Metro 2 Radio
| format = [[Classic Hits]]
| network = [[Greatest Hits Radio]]
| power = 
| erp = 
| class = 
| callsign_meaning = 
| owner = [[Bauer Media Audio UK]]
| sister_stations = [[Hits Radio North East]]<br />[[Hits Radio Teesside]]<br />[[Greatest Hits Radio Teesside]]
| website = [https://planetradio.co.uk/greatest-hits/north-east/ GHR North East]
| coordinates = 
}}

'''Greatest Hits Radio North East''' is an [[Independent Local Radio]] station, based in [[Newcastle upon Tyne|Newcastle]], England,  owned and operated by [[Bauer Media Audio UK|Bauer]] as part of the [[Greatest Hits Radio]] network. It broadcasts to [[North East England]].

==History==
{{Main|Great North Radio}}
[[File:Magic 1152 Logo 2013.png|thumb|Magic 1152 logo used from 1998 to 2015.]]
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:Metro2Radio logo.png|thumb|Metro 2 logo used from 2015 to 2019.]] -->

'''Great North Radio''' (also known as '''G.N.R''') was formed in March 1989 using the [[AM broadcasting|AM]] frequencies of [[Metro Radio]] and [[Radio Tees]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Great North Radio - The Station|url=http://northeastradio.co.uk/Great_%20North_%20Radio_The_Station%20.html|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071009171735/http://northeastradio.co.uk/Great_%20North_%20Radio_The_Station%20.html|archive-date=2007-10-09|website=Northeast Radio}}</ref> This happened after the [[Metro Radio Group]] decided to split the FM and AM frequencies up.

GNR's output consisted of mellow music from the 1950s through to the 1980s, including current hits that fitted the format. There were also specialist programmes each evening, including Country Music, Jazz, and Classical.

In 1996, [[Emap]] bought Metro Radio and at the start of 1997, Emap decided to scrap Great North Radio and replaced it with local stations under the brand name of ''Magic'', with a new format of [[Adult contemporary music|Hot Adult Contemporary]] music. Magic 1152 launched on 19 February 1998.

In December 2001, Emap decided that it was more economical for the Magic network to share off-peak programmes and in line with the other Magic AM stations began networking between 10am-2pm, and 7pm-6am. During these hours it was simply known as Magic, although there were local commercial breaks, and local news on the hour.

In January 2003, after a sharp decline in listening, the station ceased networking with the London station, [[Magic 105.4]], and a regional northern network was created with [[Piccadilly Magic 1152|Manchester's Magic 1152]] at the hub at the weekend and the Newcastle station as the hub during the week. This arrangement remained until 2006, when all network programmes were broadcast from Newcastle. During networked hours, local adverts are aired, as well as a local [[news]] summary on the hour during the day. IRN is taken in the evening and overnight.

From July 2006, more networking was introduced across the Northern Magic AM network leaving just the legal minimum of 4 hours a day of programming - the breakfast show - presented from the local studios. All other programming was networked from [[Newcastle upon Tyne|Newcastle]] however some is also produced in [[Greater Manchester|Manchester]] and now [[London]].

On 4 March 2013, the one remaining local show - weekday breakfast - became a syndicated regional programme as on this day the programme, presented by Anna Foster, started broadcasting on Teesside sister station [[Magic 1170]].<ref>[http://radiotoday.co.uk/2013/02/magic-am-starts-networking-at-breakfast/ Magic AM starts networking at breakfast] Radio Today, 15 February 2013</ref> The regional breakfast show was axed in December 2014 ahead of the launch of Metro 2 and all programming is networked with the other Bauer AM stations in the North although local news, weather and travel continue to be broadcast as opt-outs during the day.

On 7 January 2019, Metro 2 rebranded as Greatest Hits Radio North East.<ref>[https://radiotoday.co.uk/2018/11/bauer-media-to-launch-greatest-hits-radio-network/ Bauer Media to launch Greatest Hits Radio network] Radio Today, 15 November 2018</ref>

On 12 November 2023, it was announced that the station would be closed on medium wave before the end of the year, but would continue on DAB.<ref>[https://radiotoday.co.uk/2023/11/bauer-to-turn-off-am-services-in-scotland-ireland-and-northern-england/ Bauer to turn off AM services in Scotland, Ireland and Northern England] Radio Today, 12 November 2023</ref>

==Programming==
The station carries primarily a schedule of networked programming, produced and broadcast from Bauer's [[Greatest Hits Manchester|Manchester]], [[Greatest Hits Liverpool|Liverpool]], [[Greatest Hits West Midlands|Birmingham]] and [[Clyde 2|Glasgow]] studios, and from Bauer's [[Golden Square]] headquarters in Soho.<ref>[http://radiotoday.co.uk/2014/12/schedule-released-for-bauer-city-2-stations/ Schedule released for Bauer City 2 stations] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141222203346/http://radiotoday.co.uk/2014/12/schedule-released-for-bauer-city-2-stations/ |date=22 December 2014 }}, RadioToday, 19 December 2014</ref>

Regional programming consisted of ''Night Owls'' with [[Alan Robson]], which was produced and broadcast from Bauer's Newcastle studios, airing each Sunday night until April 2022. This was syndicated with the sister station in [[Greatest Hits Radio Teesside|Teesside]].<ref>https://radiotoday.co.uk/2022/04/night-owls-to-end-on-greatest-hits-radio-north-east/ {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}}</ref>

===News===
Bauer’s Newcastle newsroom broadcasts local news bulletins during some hours. Headlines are broadcast on the half-hour during weekday breakfast and drivetime shows, alongside traffic bulletins. National bulletins from [[Sky News Radio]] are carried at other times.

The local news team in Newcastle also produces bulletins for [[Greatest Hits Radio Teesside]].

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Official website|https://planetradio.co.uk/greatest-hits/north-east/}}

{{Greatest Hits Radio}}
{{Radio stations in North East England}}

{{coord missing|Tyne and Wear}}

[[Category:Bauer Radio]]
[[Category:Greatest Hits Radio]]
[[Category:Mass media in Newcastle upon Tyne]]
[[Category:Radio stations in North East England]]
[[Category:Radio stations established in 1989]]