Global Radio own more local commercial radio stations in the UK than any other company, and in a bid to consolodate, they’re looking to re-brand nearly 30 of their local stations to either “Heart” or “Galaxy”.
Local radio stations set to lose their identities include: 2-Ten FM, Chiltern Radio, Essex FM, GWR, Hereward, Invicta FM, 2CR, Marcher, Fox FM, Broadland and SGR. Stations that have worked hard to establish a local identity and brand.
These changes are due to happen in the next 12 to 18 months.
More on this story: Heart-Broken about UK radio
Its a shame that that radio names such as SGR, Broadland and Essex FM are going to turn into Heart or Galaxy. I grew listening to SGR and remember when it was Radio Orwell! But to be honest SGR has got very boring and lost most of its local-ness by only doing two shows for Suffolk. And had a vain attempt to get listeners by out bidding BBC Radio Suffolk for the Ipswich Town football games, has managed to annoy lots of fans by poor comantary and coverage.
Its pobably a good more to loose the names – hopfully somone wll be able to use them in the future to run a decent local station as SGR was 10-15 years ago and not just a poor quality natioanl radio wannabe
Chris