Timeline of Bauer Media Audio UK

A timeline of notable events relating to Bauer Media Audio UK, a British media company established as a division of German company Bauer Media Group in 2008.

2000s
  • 2008
    • 29 January – Bauer completes its purchase of Emap's radio, television and consumer media businesses for £1.14bn.[1]
  • 2009
    • No events.

2010s
  • 2010
    • No events.
  • 2011
    • No events.
  • 2012
    • No events.
  • 2013
    • 6 February – Bauer Media buys the digital station Planet Rock for a sum estimated to be between £1m and £2m.[2]
    • 15 April – Bauer increases networking on its Yorkshire Magic stations with a networked breakfast show coming from Magic 828 in Leeds.[3]
    • 1 July – Bauer's Scottish MW stations start to receive a networked breakfast show from Glasgow presented by Robin Galloway. Consequently, there is now no local programming on any of these stations.[4]
    • 29 July – Bauer Media Group announces that it intends to purchase Absolute Radio from The Times Group for an amount believed to be between £20m and £25m, pending regulatory approval.[5]
  • 2014
    • No events.
  • 2015
    • 5 January –
    • 31 March – Ofcom launches an investigation into Bauer Media and Absolute Radio for an alleged breach of its regulations, but no details of the incident are to be released until the investigation is complete.[7]
    • 7 December – Following permission from the regulator, Bauer swaps Radio City 2's format and frequencies with that of Radio City Talk. This gives City Network 2 its first berth on FM in England.[8][9]
  • 2016
    • 15 March – Mellow Magic begins broadcasting on the Sound Digital multiplex and is joined by another Magic spin-off, Magic Chilled on the 28th.
    • 6 May – Orion Media announces that they have been bought by Bauer for an undisclosed fee, reportedly between £40 and £50 million.[10][11] This gives Bauer the West Midlands network of Free Radio stations and East Midlands regional station Gem 106.
  • 2017
    • 3 January – Bauer Radio's Cash for Kids appeal raises £15.5 million for charity.[12]
  • 2018
    • 3 April – Aberdeen station Northsound 2 stops broadcasting on MW. The station continues to broadcast on DAB and online. It becomes the first commercial radio station in Scotland – and the first of Bauer's local stations – to cease analogue broadcasting.[13]
    • 18 April – Bauer Radio announces that, on 4 June, its Manchester station Key 103 will be rebranded and relaunched as Hits Radio, a CHR-led music station aimed at 25–44 year olds.[14] The station will be merged with The Hits to provide a single national service across the UK on DAB, Freeview and online.[15] In Manchester, Hits Radio will continue to provide local news and information, traffic bulletins and advertising.[16] Hits Radio will also produce and broadcast off-peak programming for Bauer's network of CHR local stations which will continue to air local programming at peak times.
    • 25 May – Ahead of the launch of Hits Radio on 4 June, the name Key 103 disappears from the Manchester airwaves.
    • 4 June – Following the renaming of Key 103 to Hits Radio, Key 2 is renamed Key Radio.
    • 16 August – Bauer Radio purchases Jazz FM.[17]
  • 2019
    • 7 January –
    • 5 February – it is announced that Bauer has acquired over thirty further stations to its network by way of the purchase of Lincs FM Group and Celador Radio. Several of the purchased stations, including KCFM in East Yorkshire, are sold on to Nation Broadcasting due to overlap with existing Bauer assets (in KCFM's case, Viking FM.)[20]
    • 8 February – The Wireless Group sells its network of local radio stations in England and Wales to Bauer Media.[21]
    • 4 March – Launch of classical music station Scala Radio.[22]
    • 5 March – Bauer purchases the ten FM stations owned by UKRD. The deal includes the purchase of three local DAB multiplexes.[23]
    • 5 April – Bauer launches Country Hits Radio which is broadcast on a number of local DAB multiplexes.
    • 2 September – Bauer begins to network its Hits Radio Manchester weekday drivetime show on all but one of its Hits Radio stations in England, leaving only the weekday breakfast show as a local show,[24] following the removal in July of the one remaining local weekend programme.[25]
    • 18 November – Absolute Radio launches its sixth decades-only station, Absolute Radio 10s which, unlike its sister stations, operates exclusively online.[26]
    • 21 November – Bauer launches Magic at the Musicals on DAB+ in and around London. Presenters include Ruthie Henshall and Jonathan Bailey.[27]

2020s
  • 2020
    • 24 February – Absolute Radio 20s launches as an online station..
    • 14 April – Bauer Radio takes full control of Celador Radio, Lincs FM Group, Wireless Group local stations and UKRD Group.
    • 1 May – Bauer Radio takes 100% share in First Radio Sales.
    • 27 May – Bauer announces that the majority of the stations it acquired from UKRD, Lincs, Wireless and Celador will be joining the Greatest Hits Radio network from September, clustered to provide regional programming outside of network hours. Four of the acquired stations will join the Hits Radio network, retaining local names and a daily breakfast show, and three stations – Lincs FM, Pirate FM and SAM FM Bristol – will continue as largely standalone stations.[28]
    • 31 May – Liverpool speech station Radio City Talk closes.[29]
    • 30 June – Bauer switches off the MW transmitters which had been carrying Absolute Classic Rock since the start of 2019. Consequently, Bauer is no longer broadcasting on MW in the West Midlands.
    • 20 July – Pulse 1, Signal 1, The Wave 96.4 and Fire Radio become part of the Hits Radio network with all programming, apart from weekday breakfast, networked.[30] All four stations retain their station name.
    • 28 August – Bauer launches Hits Radio Pride, aimed at the LGBTQ+ community.[31] This is the first time that a major radio broadcaster in the United Kingdom has launched a station that is targeted to the LGBTQ+ community.
    • 31 August – Bauer closes Leeds station Radio Aire after 39 years on air. Its frequency is, from the following day, used to carry Greatest Hits Radio.[32]
    • 1 September – The majority of the stations that Bauer Media acquired the previous year from UKRD[33] – Lincs FM Group,[34] Wireless Group[21] and Celador Radio[35] – join Greatest Hits Radio, clustered to provide regional programming outside of network hours, consisting of three hours each weekday teatime.[36] All of the affected stations lose their individual station names.
    • 29 September – Bauer Radio launches a campaign to support The Prince's Trust, spearheaded by Magic Radio.[37]
    • 10 November – Ofcom approves two regional changes for Bauer Radio licences, allowing it to switch two licences to different regions.[38]
    • 16 November – Following Bauer's purchase of The Revolution, the east Manchester station is closed and its frequency transferred to Greatest Hits Radio, thereby giving Greatest Hits Radio Manchester its first berth on FM.[39]
  • 2021
    • 24 February – Bauer Media enters into an agreement to buy Communicorp, the Ireland-based company that owns brands including Today FM and Newstalk. The agreement is subject to approval from the regulator, and excludes Communicorp's UK radio stations which are operated under the Global name.[40]
    • 2 March – Bauer Media receives Ofcom approval to network all programming between CFM and other Bauer stations in the north west.[41]
    • 7 March – Ofcom gives Bauer Radio approval to add its newly acquired Plymouth licence to its South West Approved Area of radio stations.[42]
    • 31 March – Following the death of Sarah Everard, Bauer Radio streams a special panel show titled We Need to Talk About Women's Safety simultaneously across its stations at 8pm.[43]
    • 26 April – Bauer switches off its medium wave frequencies in Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Lees and Humberside, following the launch of Greatest Hits Radio on FM in those areas.[44]
    • 4 May – Bauer Radio announces plans to launch premium online subscription services to compliment Scala Radio, Jazz FM, Planet Rock and Kerrang! Radio, with an extra 20 stations available ad-free and with extra content.[45]
    • 17 May
      • Country Hits Radio is renamed as Absolute Radio Country and made part of the Absolute Radio Network.[46]
      • Greatest Hits Radio launches on FM in London, on the frequency that carried Absolute Radio. Bauer is able to make the change following permission from Ofcom to swap Absolute Radio with Greatest Hits Radio.[47]
      • Bauer Radio is granted regulatory approval to purchase Communicorp, with the deal completing on 31 May.[48]
    • 1 June – Bauer Media announces the completion of its acquisition of CommuniCorp.[49]
    • 17 June – Bauer purchases Stockport-based Imagine FM and announces it will add the three licences it purchases to the Greatest Hits Radio network,[50] further expanding GHR's coverage of the Greater Manchester environs and into north Derbyshire (where GHR already occupies the former Peak FM). The switch takes place on 1 September 2021.
    • 25 September – Bauer Radio becomes Bauer Media Audio UK.
  • 2022
    • 16 February – The online output of Bauer Radio's stations goes down for around half an hour just before 8am because of an internal update to their streaming service.[51]
    • 27 May –
      • Bauer Media announce plans to launch a subscription service for Absolute Radio and KISS, allowing listeners to access commercial-free content for a monthly fee.[52]
      • The RadioToday website reports that Bauer Radio is refurbishing the studios of Wave 105 near Southampton in preparation for it to become the company's South Broadcast Centre.[53]
    • 14 July – Bauer Media launches a subscription service for Absolute Radio and KISS, allowing listeners to access commercial free content for a monthly fee as well as brand spin-off stations, such as Absolute Radio Acoustic and Absolute Radio Classic Country.[52][54]
    • 19 September –
    • 24 October – Bauer Media moves Radio Borders from Galashiels to the new Edinburgh headquarters. News, sport and weather, as well as Greg and Lynsey at Breakfast will continue to broadcast to the Radio Borders area.[57]
    • 14 November – Launch of Absolute Radio Terrace Anthems, Absolute Radio Movies and Absolute Radio 50s on Absolute Radio Premium.[58]
  • 2023
    • 23 January – Absolute Radio is to stop broadcasting on AM.[59] Consequently, Absolute Radio will become a digital-only station.[60]
    • 14 February – Ofcom revokes the mediumwave licence from Absolute Radio following Bauer's decision to cease broadcasting on its AM frequency.[61]
    • 20 March – Bauer launches a regional Greatest Hits Radio service for Cambridge, Peterborough and Suffolk on DAB ahead of proposed changes to its FM frequencies in the area.[62]
    • 3 April –
    • 1 June – Bauer Media is fined £25,000 by Ofcom for turning off Absolute Radio's mediumwave frequency.[66]
    • 1 July – Simon Myciunka succeeds Dee Ford as CEO of Bauer Media Audio UK.[67]
    • 11 July – Ofcom gives Bauer Media permission to change KISS Radio to Greatest Hits Radio on three of its four FM frequencies in the East of England. Kiss will continue on FM in Norwich.[68]
    • 17 July – Bauer Media announces plans to acquire the Jack FM licences in Oxfordshire,[69] something that will lead to the 106.4FM, 106.8FM and 107.9FM frequencies being rebranded, possibly as Hits Radio and Greatest Hits Radio, following the acquisition, subject to regluatory approval.[70]
    • 1 August – Bauer signs a deal with Audible to promote its content.[71]
    • 11 August – Bauer signs a deal with Samsung to become the sponsors of the Magic Radio Breakfast Show.[72]
    • 4 September –
    • 26 September –
      • Bauer announces that it is switching its stations which broadcast on the Sound Digital multiplex to the DAB+ format to make way for the national launch seven more stations – Absolute Radio Country, Absolute Classic Rock, Kerrang!, heat, Magic Chilled, Magic Soul, and Magic at the Musicals. The changes will happen later in the autumn.[75][76]
      • Vivian Mohr is appointed as President of Bauer Media Audio UK, replacing Richard Dawkins.[77]
    • 2 October – Gem 106's FM frequency switches over to Greatest Hits Radio while Gem continues to broadcast on DAB.[78]
    • 23 October – Bauer introduces Hits Radio programming to Lincs FM with the single exception being its breakfast show, which remains a local programme.[79]
    • 30 October – Bauer launches Greatest Hits Radio and Hits Radio in Oxfordshire, replacing Jack FM.[80]

See also

References
  1. "Emap sells magazines and radio divisions to Bauer for £1.14bn". Campaign Live. 7 December 2007. Retrieved 11 June 2016.
  2. Plunkett, John (6 February 2013). "Planet Rock bought by Bauer Media". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
  3. "Bauer networks three more Magic stations". 12 April 2013. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  4. Galloway goes national at Bauer Scotland, Radio Today, 3 June 2013
  5. O'Carroll, Lisa (29 July 2013). "Bauer Media buys Absolute Radio". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
  6. Martin, Roy (5 January 2015). "Bauer puts Magic on D1, puts Absolute in mono". Radio Today. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
  7. Martin, Roy (30 March 2015). "Ofcom launches Absolute Radio investigation". Radio Today. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  8. Radio City wants to swap AM & FM services, RadioToday, 21 July 2015
  9. Date set for Radio City 2 and 3 frequency swap, RadioToday, 16 November 2015
  10. Bauer buys radio group Orion Media, The Guardian, 6 May 2016
  11. Orion Media sold to Bauer for £50m, The Telegraph, 6 May 2016
  12. "£15.5m raised for children in poverty by Bauer". Radio Today. 3 January 2017. Retrieved 21 January 2017.
  13. Northsound 2 to switch off AM radio service, Radio Today, 8 March 2018
  14. Bauer to launch new national radio station Archived 2018-04-19 at the Wayback Machine, Bauer Media, 18 April 2018
  15. Key 103 to become Hits Radio as part of major rebrand Archived 2018-04-19 at the Wayback Machine, Prolific North, 18 April 2018
  16. Key 103 to rebrand as Hits Radio and go national Archived 2018-04-19 at the Wayback Machine, Radio Today, 19 April 2018
  17. Martin, Roy (16 August 2018). "Bauer Media Group agrees to acquire Jazz FM". Radio Today. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
  18. Bauer Media to launch Greatest Hits Radio network Radio Today, 15 November 2018
  19. BAUER MEDIA TO LAUNCH THE GREATEST HITS RADIO NETWORK Bauer Media, 15 November 2018
  20. "Bauer Media continues to grow with two acquisitions". 5 February 2019. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  21. "Bauer buys Wireless Group's local radio stations". 8 February 2019. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
  22. "Simon Mayo to launch classical station Scala Radio after leaving Radio 2". BBC News. BBC. 21 January 2019. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
  23. "BAUER MEDIA UK TO ACQUIRE UKRD GROUP". Bauer Media. 5 March 2019.
  24. "Bauer to network drivetime across 11 licences in North and Midlands". 5 August 2019. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  25. Hits Radio Network stations drop local weekend programmes, Radio Today, 30 May 2019
  26. Martin, Roy (18 November 2019). "Bauer to launch Absolute Radio 10s online". Radio Today. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  27. "Bauer to launch Magic at the Musicals on DAB+". 14 November 2019. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  28. "Most of acquired Bauer stations to become Greatest Hits Radio". 27 May 2020. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  29. "Bauer announces plans to close Radio City Talk in Liverpool". Radio Today. 7 May 2020. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  30. Bauer starts to roll out Hits and Greatest Hits to new radio stations Stuart Clarkson, Radio Today, 9 July 2020
  31. "Hits Radio Pride pop-up station to launch on DAB". 29 July 2020. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  32. Radio Aire to become Greatest Hits Radio, Radio Today, 16 July 2020
  33. "BAUER MEDIA UK TO ACQUIRE UKRD GROUP". Bauer Media. 5 March 2019. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
  34. "Bauer Media acquires Lincs FM Group". 5 February 2019. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
  35. "Bauer Media continues to grow with two acquisitions". 5 February 2019. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
  36. "Most of acquired Bauer stations to become Greatest Hits Radio". 27 May 2020.
  37. "Bauer stations to support The Prince's Trust". 29 September 2020. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  38. "Ofcom approves two Bauer area change requests". 10 November 2020. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
  39. Martin, Roy (22 October 2020). "Revolution 96.2 sold to Bauer for Greatest Hits Radio". Radio Today. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  40. "Bauer Media set to acquire Ireland's Communicorp Group". 25 February 2021. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
  41. "CFM gains approval for full North West networking". 2 March 2021. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  42. "Plymouth allowed to join Bauer's SW Approved Area". 7 March 2021. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
  43. "Bauer radio brands to Talk About Women's Safety". 31 March 2021. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  44. "Bauer to turn off four AM transmitters in the North". 25 February 2021. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  45. "Bauer to launch ad-free premium radio spin-offs". 4 May 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  46. "Country Hits Radio is rebranding to Absolute Radio Country". 10 February 2021. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  47. "Greatest Hits Radio approved for London 105.8FM". 25 March 2021.
  48. "Bauer given approval to purchase Communicorp Group". 14 May 2021. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  49. "Bauer completes acquisition of Communicorp in Ireland". 1 June 2021. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  50. "Bauer buys Imagine to extend Greatest Hits Radio". 17 June 2021. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  51. "Bauer Media Audio radio stations go offline at breakfast time". 16 February 2022. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
  52. "Absolute Radio and KISS to offer premium services for monthly fee". 27 May 2022. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  53. "Wave 105 moves to former Celador site during refurbishment". 27 May 2022. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  54. "Absolute Radio and KISS to launch premium subscription services". 27 May 2022.
  55. "Nation Broadcasting removes Bauer branding from its stations". 13 July 2022. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
  56. "Wave 105's Poole transmitter to become Greatest Hits Radio". 13 July 2022. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
  57. "Radio Borders to close local studios and move to Edinburgh". 14 October 2022. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
  58. Martin, Roy (14 November 2022). "Bauer launches three more Absolute Radio spin-off stations". Retrieved 14 November 2022.
  59. "How you listen to Absolute Radio could be changing". Planet Radio. Bauer Media Group. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  60. Martin, Roy (4 January 2023). "Absolute Radio to switch off all AM transmitters across the UK". Radio Today. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  61. "Absolute Radio's national AM licence revoked by Ofcom". 14 February 2023. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  62. "Greatest Hits Radio to replace KISS in Cambridgeshire and Suffolk". Radio Today. 1 March 2023. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  63. Bauer to rebrand seven heritage Scottish stations to Greatest Hits Radio
  64. "Radio Borders to rebrand as Greatest Hits Radio from April". RadioToday. 31 January 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  65. "Lincs FM to lose its FM frequencies for Greatest Hits Radio". Radio Today. 1 March 2023. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  66. Martin, Roy (1 June 2023). "Bauer handed £25,000 fine after turning off Absolute Radio's AM transmitters". Radio Today. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
  67. Martin, Roy (10 May 2023). "Simon Myciunka to replace Dee Ford as Bauer Media Audio UK CEO". Radio Today. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  68. Martin, Roy (11 July 2023). "Ofcom allows Greatest Hits Radio to replace KISS in the east of England". Radio Today. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
  69. Bauer Media to extend FM distribution within Oxfordshire with acquisition of the Jack Media Oxfordshire Ltd’s local stations
  70. Martin, Roy (17 July 2023). "JACK fm licences in Oxfordshire to be acquired by Bauer Media". Radio Today. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  71. Collins, Steve (1 August 2023). "Bauer to promote Audible's podcasts and audiobooks in new deal". Radio Today. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  72. Martin, Roy (11 August 2023). "Bauer signs Samsung as Magic Radio breakfast show sponsor". Radio Today. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
  73. Martin, Roy (29 August 2023). "Greatest Hits Radio gets local content in Kent and Northern Ireland". Radio Today. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  74. "Hits Radio extends network Drive show to Bristol and the South Coast". Radio Today. 30 August 2023. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  75. Mcdonald, Beth (26 September 2023). "Bauer Media Audio UK to launch services on DAB+". Retrieved 27 September 2023.
  76. "Bauer to switch national radio services to DAB+ and take seven extra stations national on SDL". Radio Today. 26 September 2023. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
  77. "Vivian Mohr to replace Richard Dawkins as President of Bauer Media Audio". Radio Today. 26 September 2023. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
  78. "Gem to go digital only as Greatest Hits Radio gets ready to take over 106FM". Radio Today. 29 August 2023. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  79. "Lincs FM to take Hits Radio Network shows outside breakfast". Radio Today. 16 October 2023. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  80. "JACK fm to disappear after 15 years as GHR confirmed for Oxfordshire". Radio Today. 3 October 2023. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
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