Bauer Ditches Local Name

Bauer Media are re-branding Key 103 in Manchester as Hits Radio, on the 4th June. This service will also replace The Hits, and existing national service. A local service, presumably with existing local breakfast and drive time shows will be available in Manchester, with a national version carried elsewhere.

The Hits for a time, aligned with Bauer’s local brands forming a small network of ‘3’ stations in Scotland and Northern England, but has remained as The Hits on Freeview throughout.

This news comes after increasing cost cutting measures across Bauer’s radio stations, with Northsound 2 going digital only, and a reduction in Absolute Radio’s medium wave network about to take place. There has also been increases in the amount of Network programmes on some stations.

UPDATE: Hits Radio will also provide networked programmes all Bauer FM stations, including mid-morning, afternoon, and evening shows. Gethin Jones, and Dave Vitty will join Gemma Atkinson on the Manchester breakfast show, with Wes Butters hosting the Drivetime show. Mike Toolan moves to mid-mornings across the network. This explains the recently introduced ‘All The Hits on …’ slogan on the existing Bauer City network stations.