Wikipedia

Smooth Radio (2014)

This article is about the network of UK radio stations launched in 2014. For the national station launched in 2010, seeSmooth Radio (2010).For the Australian stations named Smooth, seeSmoothfm.

Smooth Radiois a network oflocal radiostations broadcasting onFMandDABin theUnited Kingdom.It retains one outlet onAM.Smooth Radio previously featured asoft adult contemporaryradio formatbut has introduced more upbeat music since 2023. Launched in March 2014, it replacedthe national Smooth Radio that had launched in 2010on FM and DAB, and most outlets ofGoldon AM.

Smooth Radio
Broadcast areaUnited Kingdom
FrequencyFM:97.2 MHz–107.7 MHz
AM:1260 kHz (North Wales and Cheshire only)
DAB:10B–12D
Sky(UK only): 0124
Virgin Media:916
Freeview:718
Freesat:732
RDSSmooth
BrandingAlways The Best Music
Programming
FormatSoft Adult Contemporary
Ownership
OwnerGlobal
Smooth Chill• Smooth Country • Smooth Relax • Smooth 70s • Smooth 80s • Smooth Soul[1]
History
First air date
4 March 1990 (As Jazz FM)
4 October 2010 (As Smooth Radio)
Links
Websitewww.smoothradio

Each FM station broadcasts localised breakfast with networked showssimulcastfrom London at all other times. Four of the seven FM stations, and the one surviving AM frequency, are owned and operated byGlobal,with the remaining three FM licences owned byCommunicorp UKand run as afranchise.

According toRAJAR,the network broadcasts to a combined weekly audience of 6.6 million with a listening share of 4.1% as of September 2024.

In January 2023, Smooth introduced a new logo and slogan, "Always the best music".[2]

Background and History

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For further information on the background to the current network, see102.2 Jazz FM,102.2 Smooth FM,andSmooth Radio (2010).

Having previously operated under a number of regional licences, Smooth Radio's owners,GMG Radio,merged its five English stations into one quasi-national station, launching the brand on theDigital OnenationalDABnetwork on 4 October 2010. Most of the output was broadcast fromSalford QuaysinManchester,with other programming coming from Castlereagh Street in London.[3]

On 25 June 2012, GMG Radio's owners,Guardian Media Group,sold its radio division toGlobalat an estimated price of between £50 million and £70 million.[4][5][a]Global renamed GMG Radio "Real and Smooth Radio Ltd."[7]Several rival radio groups expressed their concerns over the takeover and the effect it could have on commercial radio in the UK.[8]Ofcom launched a review of the sale, and it was announced that GMG Radio and Global would continue to operate as separate entities while the review was conducted.[9]On 3 August theCulture SecretaryJeremy Huntinstructed Ofcom and theOffice of Fair Trading(OFT) to examine Global's purchase of GMG, which gave Global over 50% of the UK radio market because of concerns the takeover may not be in the public interest.[10]On 11 October, the OFT concluded that the merger could lead to a rise in local advertising costs because of the decrease in competitors, and forwarded the matter to theCompetition Commission,which oversees business mergers and takeovers.[11]On the same day the Competition Commission announced it would publish its findings into the takeover by 27 March 2013.[12]

The Competition Commission published its final report into the acquisition on 21 May 2013, requiring Global to sell radio stations in seven locations.[13][b]Global appealed the decision, but this was rejected by the Competition Appeal Tribunal in November.[14]Global announced in December that it would not contest the decision, and would instead begin the process of selling the assets as directed by the commission.[15]On 4 February 2014, theRadio Todaywebsite reported that Ofcom had given Global permission to remove Smooth from the Digital One platform, and to replace it with a service playing music from the 1970s, 80s and 90s.[16]Under this agreement, Smooth would continue to broadcast on its regional frequencies, but would be required to provide seven hours of local output per day.[16]On 6 February, Global confirmed the sale of eight of its regional stations—including those with the Smooth Radio brand in the North West, North East and East Midlands—to the Irish media holdings companyCommunicorp.[17][18][c]Under a franchising agreement between the two firms, these stations would retain the Smooth Radio name, but relaunch airing a mixture of both regional content and networked programming from London. Smooth would also take over Gold's medium wave frequencies, except in London, Manchester and the East Midlands.[18][19][20]Global announced later that month that Smooth would be relaunched on 3 March,[21]and subsequently confirmed the Gold changes would take effect from 24 March, when the stations would begin simulcasting with Smooth Radio London.[22]This also coincided with the return of local programming at breakfast and drivetime.[23]

On 5 March 2018, Global added the former Lakeland Radio station to the network asSmooth Lake Districtfollowing its purchase from the CN Group for an undisclosed fee.[24]

Local weekend afternoon programming ended on 25 August 2019.Angie Greaveswas announced as the new host of the nationalSmooth Drive Home,which began broadcasting on 2 September.[25]

In October 2020, the AM frequencies which carried Smooth Radio in Cardiff and Newport were switched off because the site from which they are transmitted was being redeveloped,[26]and the following month, Smooth Radio switched off its mediumwave frequencies in Luton and Bedford.[27]

On 30 June 2023, Global switched off the AM frequencies which carried Smooth in Dorset, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Suffolk, Norfolk, Essex and Plymouth, with Sussex following suit three months later. All these localised versions of Smooth are continuing on DAB.[28]In late April 2024, the Hampshire and Kent medium wave frequencies were also switched off[29]and the North Wales and Cheshire relay will follow later in 2024.[30]

Current notable presenters

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List of Smooth Radio stations

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The Smooth network comprises 24 stations:[32]

Stations across the UK

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FM stations produce and broadcast local programming from local studios from 6-10am weekdays. The one surviving AM station in Wales carries networked programming content as broadcast from London, with the exception of a local opt-out programme from noon to 4pm on weekdays, as it had done under Gold. Many of the analogue stations, but not all, are also on DAB where this is provided in their coverage area. Digital TV platforms carry theSmooth UKversion of Smooth, also now transmitted nationwide onDigital Onein DAB+ – this carries the network programming output of Smooth London at all times, with national news and advertising.

FM radio stations

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FM stations
Station FM DAB
Smooth East Midlands(franchise) 97.2, 101.4, 106.6, 106.8 & 107.4 10B (Derby)
11B (Leicester)
12C (Notts)
Smooth Lake District 100.1, 100.8 & 101.4 11B (North LancsandSouth Cumbria)
Smooth London 102.2 12C (London)
Smooth North East(franchise) 97.5, 101.2, 107.5 & 107.7 11B (Teesside)
11C (Tyne & Wear)
Smooth North West(franchise) 100.4 10C (Liverpool)
12A (Lancashire)
12C (Manchester)
Smooth Scotland 105.2 (Glasgow) 11CGlasgow
12DEdinburgh
Smooth West Midlands 105.7 11B (Wolverhampton, Shrewsbury and Telford)
11C (Birmingham)
12D (Coventry)

AM radio stations

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AM stations
Station AM DAB
Smooth North Wales and Cheshire 1260 AM (Wrexham, Chester and Shropshire) 10D:North West Wales/12D:North West Wales

The Smooth AM frequencies inPeterboroughandNorthampton,which had switched from Gold to Smooth as part of the 2014 reallocation, reverted to carrying Gold programming in 2019 as a result of Communicorp's relaunch ofConnect FMas part ofSmooth East Midlands.[33]

The AM transmitters serving Wiltshire, Dorset, Plymouth, Gloucestershire, Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex ceased broadcasting on 30 June 2023, alongside the Gold network transmitters in the Midlands and East, and Smooth's AM transmissions in Sussex ceased three months later. Medium wave transmissions in Hampshire and Kent ceased in late April 2024, and those in North Wales and Cheshire will end later in 2024. In most of the affected areas, transmission of Smooth via alternate means, such as DAB, has continued.[34]

DAB (former AM areas)

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In several areas, local Smooth services have ceased transmitting on AM (usually due to the closure of transmitter sites) but continued to be provided on digital radio. These variants, being the siblings of Heart/Capital stations which remain available on FM, continue to follow the AM model of localised advertising and information alongside networked programming content, rather than taking Smooth UK as heard in other areas served only via digital radio.

  • Smooth Berkshire and North Hampshire – was on 1431 and 1485 AM (switched off 15 May 2015)[35]
  • Smooth Bristol and Bath – was on 1260 AM (switched off 10 February 2016)
  • Smooth Herts, Beds and Bucks – was on 792 on 828 AM (switched off 2 November 2020)
  • Smooth South Wales– was on 1305 and 1359 AM (switched off 12 October 2020)
  • Smooth Dorset - was on 828 AM (switched off 29 June 2023)
  • Smooth Essex - was on 1359/1431 AM (switched off 28 June 2023)
  • Smooth Gloucester - was on 774 AM (switched off 28 June 2023)
  • Smooth Hampshire - was on 1170 / 1557 AM (switched off late April 2024)
  • Smooth Kent - was on 603 and 1242 AM (switched off late April 2024)
  • Smooth Norfolk - was on 1152 AM (switched off 28 June 2023)
  • Smooth Suffolk - was on 1170 and 1251 AM (switched off 27 June 2023)
  • Smooth Sussex - was on 945 and 1323 AM (switched off 30 September 2023)
  • Smooth Plymouth - was on 1152 AM (switched off 29 June 2023)
  • Smooth Wiltshire - was on 936 and 1161 AM (switched off 30 June 2023)

In addition, the former Gold in Exeter/Torbay, which continued to operate on DAB after the closure of its AM transmission, transitioned to Smooth with the rest of the AM network in 2014.

Smooth UK

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Sister stations

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Smooth Country

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Acountry music radio stationwhich, having launched as an online stream through Global Player and the Smooth website in March 2019, was established as a broadcast radio service[36]on 3 September 2019. It has a presented weekday daytime show (hosted at launch by Eamonn Kelly, who also presents on Smooth Radio) and the service was added to a number of local DAB multiplexes, replacingThe Arrowin London,Chillin the East Midlands, andGoldelsewhere.

Smooth Chill

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Main article:Smooth Chill (UK radio station)

This mellow andchillout musicservice launched on 3 September 2019,[37]replacingChillin the Global portfolio. The station is available in the DAB+ format in London, and was made available online through Global Player (which had not carried the prior Chill service) and the Smooth Radio website, with the Chill URL redirected to point to the Smooth site. The station re-launched nationally on 8 April 2020 on Digital One, broadcasting in 32kbps DAB+.[38]

Smooth Relax

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Following the conversion ofClassic FMtoDAB+the prior week, capacity became available for the addition toDigital Oneon 8 January 2024 of a new soft adult contemporary service under the Smooth network.[39]Smooth Relax reuses the format and slogan of"Your rela xing music mix",previously used by the main Smooth Radio network before its transition into playing a broader range of classic hits in the"Always the best music"era.

Smooth 70s

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Launched on 12 September 2024 alongside Smooth 80s and Smooth Soul, Smooth 70s follows the samesoft adult-contemporaryformat as Smooth Radio, but instead exclusively music from the1970sera. The station has no presenters and broadcasts a 24/7, automated output.

Smooth 80s

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Launched on 12 September 2024 alongside Smooth 70s and Smooth Soul, Smooth 80s follows the samesoft adult-contemporaryformat as Smooth Radio, but instead exclusively plays music from the1980sera. The station broadcasts a mostly automated output, with a weekday breakfast show being hosted by a presenter.[40]

Smooth Soul

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Launched on 12 September 2024 alongside Smooth 70s and Smooth 80s, Smooth Soul is a station dedicated toSoulmusic. The station has no presenters and broadcasts a 24/7, automated output.

Smooth Extra

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Smooth Radio also operatedSmooth Extra,with the sloganYour Refreshing Music Mix.The station transmitted its own non-stop music output from 10am to 6pm every day, and relayed Smooth London at other times.

Smooth Extra launched in December 2014 as a result of the removal of the prior network Smooth service fromDigital One(during November and December the slot had been used for Smooth Christmas). Originally broadcast in mono in the traditional DAB format, Smooth Extra andHeart Extraswitched to stereo DAB+ transmission in summer 2019, enabling the addition ofGoldandHeart Danceto theDigital Onemultiplex in the released capacity.

Smooth Extra was also broadcast on the Sky satellite TV system (channel 0146) from 1 October 2015, taking over the slot fromThe Arrow(which had itself replacedReal Radiothere the year before, due to Real Radio stations becoming Heart). Smooth Extra was replaced by Heart Dance on 7 October 2019.

Smooth Extra andHeart Extraclosed at midnight on Thursday 12 March 2020 and was replaced with a national feed of Smooth on Digital One.[41]

Smooth Christmas

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Originally launched on DAB during the weeks preceding Christmas 2011, Smooth Christmas was a pop-up sister station launched by GMG,[42]and was replaced bySmooth 70sat the end of December.[43]Smooth Christmas returned to the Digital One multiplex as a stablemate of Smooth Radio and Smooth 70s in the lead up to Christmas 2012.[44]

On 25 September 2024, Smooth Christmas was relaunched by Global, and made available on Global Player. It was launched alongsideHeart Xmas,also a Global station dedicated to playing Christmas music. On the day of their launch, theRadio Todaywebsite described the difference between the stations: "Heart Xmas is more Mariah Carey and Michael Buble whilst Smooth Radio, playing 'Always the Best Christmas Music', is more Elton John and Slade."[45]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^A financial report released by Global Radio in December 2013 indicates the company paid £69m for its purchase of GMG.[6]
  2. ^The stations involved were:SmoothorCapital(East Midlands);RealorCapital(South Wales);RealorHeart(North Wales);CapitalorReal XSwith eitherRealorSmooth(North West);RealorSmoothorCapital(North East);RealorCapital(Yorkshire); andRealorCapital(Scotland)[13]
  3. ^The eight stations were Smooth Radio North West, Smooth Radio North East, Smooth Radio East Midlands, Capital South Wales, Real Radio North Wales, Capital Scotland, Real Radio Yorkshire and Real XS Manchester.[18]

References

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  1. ^"Smooth Christmas: Here's how to listen live".Smooth.16 November 2022.Retrieved20 November2022.
  2. ^"Global introduces new logo and strapline for Smooth Radio".RadioToday.26 January 2023.Retrieved27 January2023.
  3. ^"Smooth goes national on D1".Radio Today. 5 August 2010.Archivedfrom the original on 23 December 2011.Retrieved27 January2012.
  4. ^Sweeney, Mark (25 June 2012)."GMG Radio sold to Global for £70m".The Guardian.Archivedfrom the original on 2 January 2014.Retrieved8 September2012.
  5. ^McCabe, Maisie (25 June 2012)."Global Radio seals £50m purchase of GMG Radio".Media Week.Archivedfrom the original on 28 July 2013.Retrieved8 September2012.
  6. ^"Global's GMG Radio takeover cost revealed".Radio Today. 31 December 2013.Archivedfrom the original on 1 January 2014.Retrieved1 January2014.
  7. ^"Real and Smooth continue to help heroes".Radio Today. 17 August 2012.Archivedfrom the original on 21 August 2012.Retrieved29 September2012.
  8. ^"Radio groups oppose Global domination".Radio Today. 25 June 2012.Archivedfrom the original on 28 June 2012.Retrieved8 June2012.
  9. ^"Global Radio purchases GMG Radio".Radio Today. 25 June 2012.Archivedfrom the original on 27 June 2012.Retrieved27 June2012.
  10. ^Rushton, Katherine (3 August 2012)."Jeremy Hunt calls on Ofcom and OFT to probe Guardian's radio deal".The Daily Telegraph.Archivedfrom the original on 3 August 2012.Retrieved4 August2012.
  11. ^"The OFT grants fast-track to Global Radio".Radio Today. 11 October 2012.Archivedfrom the original on 14 October 2012.Retrieved13 October2012.
  12. ^"Date set for Global Radio's CC results".Radio Today. 11 October 2012.Archivedfrom the original on 14 October 2012.Retrieved13 October2012.
  13. ^ab"Global/GMG Final report".Competition Commission. 21 May 2013. Archived from the original on 2 April 2014.{{cite news}}:CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  14. ^"Global's GMG competition appeal rejected".Radio Today. 15 November 2013.Archivedfrom the original on 18 November 2013.Retrieved16 November2013.
  15. ^"Global Radio decides not to appeal CAT".Radio Today. 15 December 2013.Archivedfrom the original on 18 December 2013.Retrieved23 December2013.
  16. ^ab"Smooth Radio to be removed from Digital 1".Radio Today. 4 February 2014.Archivedfrom the original on 9 February 2014.Retrieved5 February2014.
  17. ^Sweney, Mark (6 February 2014)."Denis O'Brien to buy eight Global Radio stations".The Guardian.Archivedfrom the original on 9 February 2014.Retrieved6 February2014.
  18. ^abcMartin, Roy (6 February 2014)."Communicorp buys 8 Global Radio stations".Radio Today.Archivedfrom the original on 9 February 2014.Retrieved6 February2014.
  19. ^"Global Radio sale – What we don't know".Radio Today. 6 February 2014.Archivedfrom the original on 9 February 2014.Retrieved6 February2014.
  20. ^Begum, Shelina (6 February 2014)."Regional radio stations sold".Manchester Evening News.Archivedfrom the original on 22 February 2014.Retrieved6 February2014.
  21. ^"Bates and Parsons out as Smooth relaunches".Radio Today. 24 February 2014.Archivedfrom the original on 1 March 2014.Retrieved24 February2014.
  22. ^"Global Radio confirms local Gold changes".Radio Today. 3 March 2014.Archivedfrom the original on 3 March 2014.Retrieved3 March2014.
  23. ^"Smooth Radio returns to regional output".Radio Today. 19 March 2014.Archivedfrom the original on 19 March 2014.Retrieved19 March2014.
  24. ^Lakeland Radio Sold To Global Entertainment Group,Lakeland Radio, 20 November 2017
  25. ^Smooth Radio poaches Angie Greaves for national DriveStuart Clarkson, Radio Today, 29 May 2019
  26. ^"Smooth Radio transmitters turned off in Wales".16 October 2020.Retrieved21 October2020.
  27. ^"Smooth ends AM transmission in Luton and Bedford".3 November 2020.Retrieved3 November2020.
  28. ^"Global to turn off Smooth Radio's medium wave transmitters".RadioToday.26 June 2023.Retrieved26 June2023.
  29. ^MediumWave.info - United Kingdom
  30. ^YouTube: update to Smooth Radio Medium Wave closures
  31. ^https:// smoothradio /digital/radio/schedule/
  32. ^"Listen Via FM or AM Frequency".Smooth Radio.Global Radio.Archivedfrom the original on 21 March 2017.Retrieved28 January2018.
  33. ^"Gold returns to AM in Peterborough and Northampton".26 July 2019.
  34. ^RadioToday.co.uk, 2023-06-26
  35. ^"Radio 210".localradioarchive.co.uk.
  36. ^"Smooth Country".Global.Retrieved6 May2021.
  37. ^"Tune in to Smooth Chill now!".Smooth.
  38. ^@smoothchill (8 April 2020)."Fantastic news: Even more listeners across the UK can relax to the soothing sounds of Smooth Chill. We're now avail..."(Tweet) – viaTwitter.
  39. ^WorldDAB, 2024-01-08
  40. ^"Smooth 80s - - Shows and Schedule".Smooth 80s.Retrieved6 November2024.
  41. ^"Smooth Extra and Heart extra replaced on Digital One".12 March 2020.
  42. ^"Have yourself a very Smooth Xmas".Ukdigitalradio. 23 December 2011.Archivedfrom the original on 17 January 2012.Retrieved6 August2012.
  43. ^"GMG Radio trialling new all-70s station".Radio Today. 23 December 2011.Archivedfrom the original on 16 January 2012.Retrieved6 August2012.
  44. ^"Smooth Xmas set to return on Digital 1".Radio Today. 30 October 2012.Archivedfrom the original on 1 November 2012.Retrieved30 October2012.
  45. ^"Global brings back Heart Xmas on DAB and revives Smooth Christmas".Radio Today. 25 September 2024.Retrieved25 September2024.
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