Hits Radio
Hits Radio is a network of 26 contemporary hit radio stations in the United Kingdom, owned and operated by Bauer Media Audio UK.
This article is about the British radio network. For the British national station, see Hits Radio UK. For the New Zealand network, see The Hits (radio station).United Kingdom (digital)
The Biggest Hits, The Biggest Throwbacks Across *TSA*
English
31 December 1973 (local stations)
December 1999 (as Big City Network)
April 2011 (as Bauer Place)
January 2015 (as Bauer City 1)
4 June 2018 (as Hits Radio Network)
Big City Network (2000 - 2011)
Bauer Place (2011 - 2015)
Bauer City 1 (2015 - 2018)
Overview[edit]
Hits Radio UK broadcasts on DAB in many parts of the UK, nationally on Freeview and Sky TV platforms and online. A localised version of the station airs on FM and DAB in Greater Manchester, and a second localised version airs on DAB in London.
As of 15 June 2020, there are a total of 25 local radio stations in the network, providing local programming, news, traffic and sport, along with networked output from Hits Radio.
The FM network of stations was formerly known as the Big City Network, Bauer Place and Bauer City 1. The national DAB station was formerly known as The Hits.
Until April 2024, most of the stations broadcast under their local identities, such as Clyde 1 in Glasgow and Radio City in Liverpool.
Most of the stations broadcast their own local breakfast shows from 6 to 10 am each weekday - in most cases, these are produced and broadcast from the originating station's studios.
Network programming for England and Wales originates from Bauer's London headquarters or studios in Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester and Newcastle.
In Scotland, it originates from Bauer's Clydebank studios near Glasgow, and on occasion, from Bauer's Edinburgh studios.
Overnight programming and The UK Chart Show airs across all Hits Radio stations in England, Wales and Scotland from Bauer's Castle Quay studios at Castlefield in Manchester.
Until May 2022, CFM, Gem, MFR, Radio Borders and The Wave opted out of networked scheduling, during weekdays, and weekends respectively. This was replaced by networked programming.[24]
News[edit]
Bauer's newsrooms across the UK air local news bulletins hourly from 6 am to 7 pm on weekdays and from 7 am to 1 pm on Saturdays and Sundays.
Headlines are broadcast on the half-hour during weekday breakfast and drivetime shows, alongside traffic bulletins. National bulletins air on Hits Radio UK.
At weekends, bespoke networked bulletins air from 2 pm (until 6 pm on Saturdays and 4 pm on Sundays) - separate bulletins are produced for England & Wales and for Scotland.
At all other times, mainly evening & overnight, hourly national bulletins originate from Sky News Radio in London.