24-02-2023, 10:05 PM
(24-02-2023, 09:12 PM)TVNerd Wrote:(24-02-2023, 08:34 PM)Brekkie Wrote: (TBH I wouldn't know where to find GHR anyway - is it digital only?)It’s on some FM/AM frequencies that were previously home to Bauer’s “heritage” stations or their oldies offshoots, also including the old Virgin/Absolute 105.8 frequency in London, but there is a feed with national advertising on DAB.
FM was expanded in 2020 when Bauer converted stations owned by Wireless, UKRD and Celador. This has led to coverage being expanded to the Yorkshire Coast, York, Reading, Blackpool, Guildford, Chichester, Salisbury and so on, but they're largely small scale licenses. Bauer also acquired Imagine FM in Stockport and Revolution in Oldham to have Greater Manchester wide coverage without having to swap Hits Radio Manchester's FM frequency. On April 3rd, GHR replaces CFM in North and West Cumbria on FM.
As mentioned, most metropolitan areas of England have GHR on FM including London, Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester (on small scale FM licenses), Leeds (replaced Radio Aire) and Bristol, but not Newcastle where it's on DAB.
DAB is slightly more promising. It's has coverage across England except for the South Lakes and Furness Peninsula in Cumbria. However it's not a fully 'national' network. Five areas of England have regional programmes from 1-4pm on weekdays. These are Yorks & Lincs, Southern England, West/South West, East of England and the West/East Midlands.
In Scotland, GHR UK is on DAB running alongside the sister GHR Scotland stations that currently operate on AM/DAB under local heritage brands such as Clyde 2 and Forth 2. It's also on FM in Dumfries and will expand to the Scottish Borders and North Northumberland in April replacing Radio Borders.
The Scottish '2' stations become GHR on April 3rd and will continue to take a slightly different schedule compared to England with programming from Scotland including breakfast and mid-afternoons but will take Ken Bruce and Simon Mayo.
Wales is on DAB only on the SE Wales and Swansea multiplexes only. Currently they have programming from Swansea from 6am-4pm weekdays and a Welsh language late show. From April 3rd, GHR South Wales will take national programming from England through the day, but the tick box Welsh show continues.
Northern Ireland has country wide coverage on DAB.
It's also on Sky and Freeview, but no idea of the LCN for those platforms.