independent commercial national radio station united_kingdom owned real smooth company known station aimed demographic competed audience broadcast digital radio digital national sky virgin media online regional frequencies london scotland nationally station attracted weekly average audience million station opened jazz london second jazz branded station launched years later manchester manchester station network independent local radio stations use smooth brand london station followed suit year later network parent company subsidiary acquired saga stations given smooth publication recommendations regulatory overhaul commercial radio passing digital economy act allowing stations locate local shows broadcasts merged english stations single quasi national station october local news feeds produced headquarters scotland produced breakfast shows carried programming times licence agreement london manchester stations required continue commitment jazz music dropping jazz broadcasting industry stipulated broadcast hours jazz programming week requirement ended shortly merger took place smooth recruited known british radio personalities line network included station flagship breakfast presented left classic decade broadcast occasional documentaries subjects relating music news media events won station radio industry awards november smooth launched second station digital platform dedicated christmas music later replaced smooth 70s played music 1970s christmas station returned smooth 70s closed september sister station official host switch ceremony staged regular free live music events station signed number sponsorship deals companies held annual fundraising events aid charities help heroes taken rival june global purchase company referred amid concerns global market share large result deal consequently public interest subsequently changed report issued highlighted issues recommended partial sale real global continued operate separate companies takeover investigated smooth moved operations manchester global london headquarters october february global given permission remove smooth digital platform replace station global sold regional stations including operated smooth brand announced smooth replace gold network medium wave frequency smooth brand network regional stations march history early years jazz london station launched march concert performed royal albert hall jazz played mainly soul jazz music broadcast london area sister station manchester called jazz launched september jazz stations purchased company radio division radio conducted market research type music listeners north west england wanted hear radio study concluded people jazz result closed february smooth march london station renamed stations played middle road music soul day licence requirements jazz music night october announced requesting change format remove stations daytime soul licence commitments proposed easy listening music service mixed speech 50s improved local news service approved changes december condition retained hours jazz week constituted licence requirement result format change distance station london rivals magic heart agreed minimum daytime music output years old change identity expansion december acquired owned stations scotland licence begin broadcasting expanded stations london manchester saga stations brand march saga west saga glasgow based saga service north east england launched january begin programming stations produced locally shows london smooth gradually increased programming content originated london manchester march requested remove hour jazz commitment london manchester stations company planned jazz service broadcast glasgow online london meeting april declined request despite having retain jazz commitment decrease local output lead criticism managing director glasgow dismissed scottish august favour increased content stations london manchester station operated hour schedule local programming labelled expressed fears station able serve needs interests scottish people saga expansion recommendations regulatory overhaul commercial radio published digital economy act allowing stations locate local shows broadcast national passed merged english stations quasi national station local news feeds produced headquarters announced june wanted compete broadcasting digital england wales online regional content kept split news travel weather broadcast regional stations listeners london tuning national output hear national information scotland local breakfast programmes rules governing broadcast licence content broadcast rest time jazz commitments london ended new launched october output originating programming coming london november launched smooth christmas digital dedicated station playing christmas music news advertisements promoted broadcast december smooth christmas replaced trial basis smooth 70s playing tracks 1970s station warmly received listeners january confirmed deal syndication firm air 1970s editions american presented broadcast weekends smooth 70s weekday programming included late night love songs popularity november digital alongside smooth 70s new ownership june reported seeking sell order stem losses guardian observer newspapers offers received subsidiary million sold june estimated price million million global renamed real smooth radio ltd rival radio groups expressed concerns takeover effect commercial radio deal prompted speculation possible disappearance brand result possible merger network aimed similar audience announced short term global continue operate separate entities review sale carried august culture secretary instructed examine purchase gave global radio market concerns takeover public interest october agreed fast track investigation hunt successor said deal investigated media concluded merger lead rise local advertising costs decrease competitors matter oversees business day announced publish findings takeover march february confirmed delay decision issued statement said range possible considered case complex possible need explored parties merger parties commission published final report acquisition requiring global sell radio stations seven locations june reported global appeal commission decision date appeal subsequently scheduled october following hearing november rejected global appeal meaning sell stations order complete takeover global announced december appeal decision instead begin process selling assets directed commission global announced august real smooth relocate london offices global premises output relocated global leicester square headquarters october coincided major overhaul schedule closure smooth 70s months air february website reported given permission remove smooth digital platform replace service playing music 1970s 80s 90s agreement smooth continue broadcast regional frequencies required provide seven hours local output day february global confirmed sale regional stations including brand irish media holdings company agreement firms stations retain airing mixture regional content programming london smooth gold medium wave frequencies london manchester global announced later month smooth march subsequently confirmed gold changes effect march stations begin coincided return local programming breakfast audience ratings mainly listeners age similar audience official quarterly audience figures station average weekly audience million listeners figures quarter released october showed collectively regional smooth stations weekly audience million time smooth national broadcaster group programme director said scope huge looking forward seeing growth continue people discover station firmly believe smooth potential biggest national commercial station figures heading right direction final quarter station national broadcaster listening figures rose million remained unchanged quarter london increased largely arrival breakfast january smooth continued increase audience share second quarter average weekly total million rose quarter million meaning time smooth figures overtook national rivals station audience million final quarter making second listened national commercial radio station listeners tuning quarter dropped slightly second quarter million quarter saw small drop million period smooth 70s recorded audience figures collectively million listeners tuning smooth branded stations figure rose million final quarter year quarter saw average weekly audience million fell million second quarter figures rose second half year million quarter million fourth marketing sponsorship launched national network launched television advertising campaign featuring smooth ambassadors listeners chosen represent station life advertisement included piece information ambassadors currently campaign ran october november later campaign featured breakfast attracted increased listening figures london early station signed number sponsorship deals particular competitions associated major sponsorship deal sponsored station launch july signed week deal gaming website sponsor afternoon month deal sponsor began september real smooth announced month deal sponsor smooth weekend film movies february month deal announced october logo appeared products sold british august announced deal magazine publisher sponsor trip kenya given away association lead wedding winners stay royal couple engaged high street retailer boots launched feel good forum health beauty lifestyle programme began airing week run march presented collaboration broadcaster boots partners including website online content produced supplement programme july real smooth secured deal organisers commonwealth games shows station include notable british radio personalities breakfast hosted joined network january revived tune popular features radio days emma presented sunday afternoon march actress sunday morning presenter october join station time include presented smooth soul sunday hosted sunday soul sunday evenings presenter joined station presenter january hosted weekday mid morning saturday morning presenter stations presented syndicated weekend breakfast smooth left station october present pick pops bbc allow continue working rival broadcaster presenter station having hosted andy soul train moving programme gold station owned weekday presenter april december special programming events september presented week programmes south_australia promotion station gave away holiday state december travelled afghanistan present series shows british troops camp featured christmas messages british soldiers serving friends relatives discussed possible future afghanistan coalition forces prepared hand control april forces broadcaster hour presented jointly smooth allowing family friends serving troops connect loved ones presented special programme ahead thames diamond elizabeth_ii journey river_thames royal barge spirit given special access vessel spoke boat owner composer commissioned write music event commemorate 30th anniversary end war broadcast breakfast week explored lives experiences reflected conflict smooth official broadcaster switch ceremony broadcast rights won aired time event broadcast commercial radio annual event stations purposely built arena featured music concert popular artists performers included wanted switched lights year switch performed british won gold medals summer olympics hosted series free live music titled love live music held venues featured artists included young october station celebrated anniversary national broadcaster concert london cafe paris evening music entertainment held liverpool waterfront july attended people similar event held june played event september december real smooth secured exclusive broadcast rights christmas hit factory live concert featuring artists groups achieved success record labels appearing concert december included dead alive pat aired new year eve charity fundraising stations including held annual fundraising day help heroes charity provides help support injured british service personnel help heroes day took place november collectively stations raised hour special featured soldiers returned network event second help heroes day raised bringing accumulated total raised charity fundraising event smooth radio supper listeners encouraged hold dinner parties guests donated money cancer charity event began stations smooth network raised money breast cancer care london children young people glasgow events raised money exclusively documentaries occasionally broadcast documentaries music historic events usually weekends series documentaries broadcast included series music america mississippi_river region titled second series broadcast following year included famous musicians died age legendary labels major record labels california record producer station documentaries won bronze award programmes series promotion category december station celebrated 50th anniversary television soap opera coronation street documentary titled coronation street station fallen heroes won gold new york festivals international radio awards march reporter travelled norway interview prince harry prepared join group injured servicemen walk aid charity walking wounded station covered walk collins commercial radio journalist interview prince occasion documentary won gold award best documentary 10th anniversary september attacks united_states smooth aired documentary featuring british people living new_york_city time attacks followed live coverage remembrance service site destroyed attacks november smooth confirmed air documentary celebrating life christmas period mark upcoming 50th anniversary debut solo artist january saturday programme dedicated films regular documentary slot sunday announced overhaul station schedule returned network june present hour documentary rolling_stones
Smooth Radio (2010)