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Media
Bauer looks to merge Kiss stations
By CMU Editorial | Published on Tuesday 2 November 2010
Bauer Radio is following the lead of rivals Global Radio and GMG Radio in turning a small network of local radio stations into a quasi-national station.
Bauer has asked media regulator OfCom for permission to turn its three Kiss stations, in London, East Anglia and the South West, into one service, which would also broadcast nationally on the DAB digital network.
Currently the three Kiss stations carry locally produced programmes, but new broadcasting rules introduced earlier this year have reduced some of the local programming obligations in British commercial radio.
GMG Radio have already merged its various Smooth FM stations in England into one service, while Global Radio will rebrand a load of its local stations as Capital FM in the New Year, with most programmes on those channels coming from London. It has already done something similar with its Heart network.
It remains to be seen if OfCom allow Bauer to turn Kiss into a quasi-nationwide service, though most think regulator will.
