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Media
Bauer Radio reportedly interested in Absolute and Planet Rock
By Chris Cooke | Published on Monday 14 January 2013
Bauer Media is considering bids for national terrestrial rock radio station Absolute and independent digital service Planet Rock, according to The Guardian. Planet Rock’s current owner, Malcolm Bluemel, opened discussions with possible bidders for his radio station last September, while Absolute’s owners reopened takeover talks last month.
The Guardian speculates that if Bauer, which already operates radio stations like Kiss and Magic, were to acquire both Absolute and Planet Rock, it might combine the services, possibly utilising the latter’s brand. Though quite how that would fit in with Bauer’s existing rock radio service, which operates under its Kerrang! brand (on FM in the Midlands and digital elsewhere), isn’t clear.
It was thought that Absolute’s current owner, TIML Radio, was only talking to one possible bidder for its loss-making national music station last month – a consortium led by John Pearson, who ran the station in its previous incarnation as Virgin Radio – though it’s possible negotiations have since been opened up with other interested parties.
Meanwhile, word has it some other interested bidders have been in negotiations with Bluemel about Planet Rock, including TalkSport owners UTV Radio. He previously said that he would only sell the also loss-making radio company to a buyer that could guarantee the station’s future.
