Bauer Media has now completed the switch-off of its seven radio stations on Freeview, including Kiss and Greatest Hits Radio.
- Shows from the likes of Ken Bruce, Simon Mayo, Ronan Keating and Harriet Scott no longer available through Freeview
- Listeners can continue accessing their favourite stations on FM, DAB, online and via mobile apps.
- Move follows the removal of stations from cable and satellite platforms at the end of last year.
Seven popular radio stations are no longer available on Freeview, including some that formed Freeview’s original launch line-up in 2002.
They include Greatest Hits Radio, the home of Ken Bruce’s mid-morning show, plus other long-serving radio stars including Simon Mayo, Jackie Brambles and Mark Goodier.
The other six stations to be removed are:
- Kiss
- Kiss Fresh
- Kisstory
- Hits Radio
- Magic
- Kerrang!
As a result, Freeview channels 711-717 have fallen silent, with information slates advising listeners of the changes. The channels will be completely delisted from Freeview in a future monthly channel update.
Freeview was the last major TV platform to carry the Bauer Media stations. Bauer had previously removed its radio services from Sky, Freesat and Virgin Media in December 2023.
▶ How to keep listening
Listeners wanting to tune into Ken Bruce’s show or any of the other shows on the above radio stations will now need to switch.
Bauer now wants to focus on digital listening via DAB and online apps. Listening online provides the best audio quality – the former Freeview service was only available in mono.
All stations, plus many others that were never on Freeview, can be found at www.planetradio.co.uk.
Meanwhile, most Bauer stations, including Greatest Hits Radio, are carried across the UK on DAB or DAB+.
In a growing number of areas in England and the Scottish Borders, Bauer has also put Greatest Hits Radio on FM. Here, Bauer has removed existing local stations to make way for Greatest Hits Radio.
One survivor
Only Bauer Radio’s Absolute Radio station (channel 727) currently remains live on Freeview.
It operates under a separate carriage contract to the other seven stations, broadcasting on a different multiplex. However, it’s expected to also close when the current contact expires.
Freeview launch line-up stations among those removed
Both Kiss and Kerrang were part of the original Freeview launch line-up in October 2002. At the time, the stations were owned by Emap and distribution on Freeview was seen as a key method to boost coverage across the UK. DAB digital radio and online radio was at its infancy. Kiss only had limited FM coverage. They were joined by digital-only stations including The Hits Radio, Heat radio, Smash Hits and Q radio, plus the London FM station Magic. Many of the stations were either rebranded or replaced over the years.
▶ Alternatives
While Bauer has left Freeview, other radio groups continue to make their services available on the platform.
- Current hit music is available from BBC Radio 1 (700) or Capital (724).
- Meanwhile, adult contemporary music is catered for on Heart (channel 728) and BBC Radio 2 (702)
- As an alternative to Magic, soft adult contemporary (easy listening) music is still available on Smooth Radio (channel 718).
Marc Thornham
[Image: Ken Bruce, Greatest Hits Radio – Bauer Media]