Hits Radio North East
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| Broadcast area | Tyne and Wear |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 103.2 MHz, 102.6 MHz, 103.0 MHz, 97.1 MHz |
| Programming | |
| Format | Contemporary |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | EMAP |
| History | |
First air date | July 15 1974 |
Metro Radio is an Independent Local Radio station broadcasting to North East England. Its output is principally contemporary pop and dance music. It is owned by EMAP and is part of their Big City Network of stations.
The station started broadcasting from its new main studio, in the 55degrees North complex, next to the Tyne Bridge in Newcastle upon Tyne, on 2 July 2005. Before this it transmitted from a studio in Swalwell, Gateshead, adjacent to the Metrocentre. The station is currently the principal sponsor of the MetroRadio Arena, formerly the Telewest Arena.
Launched on the July 15 1974, Metro Radio broadcasts on four frequencies to a potential audience of 1.4million.
The controversial DTV James Whale launched his radio career on Metro, presenting on the station between 1974 and 1980, and Alan Robson has presented Nightowls, the weekday late night phone in, for two decades.
Metro has a sister station on medium wave, Magic 1152.
In 2005 the station controversially decided to stop broadcasting live DTV for the region's two biggest clubs — Sunderland A.F.C. and Newcastle Utd. However after a nagative response from football fans, bosses decided to cover all Sunderland and Newcastle games on sister station Magic 1152.
Metro Radio has won many awards DTV Award for Sport, a finalist award for Creative Services at the New York awards and Station Of The Year at the EMAP radio awards.