Bauer Set To Buy BRMB From GCap And Global

Bauer Media is in talks with GCap and Global Radio about the acquisition of BRMB in the Midlands, one of the stations the companies must divest of following their recent merger.

Guardian Media Group has also expressed an interest in Heart 106 in the east Midlands, another station affected by competition issues as a result of GCap and Global’s new partnership.

Global Radio and GCap offered to sell off five stations in the Midlands just days ago, in a bid to gain the Office of Fair Trading’s approval, after it expressed concerns about the £375 million merger (see Global Offers To Sell Off Midlands Stations).

GCap’s BRMB, Beacon, Mercia and Wyvern in the West Midlands, and Global’s Heart 106 in the East Midlands are all set to be sold off as a result of the OFT ruling.

A Bauer Media spokesperson said: “Bauer Media is a business with more than 80 brands across multiple platforms. We have discussions around our business on an ongoing basis, but we don’t comment on any individual discussions.”

However, managing director of KidsCo, Paul Robinson, said: “Bauer always wanted something in the West Midlands. It has the right recipe for managing city-size stations.”

According to reports in the trade press, Bauer wants to acquire BRMB to complete its North-England focused ‘Big City Network’ set.

UTV and the Midlands-based newspaper and radio company CN Group have been linked to the purchase of the remaining three stations, Beacon, Mercia and Wyvern.

Bauer Advertising: www.baueradvertising.co.uk Guardian Media Group: 020 7713 4452 www.gmgplc.co.uk GCap Media: 0207 663 7000 www.gcapmedia.com Global Radio : www.thisisglobal.com/radio