GMG to replace regional Smooth stations with national service

GMG Radio is set to merge its Smooth Radio regional stations into a single national broadcaster.

The five easy-listening regional stations will be replaced by a Manchester-based operation, which also will broadcast on the national digital audio broadcasting (DAB) platform Digital One, as well as Smooth’s current regional frequencies.

Guardian Media Group said the phased launch will start on 4 October, and will result in up to 60 job losses.

The group’s decision follows Ofcom’s recent regulatory changes, which have relaxed the output of local radio.  Last week, Global Radio also announced plans to cut local Heart stations and replace them with 15 “super stations”, which will see up to 200 redundancies.

The three Smooth Radio operations outside of Manchester are expected to see the biggest cuts, while GMG plans to completely close the East Midlands office in Nottingham.  Smooth’s Scottish station will be unaffected by the cuts.

Listeners will continue to hear regional news, travel and weather and each region will also retain is own sales team.  However, most other output will fall under the single national service, which will be produced out of Smooth Radio’s Manchester base.

Stuart Taylor, chief executive of GMG Radio, said: “We are trying to change the shape of UK radio.  Commercial radio has lacked scale and national delivery and the BBC has had all the national stations apart from the three commercial ones. We are going to add to that as the nation’s first UK-wide easy listening station.

“We want to be number one among 40-to-59-year-olds. Smooth Radio is well-loved and we are investing in reach and talent.  The future of radio is all about establishing strong brands, available across multiple platforms, and the future for Smooth is a truly national station. This deal with Digital One will enable Smooth to develop into one of the strongest names in UK radio.

“We regret the impact this will have on our people, but this new approach means Smooth Radio will be even better placed to serve its listeners and advertisers, more cost efficient as a business and in prime position for the digital future.”

Smooth Radio has an average weekly reach of around 2.6 million listeners, according to the latest RAJAR figures for Q1 2010.