GCap Plans To Increase Networking Across Local Stations
GCap Media is to increase the number of networked shows across its mainstream local radio stations.
A new three-hour weekday show is to be launched across GCap’s entire One Network, as well as the introduction of a number of new syndicated shows to its weekend schedule.
The One Network includes London’s Capital 95.8 FM, BRMB in Birmingham and Cardiff station Red Dragon.
These changes follow a networking drive at the Heart and Galaxy stations owned by Global Radio, which is in the process of buying GCap (see Global Radio To Acquire GCap For £375m). The networking has reportedly led to many job cuts at the stations (see Global Cuts Jobs And Local Programming On Heart And Galaxy Stations).
One Network stations may soon have as little as 10 hours of locally produced programmes on weekdays, and four hours per day at weekends.
The One Network already has five flagship networked shows, including the Sunday afternoon chart show, Hit 40UK.
Another eight hours of networked programmes are set to be introduced on Saturdays, and an extra four hours on Sundays. The breakfast and drivetime programmes will not be affected.
The latest changes, which are due to come into effect at the end of June, follow a relaxation of Ofcom’s rules on the amount of local programming that must be broadcast by radio stations (see Ofcom Rejects Call For Cut In Local Radio Content).