Guardian media group (GMG) owned radio station, 100.4 Smooth FM is launching on Sky Digital later this month, giving it a country-wide broadcast reach. The station, which currently services the north west of England, will be available on channel 878 from Valentines Day, 14 February.
The latest audience research, released last week, reveals that quarter four saw the station attract a record number of listeners, averaging 437,000 listeners a week.
Commenting on the expansion, Roy Bennett, managing director said: “The station’s been such a huge success it will be great to give it a national platform. Radio listening via the television continues to grow and is a great way for people to sample Smooth FM.”
Artists such as Marvin Gaye, Barry White, Lionel Richie, Michael McDonald, Simply Red, Lemar and Alicia Keys fill the schedules and attract more than three million hours of listening every week.
September 2004 saw Government owned media regulator, Ofcom, drop programming restrictions from Smooth FM and Jazz FM, allowing GMG to broadcast a wider range of music and broaden its appeal to advertisers.
The format saw Jazz FM released from its obligation to ensure that ‘50% of the output in daytime sits well with the term Jazz’. In return for Ofcom lifting its programming restrictions, the station agreed to increase the amount of Jazz in its evening programs., increasing the number of hours from 40 to 45 a week.
Last year saw Smooth FM embark upon the second phase of its £1 million launch campaign, with a regional television campaign targeting potential listeners. The three-week push focussed on the station’s trademark lava lamps, showing the kitsch icon lining streets as a car cruises along to the sound of Marvin Gaye’s soul classic I heard it through the grapevine.
