Real Radio Scotland is an Independent Local Radio station in Central and Southern Scotland. The station broadcasts from studios at Ballieston in the east end of the Glasgow on 100.3 & 101.1FM and on DAB. Global Radio acquired GMG Radio on 25 June 2012 with Real Radio now operated in a "hold separate" situation known as Real and Smooth Ltd.
Background[edit]
In September 1994 Scot FM began broadcasting a regional 24-hour service to Central Scotland from studios in the Leith district of Edinburgh. Originally billed pre-launch as a relatively highbrow and primarily speech-based station, the station went through numerous format changes, financial difficulties and varying fortunes with listening figures. In June 2001, the Guardian Media Group acquired Scot FM from previous owners, the Wireless Group, for £25.5 million. Shortly afterwards, a major overhaul of the station was announced including an on-air rebrand, a move into new studios at Ballieston near Glasgow, a revamped programming line-up and a strengthened round-the-clock news service.[1] Real Radio Scotland began broadcasting at 8am on Tuesday 8 January 2002 with breakfast presenter Robin Galloway introducing the first song to be played, A Star is Born.[2]
Within a year of its launch, the station reached a record weekly audience of 614,000 listeners, and by 2004, further increased its audience to 688,000,[3] placing Real Radio as the most listened to station in Scotland.[4][5] By 2007, the station's audience share reached a record 31%[6] but had fallen 10 per cent a year later.[7]
Real Radio Scotland has held various charity events and campaigns since its launch, including The Real Sleeopver, a Big Brother-style reality show[8] and the annual Bring £1 to Work Day, both in aid of the Children's Hospice Association Scotland.[9][10]
In 2006 Real Radio Scotland attempted to increase its coverage area by applying[11] for the new FM licence for Aberdeen & Aberdeenshire, but lost out to Original 106, which began broadcasting in October 2007. During the summer of 2008, the station introduced networked programming[12] including evening & overnight output from Manchester and a Saturday morning show hosted by Chris Tarrant.[13] Listeners' complaints led to the return of local night time output a few months later. The networked output was reintroduced during the summer of 2011.
Between 7 August 2006 and June 2009, the Irish-based sports broadcaster Setanta Sports simulcast Real Radio's weeknight football phone-in live twice a week on Setanta Sports 1.[14] The station also carried live commentaries for some of the Scottish national team's matches[15] and eight Scottish Premier League games during the season.[16][17] Until the end of the 2011-12 season, the station also broadcast a Scottish football phone-in on weekday evenings and Saturday afternoons.[18]
On 25 June 2012 it was announced Global Radio (the owner of stations such as Capital and Heart) had bought GMG Radio. The former GMG stations, including Real Radio, will continue to operate separately until a regulatory review is carried out.[19][20] As of 5 November 2012, the station's local programming consists of daily breakfast and weekday drivetime shows from Glasgow with most non-peak output broadcast from Salford Quays.
Programming/presenters[edit]
Local presenters broadcast from Real Radio Scotland's Glasgow studios. Most networked output is broadcast from Real Radio North West at Salford Quays in Manchester.[21] The Vodafone Big Top 40 is a networked chart show and is produced by Global Radio at the studios of Capital in Leicester Square, London.
Local presenters[edit]
- Ewen Cameron (Real Radio Breakfast)
- Paul Harper (Monday–Friday drivetime)
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- Cat Harvey (Real Radio Breakfast)
- Steve McKenna (Saturday & Sunday mornings)
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Networked presenters[edit]
- David Heane (Sunday–Thursday evenings, Saturday drivetime)
- Marc Henry (Thursday–Friday overnights, Saturday & Sunday late nights)
- Elisa Hilton (Monday–Wednesday overnights, Friday & Saturday evenings)
- Jo Lloyd (Sunday–Friday afternoons)
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- Debbie Mac (returns Summer 2013)
- Dave Miller (Saturday & Sunday overnights)
- Darren Parks (Monday–Friday mornings, Saturday afternoon)
- Carl Spencer (Saturday & Sunday early breakfast)
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Syndicated presenters[edit]
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- Kat Shoob (The Vodafone Big Top 40 on Sunday drivetime)
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Past presenters[edit]
- Micky Gavin (now at Indigo PR)
- Lynne Hoggan (now at Clyde 1)
- Nick Abbot (now at LBC)
- Jenny Farrish (now station voiceover and relief presenter on Smooth Radio)
- Robin Galloway (now at Clyde 1)
- Dougie Jackson
- Dave Knight
- Bill Young
- Brian Woolfson (now at Central FM)
- James Toy
- Tom Wilson
- Ray Daniels
- Willie Docherty
- Graham Stewart
- Joe Kilday (now at Central FM)
- Shereen Tulloch
- Jonathan Harper
- Kieron Elliott
- John Burns
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Real Radio Scotland produces and broadcasts locally-produced news bulletins on the hour during the day with additional headline bulletins during weekday breakfast and drivetime shows at 30 minutes past the hour. Variations of these bulletins also air on sister stations 105.2 Smooth Radio in Glasgow and 96.3 Rock Radio in Renfrewshire with minor changes to suit the target audiences and, in the case of Rock Radio, to satisfy the Renfrewshire element of their licence.
Heather Kane is the head of news for GMG Radio's Scottish stations, assisted by Corrie Martin.
References[edit]
- ^ Lorna Martin (2002-01-09). "Real Radio launches big bold challenge to rivals". Sport | SPL | Aberdeen. Herald Scotland. Retrieved 2010-07-06.
- ^ agnes stevenson (2002-01-08). "A new station joins the air wars". Sport | SPL | Aberdeen. Herald Scotland. Retrieved 2010-07-06.
- ^ Radio stations vie for listeners in ratings war, Herald Scotland, 30 July 2004
- ^ New radio station winning ratings war: Celebrity-free Real doubles audience over three years, Herald Scotland, 31 May 2003
- ^ Moyles rules the waves with record breakfast figures: Real Radio is now Scotland's most listened-to point on the dial, Herald Scotland, 28 October 2005
- ^ Real Radio passes 30 per cent, Radio Today, 25 October 2007/
- ^ Real contrast for GMG, Radio Today, 1 May 2008
- ^ Real Radio sleepover: how will they cope?, Herald Scotland, 1 October 2003
- ^ Real Radio Scotland: Children's Hospice Association Scotland
- ^ Real fears at Real Radio, Radio Today, 7 May 2008
- ^ Real Radio application for FM ILR licence for Aberdeen
- ^ Galloway to replace Davis for Real, Radio Today, 27 June 2008
- ^ Clyde and Real Radio face challenge from rebranded dance music station, Herald Scotland, 30 August 2008
- ^ Real Radio scores with Setanta, 7 August 2006
- ^ Ewen Cameron on heartbreak behind dream job, The Scottish Sun, 17 December 2010
- ^ Real Scotland gets SPL deal, Radio Today, 8 August 2010
- ^ Our partners, Scottish Premier League official website
- ^ Sports programme changes, Real Radio Scotland, 23 July 2012
- ^ GMG Radio sold to Global for £50m Mark Sweeney, The Guardian, 25 June 2012
- ^ Global Radio seals £50m purchase of GMG Radio Maisie McCabe, Media Week, 25 June 2012
- ^ Real Radio introduces networked daytimes, Radio Today, 15 October 2012
- ^ West, Gillian (8 March 2013). "Boots UK launches radio and online programme hosted by Kate Thornton". The Drum. Retrieved 11 March 2013.
External links[edit]
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Coordinates: 55°51′37″N 4°06′56″W / 55.8602°N 4.1156°W / 55.8602; -4.1156
