HG1 Radio to cease broadcasting on Thursday

HG1 Radio is to cease broadcasting this week due to commercial difficulties, it was announced today.

The digital station, which is available online and through smart devices, began operating in July last year.

But its future appeared uncertain when parent company Y01 Enterprises announced last month it was under review after sister station West Yorkshire Radio closed.

Station manager Dave Parker said HG1 Radio will come off air at the end of Thursday. He added:

“Very recently there have been a number of managerial changes at the parent company and we have taken the time to very carefully evaluate the current situation and, although HG1 has had a steady and loyal audience base, things simply don’t stack up on a business level.

“No jobs have been impacted by the closure.

“We would like to say a massive thank you to our presentation team and, most importantly, to our listeners over the last ten months or so.”

HG1 Radio plays music from the 1960s until the present days and provides news and competitions.

Its closure is another blow to Harrogate district local radio.

Last year Stray FM rebranded as Greatest Hits Radio.

Besides Stray FM, Harrogate is served by the digital stations Harrogate Community Radio, Your Harrogate and Harrogate Hospital Radio.

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HG1 Radio’s future under review after sister station closes

The future of HG1 Radio in Harrogate is being reviewed after a sister radio station closed.

YO1 Enterprises closed West Yorkshire Radio days ago because it said it was “unsustainable in the short term”.

Now the company, which operates HG1 Radio and York station YO1 Radio, has said it is evaluating all its projects.

The York-based company issued a statement today detailing recent managerial changes.

According to Companies House, Chris Marsden, Simon Lloyd and Paul Atkinson all resigned as directors on March 22.

Today’s statement says Mr Marsden remains as programme controller.

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It also reveals Wayne Chadwick has taken over as managing director of the group and Dave Parker has been appointed operations director.

Mr Chadwick said:

“It is early days yet – and we are just starting to evaluate all of the projects the company has been involved with, including HG1 Radio. 

“We’ve not made any decisions yet – other than the closure of West Yorkshire Radio, which we felt was unsustainable in the short term.

“The changes bring with them a substantial level of investment and we have to ensure that this investment is put to the best use – and in particular is used to support our core operations in North Yorkshire.

“We remain very grateful to listeners and supporters of HG1 Radio, which is continuing to broadcast online.”

West Yorkshire Radio was launched to fill the gap left by Radio Aire and Pulse 2.

Chris Johnson, one of the presenters on West Yorkshire Radio, posted a statement on Twitter last week after YO1 Enterprises decided to go ahead with non-presenter programming.

He said presenters had decided to “terminate their involvement in the station”, which had been run on an “entirely voluntary basis” until that point.

Harrogate district to get new local radio station

A new radio station covering the Harrogate district’s community news, weather and travel is set to begin broadcasting in March.

Your Harrogate Radio is being launched by the website Your Harrogate and will be available online, on smart speakers and through its app.

Former Stray FM presenter Nick Hancock, who set up Your Harrogate last year, said he received countless requests to launch a radio station.

He said:

“So many people have messaged me or come up to me in the street and said they really miss having their own local radio station and asked me to do something about it, so now I have!”

“I know from being on air during the first lockdown how many people use the radio for company and to cheer them up a bit during such challenging times”.

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Mr Hancock, who will host the breakfast show, said listeners will hear a broad range of music from classic tunes of the 80s and 90s to modern day.

He said the heavy snowfall last Friday was another sign that the district was in need of a radio station providing live coverage.

Stray FM was rebranded as Greatest Hits Radio in September.

Ripon councillor criticises Dawn French following Stray FM’s demise

Independent Ripon Councillor Andrew Williams has called on the actress Dawn French to distance herself from Bauer Media following the demise of Stray FM.

Bauer rebranded Stray FM as Greatest Hits Radio today in a move that has upset many local people.

Ms French has been the voice of Greatest Hits Radio since signing a deal with Bauer in December 2018.

Cllr Williams, who serves on Ripon City Council, wrote to her agent Kate Davie of United Agents saying he thought Ms French “would not wish to be associated with the closures of Stray FM and Minster FM”.

He added:

“Perhaps your client might wish to distance herself from such a travesty. She risks her own reputation being tarnished and damaged.”

Sign outside Stray FM offices

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Cllr Williams claimed the switch from Stray FM to Greatest Hits Radio was a “complete decimation of the local radio stations that have played an integral part within our local communities for decades”.

He said he had emailed Ms French’s agent both as a private resident and as a member of Ripon City Council, which falls within Stray FM broadcast area.

At the time of publication, neither Cllr Williams nor the Stray Ferret had received a response from Ms French or her agent.

In a press release in December 2018, when Ms French was announced as the ‘voice of the station’ Greatest Hits Radio, said:

“Nothing short of a comedy legend, Dawn embodies the station’s brand values and is well known to the UK public for decades of award-winning comedy and acting roles including playing the irrepressible Geraldine Granger in The Vicar of Dibley.”