Metro Radio is an Independent Local Radio station broadcasting to North East England. Its output is principally contemporary pop and dance music. It is owned by Bauer Radio and is part of their Big City Network of stations.

History

This Newcastle based station, broadcasting to North east England, launched on the July 15 1974. The first Breakfast Show was presented by Don Dwyer, an Australian radio presenter formerly at ABC, Giles Squire, James Whale, Peter Wraight, Peter Sampson and Harry Rowell were also there from the beginning. The first show also included messages of congratulations from Kenny Everett at the equivalent local commercial station in London, Capital Radio, and from the stations first managing director Bruce Lewis.

The station originally transmitted from a studio in Swalwell, Gateshead, which, in later years, would be adjacent to the MetroCentre. In 2005 Metro, and sister station Magic 1152 moved to the former BT building, previously known as Swan House, now known as 55° North, in Newcastle upon Tyne.

Until 2005 the station broadcast live football commentary for the region's two biggest clubs — Newcastle United and Sunderland. In an attempt to boost ratings, the football commentary was stopped. However, a negative response from football fans prompted the owners to cover all Newcastle and Sunderland games on sister station Magic 1152.

The controversial DJ and TV presenter James Whale launched his radio career on Metro, presenting the Night Owls Show on the station between 1974 and 1980. Other well know names include Mark Goodier, Gabby Logan, Jenny Powel, Jeremy Vine and Mark Forrest.

Present

Since 2 July 2005 Metro Radio has broadcast from the 55 Degrees North complex, next to the Tyne Bridge in Newcastle upon Tyne.

The station is currently the principal sponsor of the MetroRadio Arena, formerly the Telewest Arena.

The station currently broadcasts on four analogue frequencies to a potential audience of 1.4million. These frequencies are on 97.1 (Burnhope for Sunderland, Newcastle & Tyne Tunnel), 102.6 (Shilbottle for Alnwick), 103 (Fenham, west Newcastle) and 103.2 (Newton near Hexham). DAB is provided by the EMAP Digital Tyne and Wear 11C multiplex from Burnhope (strongest signal) and Fenham. Metro Radio's live broadcast can also be listened to from the website along with famous past shows

Metro Radio has won many awards including the Sony Radio Gold Award for Sport, and a finalist award for Creative Services at the New York awards and Station Of The Year at the EMAP radio awards.

Tony Horne (in the Morning)

Night Owls show

Night Owls is almost an institution in the North East of England. It is a late night radio phone-in show, and is broadcast on Metro Radio. The current host of the show is Alan Robson, who has fronted the show since 1983.

After the departure of James Whale, Giles Squire, Alan Beswick and Tony Crosby, Dave Porter presented the Night Owls show for a short period, before Alan Robson began presenting in 1983.

The show has won over 30 national and international awards including in 2005 the New York radio award for Worlds Best Talk Show.

Presenters

Local presenters

• Richard Allen (Saturday afternoons)
• Dan Black (Sunday overnights)
• Dave Campbell (Sunday afternoons)
• Anna Foster (Sunday mornings, weekday breakfast newsreader)
• Tony Horne (Tony Horne in the Morning)
• Scott Makin (Sunday breakfast)

• Brian Moore (The Home Run)
• Alan Robson (Nightowls)
• Alex Roland (Saturday breakfast)
• Stu Smith (Friday nights, Saturday mornings/lunchtime, Sunday evenings)
• Mark Thorburn (Weekday mornings/lunchtime)

Networked presenters

• Lucy Horobin (In:Demand)
• Alex James (In:Demand)
• Jason King (JK and Joel's Saturday Night Thing)

• Joel Ross (JK and Joel's Saturday Night Thing)
• Matt Wilkins (AfterHours)

The majority of programming is presented and produced locally from Metro Radio's Newcaslte studios although In:Demand and AfterHours are produced from Key 103 in Manchester while JK and Joel's Saturday Night Thing is produced from Radio Aire in Leeds. The Big Top 40 Show is produced by Global Radio in London for broadcast on over 130 commercial radio stations across the UK.

Charity

The official charity of both Metro Radio and its sister station Magic 1152 is Cash for Kids. The station organise events to raise money for this charity, for example an evening with Jason Donovan and a "cooks fun run".

See also

• Tony Horne
• Alan Robson
• Bauer Media Group

External links

• Cash for Kids
• History of the Radio Station
• Burnhope transmitter
• Fenham transmitter
• Newton transmitter