Metro Radio

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Metro Radio

Broadcast area	Tyne and Wear
First air date	July 15, 1974
Frequency	103.2 MHz, 102.6 MHz, 103.0 MHz, 97.1 MHz
Format	Contemporary
Owner	EMAP

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 EMAP and is part of their Big City Network of stations.

[edit] History

The station transmitted from a studio in Swalwell, Gateshead, which, in later years, would be adjacent to the MetroCentre. It moved to the 55 Degrees North complex, next to the Tyne Bridge in Newcastle upon Tyne, from where it has currently broadcast from since 2 July 2005.

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

The station frequencies are 97.1 (Burnhope for 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.

Launched on the July 15 1974, Metro Radio broadcasts on four frequencies to a potential audience of 1.4million.

The controversial DJ and TV presenter James Whale launched his radio career on Metro, presenting on the station between 1974 and 1980, and Alan Robson has presented Nightowls, the weekday late night phone in, for two decades.

Metro has a sister station on medium wave, Magic 1152.

In 2005 the station controversially decided to stop broadcasting live football commentary for the regions two biggest clubs — Sunderland A.F.C. and Newcastle Utd. However after a negative response from football fans, bosses decided to cover all Sunderland and Newcastle games on sister station Magic 1152.

Current presenters are

• Tony Horne
• Anna Foster
• Marc Henry
• Mark Thorburn
• Brian Moore
• Wayne Tunncliffe (Wayne)
• Alan Robson
• Stu Smith
• Nick Jordan
• Simon Crabtree
• Pete Greaves

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.

[edit] External links

• Official website
• History of the Radio Station
• Jingles
• More jingles
• Burnhope transmitter
• Fenham transmitter
• Newton transmitter