Signal 107

Signal 107 is a local radio station owned and operated by Bauer as part of the Greatest Hits Radio network. It broadcasts to Wolverhampton and surrounding areas, Telford and Wrekin, Shrewsbury, Oswestry in north and central Shropshire and Kidderminster, Stourport-on-Severn and Bewdley in north Worcestershire.

Signal 107
CityWolverhampton
Broadcast areaWolverhampton, North and Central Shropshire, North Worcestershire
FrequencyFM: 106.5, 107.1, 107.2, 107.4, 107.7 MHz RDS: Sig 107
SloganThe Greatest Hits for
Programming
FormatClassic Hits
NetworkGreatest Hits Radio
Ownership
OwnerBauer
Sister stationsFree Radio
Greatest Hits Radio
History
First air date26 March 2012
Links
Websitewww.signal107.co.uk

The station is due to be merged and rebranded as Greatest Hits Radio in September 2020.

Overview

The station, owned and operated by Bauer Radio, launched on Monday 26 March 2012 as a result of the merger of three stations - The Wolf, The Severn (previously known in Telford as Telford FM) and The Wyre. It broadcasts from studios above the Mander Shopping Centre in Wolverhampton.

History

Signal 107 originally broadcast as four stations - The Wolf began broadcasting to Wolverhampton and the surrounding areas from its Mander House studios in the city on 7 October 1997 while Telford FM launched in the Telford and Wrekin area on 3 May 1999. The Wyre started broadcasts in Kidderminster, Bewdley, Stourport-on-Severn, Stourbridge and Bromsgrove on 12 September 2005, followed by The Severn in Shrewsbury and Oswestry on 18 September 2006, initially providing separate programming services for north and central Shropshire.

Telford FM, The Wyre and The Severn were owned and operated by the Midlands News Association. The three stations were co-located at Telford FM's studios in 2009 following permission from OFCOM. On 20 September 2010, the Telford station was rebranded as The Severn and allowed to share all programming with the Shrewsbury/Oswestry station. In November 2011, the station's owners announced that the stations would be closed unless a buyer could be found.[1]

On 3 February 2012, The Wyre and The Severn were both acquired by UTV Media, which had owned The Wolf since a buyout from The Wireless Group in mid-2005. Live programming ended on the same day on both former MNA stations.[2] All three stations merged and rebranded as Signal 107 at midday on Monday 26 March 2012.[3]

Station rebrand

On 8 February 2019, Signal 107 and the Wireless Group's local radio stations were sold to Bauer Radio. The sale was ratified in March 2020 following an inquiry by the Competition and Markets Authority.[4]

On 27 May 2020, it was announced that Signal 107 will join Bauer's Greatest Hits Radio network.[5]

On 13 July 2020, local programming outside weekday breakfast was replaced by networked output from the GHR network, with Signal 107 retaining its own branding.[6]

In September 2020, the station will rebrand as Greatest Hits Radio and merge with three stations in the Midlands. The station's local breakfast show will be replaced by a regional drivetime show from Birmingham. Localised news bulletins, traffic updates and advertising will be retained.[7] The station's Wolverhampton studios will close.

Programming

Local programming is produced and broadcast from studios in Wolverhampton from 6am–10am on weekdays.

Networked programming originates from the network's Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham and Glasgow studios and from Bauer's Golden Square headquarters in Soho.

News

Signal 107 broadcasts local news bulletins hourly from 6 am to 6 am on weekdays, from 7 am to 1 pm on Saturdays and from 8 am to 12 pm on Sundays. Separate bulletins are broadcast for the three licence areas - headlines are broadcast on the half-hour during weekday breakfast and drivetime shows.[8] The station also simulcasts hourly Sky News Radio bulletins at all other times.

Outside Broadcasting and Events

Signal 107 regularly broadcasts live from various locations across the TSA. It has a purpose built roadshow/outside broadcast unit which has a self-contained stage and PA system on board.

gollark: ...
gollark: It won't, it's on *my* end.
gollark: OH NO NETWORK PROBLEMS ÆÆÆÆA
gollark: I hate networking.
gollark: Sorry, the router runs on my laptop, which ran into network issues.

References
  1. Severn and Wyre to close next month, Radio Today, 30 November 2011
  2. "Wyre and Severn sold to UTV Media". Radio Today. 3 February 2012. Retrieved 3 February 2012.
  3. The Wolf, Wyre, Severn become Signal, Radio Today, 7 February 2012
  4. https://www.bauermedia.co.uk/newsroom/press-releases/cma-today-clears-the-acquisitions-of-lincs-fm-celador-radio-ukrd-and-wireless-local-stations CMA today clears the acquisitions of Lincs FM, Celador Radio, UKRD and Wireless local stations, Bauer Media, 12 March 2020
  5. Most of acquired Bauer stations to become Greatest Hits Radio Stuart Clarkson, Radio Today, 27 May 2020
  6. Bauer starts to roll out Hits and Greatest Hits to new radio stations Stuart Clarkson, Radio Today, 9 July 2020
  7. Most of acquired Bauer stations to become Greatest Hits Radio Stuart Clarkson, Radio Today, 27 May 2020
  8. Signal 107 public file

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