Buzz 97.1
Encyclopedia
Heart Wirral was an Independent Local Radio
station broadcasting to the Wirral Peninsula
, sharing its facilities with Heart Wrexham and Gold, in Gwersyllt
, Wrexham
.
The station, owned by Global Radio
(originally by Marcher Radio Group
), broadcast a mix of popular music and presenter chat. Launched in 1989 as MFM 97.1 (an opt-out service from the main Marcher Sound output), the station relaunched as Wirral's Buzz on 14 February 1999, before becoming Heart Wirral in 2009. The station was broadcast from the Storeton transmitter
at Storeton Hill in Higher Bebington
and although it officially broadcast to Wirral, it could be received as far east as Warrington
and as far west as Ruthin
in the Heart Wrexham region.
In November 2005, it was announced that GCap's former Marcher Radio Group
stations, including Buzz, were to be sold. This was due to the fact that they were outside of the company's primary target area, however in 2006 GCap decided to call off the sales. Up until June 2008, the station's line-up of networked shows featured some programming from the Century lineup such as Hairbrush Divas. Century's former owner Capital Radio
merged with Buzz's former owner GWR to form GCap Media.
On 21 June 2010, Global Radio announced plans to close Heart Wirral and merge the station with Heart Cheshire and North East Wales
and Heart North Wales Coast as part of plans to reduce the Heart network of stations from 33 to 15. The new station, Heart North West and Wales
, began broadcasting from Wrexham on Friday 2 July 2010.
Independent Local Radio
Independent Local Radio is the collective name given to commercial radio stations in the United Kingdom. The same name is used for Independent Local Radio in Ireland.-Development of ILR:...
station broadcasting to the Wirral Peninsula
Wirral Peninsula
Wirral or the Wirral is a peninsula in North West England. It is bounded by three bodies of water: to the west by the River Dee, forming a boundary with Wales, to the east by the River Mersey and to the north by the Irish Sea. Both terms "Wirral" and "the Wirral" are used locally , although the...
, sharing its facilities with Heart Wrexham and Gold, in Gwersyllt
Gwersyllt
Gwersyllt is an urban village and a local government community, the lowest tier of local government, part of Wrexham County Borough in Wales....
, Wrexham
Wrexham
Wrexham is a town in Wales. It is the administrative centre of the wider Wrexham County Borough, and the largest town in North Wales, located in the east of the region. It is situated between the Welsh mountains and the lower Dee Valley close to the border with Cheshire, England...
.
History
Global Radio
Global Radio UK Ltd. is a British commercial radio company, the largest in the country following acquisitions of Chrysalis Radio and GCap Media.The company's Chief Executive Officer is Stephen Miron, while the Group Chairman is Charles Allen...
(originally by Marcher Radio Group
Marcher Radio Group
Marcher Radio Group Ltd, previously Marcher Sound Ltd, was a former British media organisation which operated several radio stations in north Wales and north west England...
), broadcast a mix of popular music and presenter chat. Launched in 1989 as MFM 97.1 (an opt-out service from the main Marcher Sound output), the station relaunched as Wirral's Buzz on 14 February 1999, before becoming Heart Wirral in 2009. The station was broadcast from the Storeton transmitter
Storeton transmitting station
Storeton transmitting station is a television relay and radio transmitter and mast on Storeton Hill, Higher Bebington, Wirral, UK . It is a relay of Winter Hill and the only Winter Hill relay to carry all five analogue TV channels prior to digital switchover...
at Storeton Hill in Higher Bebington
Bebington
Bebington is a small town and electoral ward within the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral, in Merseyside, England. It lies south of Liverpool and west southwest of Manchester, along the River Mersey on the eastern side of the Wirral Peninsula...
and although it officially broadcast to Wirral, it could be received as far east as Warrington
Warrington
Warrington is a town, borough and unitary authority area of Cheshire, England. It stands on the banks of the River Mersey, which is tidal to the west of the weir at Howley. It lies 16 miles east of Liverpool, 19 miles west of Manchester and 8 miles south of St Helens...
and as far west as Ruthin
Ruthin
Ruthin is a community and the county town of Denbighshire in north Wales. Located around a hill in the southern part of the Vale of Clwyd - the older part of the town, the castle and Saint Peter's Square are located on top of the hill, while many newer parts of the town are on the floodplain of...
in the Heart Wrexham region.
In November 2005, it was announced that GCap's former Marcher Radio Group
Marcher Radio Group
Marcher Radio Group Ltd, previously Marcher Sound Ltd, was a former British media organisation which operated several radio stations in north Wales and north west England...
stations, including Buzz, were to be sold. This was due to the fact that they were outside of the company's primary target area, however in 2006 GCap decided to call off the sales. Up until June 2008, the station's line-up of networked shows featured some programming from the Century lineup such as Hairbrush Divas. Century's former owner Capital Radio
Capital Radio
Capital London is a London based radio station which launched on 16 October 1973 and is owned by Global Radio. On 3 January 2011 it formed part of the nine station Capital radio network.- Pre-launch :...
merged with Buzz's former owner GWR to form GCap Media.
On 21 June 2010, Global Radio announced plans to close Heart Wirral and merge the station with Heart Cheshire and North East Wales
Heart Cheshire and North East Wales
Heart Cheshire and North East Wales was an independent radio station broadcasting to north east Wales and north west England from its Mold Road studios in Gwersyllt, Wrexham, also shared with Gold and Heart Wirral.The station was owned by Global Radio who purchased the previous owner, GCap Media,...
and Heart North Wales Coast as part of plans to reduce the Heart network of stations from 33 to 15. The new station, Heart North West and Wales
Heart North West and Wales
Heart North West and Wales is an Independent Local Radio station broadcasting to Cheshire, the Wirral Peninsula and North Wales. The station began broadcasting on 2 July 2010 as a result of a merger between Heart Cheshire and North East Wales , Heart Wirral and Heart North Wales Coast...
, began broadcasting from Wrexham on Friday 2 July 2010.