Heart Network
Encyclopedia
Heart is a radio network of 17 adult contemporary independent local radio
stations in central & southern England and north Wales. Each station broadcasts local breakfast and drive time shows and simulcasts network programming at all other times. Sixteen of the Heart stations are owned and operated by Global Radio
with one station owned independently as a franchise
, (Heart Hertfordshire).
. Chrysalis' radio holdings were sold to Global Radio in 2007.
There are two theories of how the original Heart station was given its name. One is that it got its name from being based in the heart of Birmingham. The more commonly held theory is that it is taken from the phrase Heart of England
which Birmingham and often the wider West Midlands region is often referred to as.
When GCap Media was taken over by Global Radio in 2008, it announced plans to dissolve the 41 station One Network, with one station (Power FM) becoming part of the Galaxy Network, four stations (BRMB
, Beacon Radio, Mercia FM
and Wyvern FM
) forming a West Midlands regional network (which was latterly sold to Orion Media along with Heart 106), seven stations joining Capital FM to form The Hit Music Network
and the remaining 29 stations forming the Heart Network. Heart East Midlands was sold to Orion Media due to the same competition concerns that had forced its earlier sale to Chrysalis, and as a result this was operated by Orion Media using the Heart name and content under licence, until 1 January 2011 when it split from the Heart network, becoming Gem 106. (As a result of this and other changes, including the creation of Capital FM East Midlands, Global Radio placed a relay of Heart 106.2
in place of Galaxy Digital
on DAB in Leicester and Nottingham, such that listeners could continue to receive Heart network content in these areas.)
Between June and September 2010, Global Radio merged a vast majority of the Heart stations to create a smaller network of local & regional stations, in line with new OFCOM
guidelines on local output requirements.
on 96.3 FM (North Wales Coast) also opts out for an extra hour-long programme in Welsh at 5am on weekday mornings and 7am on Sundays.
, who also supply packages for Global Radio's Capital FM Network, LBC and Gold Network. The network's imaging voiceovers are Alex Hall and Martin Bruce while the sponsorship and promotion voiceovers are Dave Kelly and Anna Butterfield.
Stations in Gloucestershire, Kent, London, the West Midlands
, the East Midlands and Wiltshire were unaffected by the changes. Heart Cymru, serving Gwynedd and Anglesey, moved its studios from Bangor to Wrexham but retained its extended local output of 10 hours on weekdays and 8 hours on Saturdays and Sundays. Heart North West and Wales
retained an opt-out on 96.3FM (the North Wales Coast) for Welsh language programming.
On 1 January 2011, Orion Media, the owners of Heart East Midlands (one of the original three Heart stations) renamed and relaunched the station as 'Gem 106', ending a franchise agreement with Global Radio formed when Global purchased GCap and which allowed it to use the Heart identity and carry networked programming from London. The move saw networked programming largely replaced by local shows.
and Crawley, West Sussex complained about the merger of Heart stations and called for a boycott of the station.
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:...
stations in central & southern England and north Wales. Each station broadcasts local breakfast and drive time shows and simulcasts network programming at all other times. Sixteen of the Heart stations are owned and operated by Global Radio
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...
with one station owned independently as a franchise
Franchising
Franchising is the practice of using another firm's successful business model. The word 'franchise' is of anglo-French derivation - from franc- meaning free, and is used both as a noun and as a verb....
, (Heart Hertfordshire).
History
Heart was launched in the West Midlands in 1994, with a London station following in 1995. Century 106 in the East Midlands became the third station of the Heart network in 2005, when GCap Media sold Century 106 to Heart's then-owner Chrysalis GroupChrysalis Group
Chrysalis Group is a UK media company. It was founded by Chris Wright, who remains chairman and was listed the 1,000th richest person in the UK in The Times Rich List 2009...
. Chrysalis' radio holdings were sold to Global Radio in 2007.
There are two theories of how the original Heart station was given its name. One is that it got its name from being based in the heart of Birmingham. The more commonly held theory is that it is taken from the phrase Heart of England
Heart of England
Heart of England may refer to:*English Midlands*Heart of England Business and Enterprise School*Heart of England Co-operative Society*Heart of England NHS Trust*Heart of England Way...
which Birmingham and often the wider West Midlands region is often referred to as.
When GCap Media was taken over by Global Radio in 2008, it announced plans to dissolve the 41 station One Network, with one station (Power FM) becoming part of the Galaxy Network, four stations (BRMB
Brmb
brmb is a local radio station based in Birmingham, UK, owned and operated by Orion Media. The station broadcasts on 96.4 FM, DAB Digital Radio in the West Midlands and online...
, Beacon Radio, Mercia FM
Mercia FM
Mercia is an Independent Local Radio station serving Coventry and Warwickshire. The station, owned and operated by Orion Media broadcasts from studios shared with BRMB at Broad Street in Birmingham.-History:...
and Wyvern FM
Wyvern FM
Wyvern is a radio station broadcasting to Herefordshire and Worcestershire in England. Wyvern is predominantly music-based, playing pop from the 1980s through to the present day...
) forming a West Midlands regional network (which was latterly sold to Orion Media along with Heart 106), seven stations joining Capital FM to form The Hit Music Network
The Hit Music Network
The Hit Music Network was a collection of five Independent Local Radio stations operating in the United Kingdom and owned by Global Radio. Created in September 2008, the stations were formerly owned by GCap Media prior to its takeover by Global and, with the exception of 95.8 Capital FM, were all...
and the remaining 29 stations forming the Heart Network. Heart East Midlands was sold to Orion Media due to the same competition concerns that had forced its earlier sale to Chrysalis, and as a result this was operated by Orion Media using the Heart name and content under licence, until 1 January 2011 when it split from the Heart network, becoming Gem 106. (As a result of this and other changes, including the creation of Capital FM East Midlands, Global Radio placed a relay of Heart 106.2
Heart 106.2
Heart 106.2 is an Independent Local Radio station based in London and is owned by Global Radio as part of the Heart Network.On 25 June 2007 it was announced that Heart along with its sister stations The Arrow, Sky News Radio, LBC and Galaxy were to be sold for £170 million to Global Radio from...
in place of Galaxy Digital
Galaxy Digital
Galaxy Digital was a radio station broadcasting through the digital platform across the United Kingdom and was owned by Global Radio. It primarily broadcast in areas where Galaxy was not represented on FM, such as London, Leicester, Nottingham, and Derbyshire...
on DAB in Leicester and Nottingham, such that listeners could continue to receive Heart network content in these areas.)
Between June and September 2010, Global Radio merged a vast majority of the Heart stations to create a smaller network of local & regional stations, in line with new OFCOM
Ofcom
Ofcom is the government-approved regulatory authority for the broadcasting and telecommunications industries in the United Kingdom. Ofcom was initially established by the Office of Communications Act 2002. It received its full authority from the Communications Act 2003...
guidelines on local output requirements.
List of Heart stations
As of January 2011, the Heart network comprises 17 stations:- Heart CambridgeshireHeart CambridgeshireHeart Cambridgeshire is an Independent Local Radio Station broadcasting to Cambridgeshire from studios in Peterborough. The station began broadcasting on 2 July 2010 as a result of a merger between Heart Peterborough and Heart Cambridge...
- Heart Cymru
- Heart DevonHeart DevonHeart Devon is a Independent Local Radio station broadcasting to Devon. The station began broadcasting on Friday 27 August 2010 as a result of a merger between Heart Exeter and Heart Torbay , Heart Plymouth , Heart North Devon and Heart South Devon .-History:The regional station...
- Heart East AngliaHeart East AngliaHeart East Anglia is an Independent Local Radio station broadcasting to Norfolk and Suffolk. The station began broadcasting on Friday 3 September 2010 as a result of a merger between Heart Norwich and Heart Ipswich .-History:The regional station originally broadcast as three separate stations -...
- Heart EssexHeart Essex (regional)Heart Essex is an Independent Local Radio station broadcasting to Essex and East Hertfordshire. The station began broadcasting from studios in Chelmsford on Monday 26 July 2010 as a result of a merger between Heart Essex , Heart Colchester and Ten 17.-History:The regional station originally...
- Heart Four Counties
- Heart Gloucestershire
- Heart Hertfordshire (owned by Adventure Radio and operating under a franchise)
- Heart Kent
- Heart London
- Heart North West and WalesHeart North West and WalesHeart 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...
- Heart South CoastHeart South Coast (regional)Heart Solent is an Independent Local Radio station broadcasting to southern and western parts of Hampshire, West Sussex, east Dorset and the Isle of Wight...
- Heart Sussex and SurreyHeart Sussex and SurreyHeart Sussex and Surrey is an Independent Local Radio station broadcasting to Sussex and Surrey from studios in the Portslade area of Brighton. The station began broadcasting on Monday 26 July 2010 as a result of a merger between Heart Sussex and Mercury FM.-History:The regional station originally...
- Heart Thames ValleyHeart Thames ValleyHeart Thames Valley is an Independent Local Radio Station serving Berkshire, Oxfordshire, north Hampshire and parts of west Buckinghamshire from studios in Reading, southern England...
- Heart West CountryHeart West CountryHeart West Country is an Independent Local Radio station broadcasting to Bristol and Somerset. The station began broadcasting on 16 July 2010 as a result of a merger between Heart Bristol , Heart Bath and Heart Somerset .-History:The regional station originally broadcast as three separate stations...
- Heart West MidlandsHeart West MidlandsHeart West Midlands is a radio station based in Birmingham, England, as part of the Heart Network, with a regional license to broadcast to the West Midlands...
- Heart Wiltshire
Monday–Friday
| Time | Main presenter(s)/programme | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 0100–0400 | All 80s, All Night (automated) | Leicester Square Leicester Square Leicester Square is a pedestrianised square in the West End of London, England. The Square lies within an area bound by Lisle Street, to the north; Charing Cross Road, to the east; Orange Street, to the south; and Whitcomb Street, to the west... , London London London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its... |
| 0400–0600 | Nicola Bonn | |
| 0600–1000 | Heart Breakfast (Local) | Various |
| 1000–1300 | Toby Anstis Toby Anstis Toby Anstis is a radio presenter on Global Radio's Heart Network of stations. He presents his morning show weekdays from 10.00am - 1.00pm across the Heart branded network.... |
Leicester Square Leicester Square Leicester Square is a pedestrianised square in the West End of London, England. The Square lies within an area bound by Lisle Street, to the north; Charing Cross Road, to the east; Orange Street, to the south; and Whitcomb Street, to the west... , London London London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its... |
| 1300–1600 | Nick Snaith | |
| 1600–1900 | Heart Drivetime (Local) | Various |
| 1900–2200 | Simon Dale | Leicester Square Leicester Square Leicester Square is a pedestrianised square in the West End of London, England. The Square lies within an area bound by Lisle Street, to the north; Charing Cross Road, to the east; Orange Street, to the south; and Whitcomb Street, to the west... , London London London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its... |
| 2200–0100 | Simon Beale | |
Friday variation
| Time | Main presenter(s) | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1900–0000 | Club Classics with Simon Dale | Leicester Square Leicester Square Leicester Square is a pedestrianised square in the West End of London, England. The Square lies within an area bound by Lisle Street, to the north; Charing Cross Road, to the east; Orange Street, to the south; and Whitcomb Street, to the west... , London London London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its... |
Saturday
| Time | Main presenter(s)/programme | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 0000–0200 | Club Classics (automated) | Leicester Square Leicester Square Leicester Square is a pedestrianised square in the West End of London, England. The Square lies within an area bound by Lisle Street, to the north; Charing Cross Road, to the east; Orange Street, to the south; and Whitcomb Street, to the west... , London London London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its... |
| 0200–0600 | Vanessa Elms | |
| 0600–0800 | Matt Wilkinson | |
| 0800–1200 | Heart Breakfast (Local) | Various |
| 1200–1600 | Nick Snaith | Leicester Square Leicester Square Leicester Square is a pedestrianised square in the West End of London, England. The Square lies within an area bound by Lisle Street, to the north; Charing Cross Road, to the east; Orange Street, to the south; and Whitcomb Street, to the west... , London London London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its... |
| 1600–1900 | Emma Bunton Emma Bunton Emma Lee Bunton is an English pop singer/songwriter and TV and radio presenter. She was a member of the 1990s girl group, the Spice Girls, in which she was known as Baby Spice as she was the youngest member. In 2010, she joined the judging panel on ITV's Dancing on Ice... |
|
| 1900–0000 | Club Classics with Steve Denyer | |
Sunday
| Time | Main presenter(s)/programme | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 0000–0200 | Club Classics (automated) | Leicester Square Leicester Square Leicester Square is a pedestrianised square in the West End of London, England. The Square lies within an area bound by Lisle Street, to the north; Charing Cross Road, to the east; Orange Street, to the south; and Whitcomb Street, to the west... , London London London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its... |
| 0200–0600 | Vanessa Elms | |
| 0600–0800 | Matt Wilkinson | |
| 0800–1200 | Heart Breakfast (Local) | Various |
| 1200–1600 | Jason Donovan Jason Donovan Jason Donovan is an Australian actor and singer. He initially achieved fame in the Australian soap opera Neighbours, before beginning a career in music in 1988. In the UK he has sold over 3 million records, and his début album Ten Good Reasons was one of the highest-selling albums of 1989... |
Leicester Square Leicester Square Leicester Square is a pedestrianised square in the West End of London, England. The Square lies within an area bound by Lisle Street, to the north; Charing Cross Road, to the east; Orange Street, to the south; and Whitcomb Street, to the west... , London London London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its... |
| 1600–1900 | Rich Clarke Richard Clarke (radio personality) Richard "Rich" Clarke is a British radio presenter and DJ from Worcester, England currently employed by Global Radio as a presenter on Capital FM and The Vodafone Big Top 40.-Student radio:... & Kat Shoob Kat Shoob Katherine 'Kat' Shoob is a British radio presenter on The Vodafone Big Top 40.Shoob modelled for Maxim in September 2006.Shoob presented The Mint, a phone-in quiz that was shown on ITV1 and ITV2... : The Vodafone Freebees Big Top 40 |
|
| 1900–2200 | Chris Skinner | |
| 2200–0100 | Simon Beale |
Network relief presenters
- Matt Wilkinson
- Steve Denyer (Heart West Midlands)
- Chris Skinner (Heart Cambridgeshire)
- Dan Mills (Heart South Coast)
- Matt Jarvis (Heart Four Counties)
- Chris Marston (Heart East Anglia)
- Ben JonesBen Jones (DJ)Ben Jones is an English radio DJ and former children's television presenter. He is currently a presenter on the Heart Network, a position he has held since 2011.-Early career:...
Network opt-outs
Heart Cymru opts out of the network schedule for additional Welsh language programming – the station runs a five-hour drivetime show on weekdays from 2-7pm, following an automated hour of non-stop music and airs an extra local programme on Saturday and Sunday afternoons (12-4pm). Heart North West and WalesHeart 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...
on 96.3 FM (North Wales Coast) also opts out for an extra hour-long programme in Welsh at 5am on weekday mornings and 7am on Sundays.
Network presentation
The Heart Network uses a jingle package, composed by the Seattle-based music production company IQ BeatsIQ Beats
IQ Beats is a music production company specializing in radio jingles and library production music based in Seattle, Washington, composed of Michael Berlin , Steven Scalfati Kip Beelman , Patrick Napper , Dudley Taft and is represented in the UK and...
, who also supply packages for Global Radio's Capital FM Network, LBC and Gold Network. The network's imaging voiceovers are Alex Hall and Martin Bruce while the sponsorship and promotion voiceovers are Dave Kelly and Anna Butterfield.
Network restructuring
On 21 June 2010, Global Radio announced plans to restructure the Heart Network. By the end of the restructuing process, the number of stations had been reduced from 33 to 18. Two Hit Music Network stations were also closed and merged with Heart stations.- The Peterborough and Cambridge stations merged to form Heart CambridgeshireHeart CambridgeshireHeart Cambridgeshire is an Independent Local Radio Station broadcasting to Cambridgeshire from studios in Peterborough. The station began broadcasting on 2 July 2010 as a result of a merger between Heart Peterborough and Heart Cambridge...
from Peterborough. - The ExeterHeart Exeter and Heart TorbayHeart Exeter and Heart Torbay were part of the Heart Network of commercial local radio stations operated by Global Radio in the United Kingdom. The stations were launched on 23 March 2009, and replaced Gemini FM, which was the previous commercial radio station for the Exeter and Torbay areas in...
, TorbayHeart Exeter and Heart TorbayHeart Exeter and Heart Torbay were part of the Heart Network of commercial local radio stations operated by Global Radio in the United Kingdom. The stations were launched on 23 March 2009, and replaced Gemini FM, which was the previous commercial radio station for the Exeter and Torbay areas in...
, Plymouth, South Devon and North Devon stations merged to form Heart DevonHeart DevonHeart Devon is a Independent Local Radio station broadcasting to Devon. The station began broadcasting on Friday 27 August 2010 as a result of a merger between Heart Exeter and Heart Torbay , Heart Plymouth , Heart North Devon and Heart South Devon .-History:The regional station...
from Exeter. - The Norwich and Ipswich stations merged to form Heart East AngliaHeart East AngliaHeart East Anglia is an Independent Local Radio station broadcasting to Norfolk and Suffolk. The station began broadcasting on Friday 3 September 2010 as a result of a merger between Heart Norwich and Heart Ipswich .-History:The regional station originally broadcast as three separate stations -...
from Norwich. - The Chelmsford & SouthendHeart Essex (Chelmsford & Southend)Heart Essex was a British commercial radio station. It was launched on 12 September 1981, broadcasting from Southend-on-Sea and since 27 October 2004 from Chelmsford, both in Essex.-History:...
& Colchester stations and Ten 17Ten 17Ten-17 was an Independent Local Radio station, broadcast from studios at the Latton Bush Centre in Harlow. The station launched in May 1993 and served East Hertfordshire and West Essex until its closure on 25 July 2010.-1993 to 1999 - The Essex Radio Group:...
in Harlow merged to form Heart EssexHeart Essex (regional)Heart Essex is an Independent Local Radio station broadcasting to Essex and East Hertfordshire. The station began broadcasting from studios in Chelmsford on Monday 26 July 2010 as a result of a merger between Heart Essex , Heart Colchester and Ten 17.-History:The regional station originally...
from Chelmsford. - Hertfordshire's Mercury 96.6 in St Albans rebranded and relaunched as Heart Hertfordshire.
- The Northants, Milton Keynes, DunstableHeart DunstableHeart Dunstable was an Independent Local Radio station based in Chiltern Road in Dunstable, Bedfordshire.-History:...
and BedfordHeart BedfordHeart Bedford was an Independent Local Radio station based in the Priory Business Park in Bedford, Bedfordshire.-History:...
stations merged to form Heart Home CountiesHeart Home CountiesHeart Four Counties is an Independent Local Radio station broadcasting to Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Northamptonshire. The station began broadcasting at 4pm on Friday 16 July 2010 as a result of a merger between Heart Milton Keynes , Heart Northants , Heart Dunstable and...
from Dunstable. - The North Wales Coast, Cheshire & North East WalesHeart Cheshire and North East WalesHeart 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 Wirral stations merged to form Heart North West and WalesHeart North West and WalesHeart 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...
from Wrexham. - The Dorset & New ForestHeart Dorset & New ForestHeart Dorset was a British Independent Local Radio station, broadcast from studios at a former carpet shop on Southcote Road in Bournemouth. Its original name was derived from the fact that its broadcast area included parts of the counties of Dorset and Hampshire...
and Hampshire stations merged to form Heart South CoastHeart South Coast (regional)Heart Solent is an Independent Local Radio station broadcasting to southern and western parts of Hampshire, West Sussex, east Dorset and the Isle of Wight...
from Fareham. - The Sussex station and Mercury FM from Crawley merged to form Heart Sussex and SurreyHeart Sussex and SurreyHeart Sussex and Surrey is an Independent Local Radio station broadcasting to Sussex and Surrey from studios in the Portslade area of Brighton. The station began broadcasting on Monday 26 July 2010 as a result of a merger between Heart Sussex and Mercury FM.-History:The regional station originally...
from Brighton. - The Berkshire and Oxfordshire stations merged to form Heart Thames ValleyHeart Thames ValleyHeart Thames Valley is an Independent Local Radio Station serving Berkshire, Oxfordshire, north Hampshire and parts of west Buckinghamshire from studios in Reading, southern England...
from Reading. - The Bristol, Somerset and Bath stations merged to form Heart West CountryHeart West CountryHeart West Country is an Independent Local Radio station broadcasting to Bristol and Somerset. The station began broadcasting on 16 July 2010 as a result of a merger between Heart Bristol , Heart Bath and Heart Somerset .-History:The regional station originally broadcast as three separate stations...
from Bristol.
Stations in Gloucestershire, Kent, London, the West Midlands
Heart West Midlands
Heart West Midlands is a radio station based in Birmingham, England, as part of the Heart Network, with a regional license to broadcast to the West Midlands...
, the East Midlands and Wiltshire were unaffected by the changes. Heart Cymru, serving Gwynedd and Anglesey, moved its studios from Bangor to Wrexham but retained its extended local output of 10 hours on weekdays and 8 hours on Saturdays and Sundays. 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...
retained an opt-out on 96.3FM (the North Wales Coast) for Welsh language programming.
On 1 January 2011, Orion Media, the owners of Heart East Midlands (one of the original three Heart stations) renamed and relaunched the station as 'Gem 106', ending a franchise agreement with Global Radio formed when Global purchased GCap and which allowed it to use the Heart identity and carry networked programming from London. The move saw networked programming largely replaced by local shows.
Criticisms
In August 2010, listeners in BedfordshireBedfordshire
Bedfordshire is a ceremonial county of historic origin in England that forms part of the East of England region.It borders Cambridgeshire to the north-east, Northamptonshire to the north, Buckinghamshire to the west and Hertfordshire to the south-east....
and Crawley, West Sussex complained about the merger of Heart stations and called for a boycott of the station.