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Real Radio (Scotland)
Encyclopedia
Real Radio Scotland is an Independent Local Radio
station in Central and Southern Scotland, owned and operated by GMG Radio
. The station broadcasts from studios at Ballieston in the east end of the Glasgow on 100.3 & 101.1FM and on DAB.
began broadcasting a regional 24-hour service to Central Scotland from studios in the Leith district of Edinburgh. Originally billed pre-launch as a relatively highbrow and primarily speech-based station, the station went through numerous format changes, financial difficulties and varying fortunes with listening figures. In June 2001, the Guardian Media Group
acquired Scot FM from previous owners, the Wireless Group, for £25.5 million. Shortly afterwards, a major overhaul of the station was announced including an on-air rebrand, a move into new studios at Ballieston near Glasgow, a revamped programming line-up and a strengthened round-the-clock news service. Real Radio Scotland began broadcasting at 8am on Tuesday 8 January 2002 with breakfast presenter Robin Galloway
introducing the first song to be played, A Star is Born..
Within a year of its launch, the station reached a record weekly audience of 614,000 listeners, and by 2004, further increased its audience to 688,000, placing Real Radio as the most listened to station in Scotland. By 2007, the station's audience share reached a record 31% but had fallen 10 per cent a year later.
Real Radio Scotland has held various charity events and campaigns since its launch, including The Real Sleeopver, a Big Brother
-style reality show and the annual Bring £1 to Work Day, both in aid of the Children's Hospice Association Scotland
.
In 2006, Real Radio Scotland attempted to increase its coverage area by appplying for the new FM licence for Aberdeen & Aberdeenshire, but lost out to Original 106
, which began broadcasting in October 2007. During the summer of 2008, the station introduced networked programming including evening & overnight output from Manchester and a Saturday morning show hosted by Chris Tarrant
. Listeners' complaints led to the return of local night time output a few months later. The networked output was reintroduced during the summer of 2011.
Between 7 August 2006 and June 2009, the Irish-based sports broadcaster Setanta Sports
simulcast Real Radio's weeknight football phone-in live twice a week on Setanta Sports 1. The station also carries live commentaries for some of the Scottish national team
's matches and eight Scottish Premier League
games during the season..
at the studios of Capital in Leicester Square
, London
. On Air with Ryan Seacrest
is a syndicated production produced at KIIS-FM
in Los Angeles.
in Glasgow and 96.3 Rock Radio
in Renfrewshire
with minor changes to suit the target audiences and, in the case of Rock Radio, to satisfy the Renfrewshire element of their licence.
Heather Kane is the head of news for GMG Radio's Scottish stations, assisted by Corrie Martin.
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 in Central and Southern Scotland, owned and operated by GMG Radio
GMG Radio
GMG Radio is the radio division of the Guardian Media Group. The group is based in Laser House, Salford Quays in Greater Manchester. The advertising division is in Old Trafford, Manchester. John Myers was the Chief Executive Officer, his deputy replaced him in April 2009...
. The station broadcasts from studios at Ballieston in the east end of the Glasgow on 100.3 & 101.1FM and on DAB.
Background
In September 1994, Scot FMScot FM
Scot FM was the name of a regional radio station, originally based at Albert Quay, in Leith, serving the Central Belt of Scotland and originally co-owned by two regional ITV companies, Border Television and Grampian Television....
began broadcasting a regional 24-hour service to Central Scotland from studios in the Leith district of Edinburgh. Originally billed pre-launch as a relatively highbrow and primarily speech-based station, the station went through numerous format changes, financial difficulties and varying fortunes with listening figures. In June 2001, the Guardian Media Group
Guardian Media Group
Guardian Media Group plc is a company of the United Kingdom owning various mass media operations including The Guardian and The Observer. The Group is owned by the Scott Trust. It was founded as the Manchester Guardian Ltd in 1907 when C. P. Scott bought the Manchester Guardian from the estate of...
acquired Scot FM from previous owners, the Wireless Group, for £25.5 million. Shortly afterwards, a major overhaul of the station was announced including an on-air rebrand, a move into new studios at Ballieston near Glasgow, a revamped programming line-up and a strengthened round-the-clock news service. Real Radio Scotland began broadcasting at 8am on Tuesday 8 January 2002 with breakfast presenter Robin Galloway
Robin Galloway
Robin Galloway is a Scottish radio and TV broadcaster, currently working for Clyde 1 and five other Bauer Radio FM stations in Scotland.-Career:...
introducing the first song to be played, A Star is Born..
Within a year of its launch, the station reached a record weekly audience of 614,000 listeners, and by 2004, further increased its audience to 688,000, placing Real Radio as the most listened to station in Scotland. By 2007, the station's audience share reached a record 31% but had fallen 10 per cent a year later.
Real Radio Scotland has held various charity events and campaigns since its launch, including The Real Sleeopver, a Big Brother
Big Brother (TV series)
Big Brother is a television show in which a group of people live together in a large house, isolated from the outside world but continuously watched by television cameras. Each series lasts for around three months, and there are usually fewer than 15 participants. The housemates try to win a cash...
-style reality show and the annual Bring £1 to Work Day, both in aid of the Children's Hospice Association Scotland
Children's Hospice Association Scotland
Children’s Hospice Association Scotland is a Scottish charity that provides the only hospice services in Scotland for children and young people with life-shortening conditions...
.
In 2006, Real Radio Scotland attempted to increase its coverage area by appplying for the new FM licence for Aberdeen & Aberdeenshire, but lost out to Original 106
Original 106 (Aberdeen)
Original 106fm is an independent radio station broadcasting to Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire. It was awarded its broadcast licence in January 2007 and the station launched on October 28, 2007 at 1:06 pm. The first record played was "Revolution" by The Beatles...
, which began broadcasting in October 2007. During the summer of 2008, the station introduced networked programming including evening & overnight output from Manchester and a Saturday morning show hosted by Chris Tarrant
Chris Tarrant
Christopher John "Chris" Tarrant, OBE is an English radio and television broadcaster, now best known for hosting the first version of the television game show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? in the United Kingdom and later Ireland, as the two national versions of the show merged in 2002.Chris...
. Listeners' complaints led to the return of local night time output a few months later. The networked output was reintroduced during the summer of 2011.
Between 7 August 2006 and June 2009, the Irish-based sports broadcaster Setanta Sports
Setanta Sports
Setanta Sports is an international sports broadcaster based in Dublin, Ireland. Setanta Sports was formed in 1990 to facilitate the broadcasting of Irish sporting events...
simulcast Real Radio's weeknight football phone-in live twice a week on Setanta Sports 1. The station also carries live commentaries for some of the Scottish national team
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
's matches and eight Scottish Premier League
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
games during the season..
Programming
Most of the station's output is produced and broadcast from Real Radio Scotland's Glasgow studios. Most networked output during the evenings and overnight is now broadcast from Real Radio North West at Salford Quays in Manchester. The Vodafone Big Top 40 is a networked chart show and is produced by Global RadioGlobal 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...
at the studios of Capital in 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...
. On Air with Ryan Seacrest
On Air with Ryan Seacrest (radio)
On Air with Ryan Seacrest is the name of an American syndicated radio program hosted by Ryan Seacrest. As of 2010, the daily morning radio show airs on Los Angeles top 40 station KIIS-FM and was launched at the same time as the television show with the same name, although Seacrest had hosted a...
is a syndicated production produced at KIIS-FM
KIIS-FM
KIIS-FM is a Los Angeles, California, USA-based radio station with a partial Top 40 musical format. It is owned by Clear Channel Communications. KIIS is also simulcasted on KVVS in Rosamond, at 105.5 MHz...
in Los Angeles.
Real News Scotland
Real Radio Scotland produces and broadcasts locally-produced news bulletins on the hour during the day with additional headline bulletins during weekday breakfast and drivetime shows at 30 minutes past the hour. Variations of these bulletins also air on sister stations 105.2 Smooth Radio105.2 Smooth Radio
105.2 Smooth Radio is a Scottish Independent Local Radio station broadcasting to Glasgow and the surrounding area, owned & operated by GMG Radio and broadcasting from studios at Baillieston in the East End of Glasgow. The station replaced Saga 105.2 FM at 6am on Monday 26 March 2007 and competes...
in Glasgow and 96.3 Rock Radio
96.3 Rock Radio
96.3 Real Radio XS is a Scottish local radio station owned and operated by GMG Radio. It is based at Ballieston to the east of Glasgow and broadcasts to Renfrewshire, West Central Scotland and Central Scotland....
in Renfrewshire
Renfrewshire
Renfrewshire is one of 32 council areas used for local government in Scotland. Located in the west central Lowlands, it is one of three council areas contained within the boundaries of the historic county of Renfrewshire, the others being Inverclyde to the west and East Renfrewshire to the east...
with minor changes to suit the target audiences and, in the case of Rock Radio, to satisfy the Renfrewshire element of their licence.
Heather Kane is the head of news for GMG Radio's Scottish stations, assisted by Corrie Martin.
Local presenters
- Ewen Cameron (Weekday breakfast)
- Micky Gavin (Saturday breakfast)
- Paul Harper (Weekday daytime, Sunday mornings)
- Lynne Hoggan (Home Time)
- Cat Harvey (Weekday breakfast)
- Derek JohnstoneDerek JohnstoneDerek Joseph Johnstone is a former Scottish association footballer.Johnstone played mainly for Rangers during his career. He also had a spell at Chelsea and a brief stint in management with Partick Thistle. He mainly played as a striker but could also perform in central defence, and in midfield...
(The Real Radio Football Phone In) - Ross Macfayden (Sunday afternoons)
- Steve McKenna (Home Time, Saturday mornings)
- Alan RoughAlan RoughAlan Roderick Rough is a former Scottish international goalkeeper, who won over 50 caps and played in two FIFA World Cups...
(The Real Radio Football Phone In) - Fraser Thomson (The Real Radio Football Phone In)
Networked/syndicated presenters
- Richard ClarkeRichard 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:...
(The Vodafone Big Top 40) - David Heane (Monday - Thursday evenings, High School Days)
- Marc Henry (Sunday evenings, All Request Nightshift)
- Oli Kemp (All Request Nightshift)
- Jo Lloyd (All Request Nightshift)
- Debbie Mac (Real Club Classics)
- Ryan SeacrestRyan SeacrestRyan John Seacrest is an American radio personality, television host, network producer and voice actor. He is the host of On Air with Ryan Seacrest, a nationally syndicated Top 40 radio show that airs on KIIS-FM in Los Angeles and throughout the United States and Canada on Premiere Radio Networks,...
(On Air with Ryan SeacrestOn Air with Ryan Seacrest (radio)On Air with Ryan Seacrest is the name of an American syndicated radio program hosted by Ryan Seacrest. As of 2010, the daily morning radio show airs on Los Angeles top 40 station KIIS-FM and was launched at the same time as the television show with the same name, although Seacrest had hosted a...
) - Kat ShoobKat ShoobKatherine '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 Big Top 40) - Elliot Webb (All Request Nightshift)
Past presenters
- Nick AbbotNick AbbotNick Abbot is a British radio presenter, who has presented on numarious radio station in the uk for past 20 years.-History:Nick Abbot was born 22 August 1960, and was educated at George Heriot's School, Edinburgh and Brunel University in Uxbridge where he gained a degree in psychology. Abbot's...
(now at LBCLBCLBC Radio operates two London-based radio stations, with news and talk formats. LBC was Britain's first legal commercial Independent Local Radio station, providing a service of news and information to London. It began broadcasting on 8 October 1973, a week ahead of Capital Radio...
) - Jenny Farrish (now station voiceover and relief presenter on Smooth Radio105.2 Smooth Radio105.2 Smooth Radio is a Scottish Independent Local Radio station broadcasting to Glasgow and the surrounding area, owned & operated by GMG Radio and broadcasting from studios at Baillieston in the East End of Glasgow. The station replaced Saga 105.2 FM at 6am on Monday 26 March 2007 and competes...
) - Robin GallowayRobin GallowayRobin Galloway is a Scottish radio and TV broadcaster, currently working for Clyde 1 and five other Bauer Radio FM stations in Scotland.-Career:...
(now at Clyde 1) - Dougie Jackson (moved to Smooth FM, now at Central FMCentral 103.1 FMCentral 103.1 FM is a radio station in the United Kingdom broadcasting to Falkirk, Stirling and Clackmannanshire from studios in Falkirk High Street.- Station history :...
) - Dave Knight
- Bill Young
- Brian Woolfson (now at Central FMCentral 103.1 FMCentral 103.1 FM is a radio station in the United Kingdom broadcasting to Falkirk, Stirling and Clackmannanshire from studios in Falkirk High Street.- Station history :...
) - James Toy
- Tom Wilson
- Ray Daniels
- Willie Docherty
- Graham Stewart
- Joe Kilday (now at Central FMCentral 103.1 FMCentral 103.1 FM is a radio station in the United Kingdom broadcasting to Falkirk, Stirling and Clackmannanshire from studios in Falkirk High Street.- Station history :...
) - Shereen Tulloch
- Jonathan Harper
- Kieron Elliott
- John Burns
- Paul Carlin (alias Carnage, now at Wired 96.3CFWD-FMCFWD-FM is a radio station in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. The station broadcasts at 96.3 FM and plays a contemporary hit radio format. Licensed to Harvard Broadcasting on May 28, 2007, the station was originally scheduled to launch on 92.3 FM...
) - Gary Davies (Gary Davies' Real Album Chart)
- Melanie SykesMelanie SykesMelanie Ann Sykes is an English television presenter and model.-Career:Melanie Sykes was born to an English father, and an Anglo-Indian mother. She first came to public attention as the bikini-clad girl in the Boddingtons beer advertisements with the broad "Northern" accent in the mid-1990s...
(The A List) - Nick Snaith (The A List, now at The Heart Network)
- Colin McAllister and Justin RyanColin McAllister and Justin RyanColin Lewis McAllister and Justin Patrick Ryan are Scottish interior decorators and television presenters...
- Wes ButtersWes ButtersWes Butters , is a radio broadcaster, formerly of BBC Radio 1, and writer.-Early life:...
(now at BBC Leeds) - Steve Jordan (now at Yorkshire Coast RadioYorkshire Coast RadioYorkshire Coast Radio is an Independent Local Radio station based in the seaside resort of Scarborough, North Yorkshire. YCR is officially two Ofcom licenses, one for Scarborough and Whitby in North Yorkshire and one for Bridlington in the East Riding of Yorkshire.-History:For many years several...
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