Big City Network

Big City Network is the name given to a network of Independent Local Radio stations across Northern England, Scotland and Northern Ireland all owned by Bauer Radio. Since Bauer's acquisition of Metropolitan Broadcasting in 1996 there has been gradual brand integration such as a standard logo and websites. Also some of the Big City Network stations have sister Magic Radio stations broadcast from the same locations.

Many of the former Scottish Radio Holdings stations were added to the Big City Network on 28 September 2006, branded as "Big City Network Scotland and Northern Ireland", although all stations kept their original logos, with the exception of CFM. West Sound is the only AM station in the network.

Most stations in the network have a charity called "Cash for Kids" helping local disadvantaged children. The news for the stations' websites is provided by ITN.

Big City's biggest rival radio network is GCap Media's The One Network, with over thirty eight local stations.

Current stations

England

All English stations within the Big City Network share the pink splash in their logo as well as the pink and black colour scheme for branding.

The Hits Radio

Though not directly within the "Big City Network" The Hits Radio is built up from many of the shows from stations within the Big City network. Presenters from across the network voice track shows for it, though the main broadcasts come from Manchester (Key 103). The Hits is available on DAB Digital Radio in London and across the UK via Freeview, Sky Digital and Virgin Media. It also takes most of the networked shows, including hit40uk and In Demand. The jingle package is a re-sing of Key 103's.

Networked Broadcasting

Bauer network some shows across many of their Big City Network stations. Currently, none of the Scottish and Northern Irish stations broadcast networked programmes from the Big City Network. These shows are broadcast from their flagship station; Key 103 and include:
*Early Morning Nicksy - Early Breakfast Show, Weekdays, 2-6am (TFM Radio and Metro Radio opt out of the last hour of the show because their breakfast shows start at 5am). The Hits Radio doesn't take this show.
*Rich & Luce - In Demand, (Current Music Show) Mon-Thurs 7-10pm
*Feel Good Friday with Luce, (Dance Genre Show) Friday 7-10pm
*Dominic Walker - Weekend Breakfast (Metro Radio opt out of the Sunday Show)

The Chart show, hit40uk with Lucio, is also broadcast across all of the Big City Network stations but is produced by GCap Media and not by Bauer. The show broadcasts every Sunday between 4-7pm.

External links

* [http://www.bigcitynetwork.com Official website]