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Bauer Move To One Golden Sq

occyoccy Posts: 65,203
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in Radio and Podcasts #1
Bauer Media’s radio stations are moving from Mappin House in London to One Golden Square – the home of Absolute Radio.

The move will see Bauer create a “London Broadcast Centre” ( Another One for London )which will house all of its radio brands – Magic 105.4, Kiss, Planet Rock, Absolute Radio, Kerrang! and heat Radio.

Ten new studios will be built as the building, which has been home to Absolute/Virgin since 1993, undertakes a period of internal work. A new live performance session space with video recording capabilities and a refreshed reception area will also be created to reflect the location as the home of the national brands.

London Managing Director, Bauer Radio Steve Parkinson said, “One Golden Square is an iconic radio location, known to the media industry and audiences alike. Having the national radio teams in one building will support our business objectives to drive initiatives and ideas across the Bauer Media group, and to build audiences and revenue”.

The move sees an end to Bauer Media’s radio division occupying Mappin House – which has been home to Kiss and Magic since previous owner EMAP moved the stations in with its publishing division.

Bauer Media purchased Absolute Radio in July 2013 and the deal was approved in December 2013. Since then a number of staff positions in HR, sales and accounts have been made redundant as the two companies combine.

http://radiotoday.co.uk/2014/03/bauer-to-move-radio-to-one-golden-square/

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    occyoccy Posts: 65,203
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    #2
    Ten new high tec studios built. I guess some new presenters will be joining afterwards?
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    SonOfPurpleSonOfPurple Posts: 2,653
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    #3
    Well, the interesting move is heat moving from Manchester, where it currently shares some presenters with Key 103/The Hits, to London, where it's possible some Magic, Absolute and/or Kiss presenters may take over their slots. Magic and Kiss will presumably transfer across from Mappin House largely unscathed, and it'll be interesting to see if the move leads to any reorganisation among the combined portfolio of digital services - I can see Kerrang!, which has a specific modern rock format, carrying on, but Planet Rock and Absolute Classic Rock are likely to be combined (possibly under the ACR name, so as to allow it to be co-promoted with Absolute.) KissFresh, Kisstory and the Absolute decades stations are the ones which could see changes once they're under the same roof, mind - we already know Kisstory's being squeezed into DAB somewhere, and once it gets onto the Golden Square systems it may be able to use Absolute capacity to do so...
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    Peace100Peace100 Posts: 3,155
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    #4
    I would lay money on the Absolute brand disappearing entirely, Planet Rock possibly taking on AM nationwide and certainly FM in London. National networking for the FM stations will be broadcast from Golden Square much like Global in L square.
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    FM LoverFM Lover Posts: 50,848
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    #5
    Just seen a FB post by Leona. She's covering the 2-6pm shift on Planet Rock this week, she says it's the first time in 14 years she's worked for a different station rather than the Virgin/Absolute brand.
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    occyoccy Posts: 65,203
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    #6
    FM Lover wrote: »
    Just seen a FB post by Leona. She's covering the 2-6pm shift on Planet Rock this week, she says it's the first time in 14 years she's worked for a different station rather than the Virgin/Absolute brand.

    I saw that on RT last week.

    http://radiotoday.co.uk/2014/04/leona-graham-to-present-on-planet-rock/
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    hanssolohanssolo Posts: 22,674
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    #7
    SonOfPurple wrote: »
    Planet Rock and Absolute Classic Rock are likely to be combined (possibly under the ACR name, so as to allow it to be co-promoted with Absolute.)
    Looks like the Heat move to London and Leona's cover might the the start of several changes, but looks like Planet rock rather than ACR might become the main Bauer Classic rock brand?
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