Product Code Database
Heart East is a regional radio station owned and operated by Global Group as part of the Heart network. It broadcast to the East of England from studios in Milton Keynes.
The station launched on 3 June 2019, following a merger of four Heart stations in Cambridgeshire, East Anglia, Heart Essex and the Four Counties.
Previously, these licences broadcast separate stations:
By the early 1990s, these stations fell into the ownership of four regional radio groups, namely Chiltern Radio Network, the Essex FM Group, East Anglian Radio and Mid-Anglia Radio. Eventually, all four of these groups were brought by the GWR Group (later GCap Media), which was taken over by Global in 2008.
In 2009, nine of the stations were rebranded as part of the rollout of the Heart network across 29 local radio stations owned by Global. Hereward FM, Northants 96, Q103, Radio Broadland, Horizon Radio and SGR relaunched in January, followed by Essex FM in June. By this point, local programming had been reduced to ten hours on weekdays and four hours at weekends.
The exception was Ten-17, which was part of a separate Hit Music Network, combining its local output from Harlow with networked programming from Nottingham.
During the summer of 2010, Global merged the ten stations in the east of England to four - with Ten-17 closing and joining the Heart network as a result:
Local programming was further cut to seven hours on weekdays, although localised news bulletins, bumpers (ex. "Across Milton Keynes" was announced on 103.3, whilst similar bumpers were used on other transmitters), traffic updates and advertising continued to air as opt-outs. The Cambridgeshire and Four Counties stations latterly moved from Peterborough and Dunstable to Cambridge and Milton Keynes respectively.
On 26 February 2019, following OFCOM's decision to relax local content obligations from commercial radio, Global announced it would merge the four Heart stations into one. Global to network Capital, Heart and Smooth breakfast shows, RadioToday, 26 February 2019
As of June 2019, regional programming consists of a three-hour Drivetime show on weekdays, alongside localised opt-outs for news bulletins, traffic updates and advertising. Amanda Holden to join Jamie Theakston for Heart UK Breakfast, Radio Today, 29 April 2019 Local breakfast and weekend shows were replaced with network programming from London.
Global's studio centres in Cambridge, Chelmsford and Norwich were closed, although local newsgathering and sales staff were retained. Across the four stations, fifteen local presenters left the Heart network. Heart Drivetime show presenters announced by Global, Radio Today, 20 May 2019
As of 24 February 2025, all programming originates from Global's London headquarters, including Heart Drive, presented each weekday by JK and Kelly Brook. Global introduces new ‘nations strategy’ and drops local and regional shows in England, Roy Martin, Radio Today, 9 January 2025 National presenters confirmed for Heart, Capital and Smooth in England, Roy Martin, Radio Today, 5 February 2025 Global confirms new nationwide radio shows for Heart, Capital & Smooth, Global, 5 February 2025
Journalists within the East of England also produce bulletins for the Communicorp owned Heart Hertfordshire. Heart Dunstable public file
|
|
