East Anglian Radio
Encyclopedia
East Anglian Radio was a company based in Norwich that operated radio stations in the Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex counties of the UK.
The stations they owned were:
which operated Radio Orwell and Saxon creating the Broadland Group. Orwell and Saxon were renamed SGR and SGR Colchester was launched. To reflect the addition of these new stations to the group, The Broadland Group became East Anglian Radio.
In 1995 the decision was made by the East Anglian Radio Group to make better use of the AM frequencies by creating a new service. Amber Radio was launched to play 60's and 70's music, leaving Radio Broadland and SGR to focus more on current and recent chart hits.
In 1996, GWR Group, who had been acquiring large numbers of radio stations and groups for around seven years, decided to make a bid for the entire East Anglian Radio Group which now consisted of Radio Broadland, SGR, and Amber Radio.
The group saw major changes following the initial takeover, a merger between GWR and Capital Radio
(GCAP
) on 9 May 2005 and a further take over of GCAP by Global Radio
.
The SGR stations and Broadland took more networked programming and a new strapline of Today's Better Music Mix was introduced as well as similar logos. Eventually they lost their heritage names and became part of the Heart Network
of stations, sometimes referred to as Heart Norwich, Heart Colchester and Heart Ipswich.
While Amber Radio
, became Classic Gold Amber, then Classic Gold
, then simply Gold.
The East Anglian Radio Group was not linked to East Anglian Radio Services, a small independent business, based in Lowestoft operating in the theatrical production area since the mid 1980s.
The stations they owned were:
- SGR FM in IpswichIpswichIpswich is a large town and a non-metropolitan district. It is the county town of Suffolk, England. Ipswich is located on the estuary of the River Orwell...
& Bury St Edmunds (Originally Radio Orwell in Ipswich, and Saxon Radio in Norwich pre 1992). - SGR Colchester in ColchesterColchesterColchester is an historic town and the largest settlement within the borough of Colchester in Essex, England.At the time of the census in 2001, it had a population of 104,390. However, the population is rapidly increasing, and has been named as one of Britain's fastest growing towns. As the...
. - Radio Broadland in NorwichNorwichNorwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom...
. - Amber RadioAmber RadioAmber Radio was a golden oldies radio station operating from Norwich, part of East Anglia in the United Kingdom.It was the AM sister station of SGR and Radio Broadland and served Norfolk and north Suffolk and Ipswich and Bury St Edmunds.-History:...
in IpswichIpswichIpswich is a large town and a non-metropolitan district. It is the county town of Suffolk, England. Ipswich is located on the estuary of the River Orwell...
and NorwichNorwichNorwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom...
.
History
In 1990, Radio Broadland took over the Suffolk Group RadioSuffolk Group Radio
Suffolk Group Radio was the parent company for two Independent Local Radio stations serving the county of Suffolk in England.-The Stations:Radio Orwell began transmissions in Ipswich on 28 October 1975. It was one of the original group of ILR stations set up by the Independent Broadcasting...
which operated Radio Orwell and Saxon creating the Broadland Group. Orwell and Saxon were renamed SGR and SGR Colchester was launched. To reflect the addition of these new stations to the group, The Broadland Group became East Anglian Radio.
In 1995 the decision was made by the East Anglian Radio Group to make better use of the AM frequencies by creating a new service. Amber Radio was launched to play 60's and 70's music, leaving Radio Broadland and SGR to focus more on current and recent chart hits.
In 1996, GWR Group, who had been acquiring large numbers of radio stations and groups for around seven years, decided to make a bid for the entire East Anglian Radio Group which now consisted of Radio Broadland, SGR, and Amber Radio.
The group saw major changes following the initial takeover, a merger between GWR and Capital Radio
Capital Radio
Capital London is a London based radio station which launched on 16 October 1973 and is owned by Global Radio. On 3 January 2011 it formed part of the nine station Capital radio network.- Pre-launch :...
(GCAP
GCAP
GCAP may refer to:* Global Call to Action Against Poverty, a global anti-poverty movement/coalition* GCap Media - British commercial radio company* Grupo Capoeira Angola Pelourinho - Capoeira group by Mestre Moraes* Guanylate cyclase-activating protein...
) on 9 May 2005 and a further take over of GCAP 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...
.
The SGR stations and Broadland took more networked programming and a new strapline of Today's Better Music Mix was introduced as well as similar logos. Eventually they lost their heritage names and became part of the Heart Network
Heart Network
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...
of stations, sometimes referred to as Heart Norwich, Heart Colchester and Heart Ipswich.
While Amber Radio
Amber Radio
Amber Radio was a golden oldies radio station operating from Norwich, part of East Anglia in the United Kingdom.It was the AM sister station of SGR and Radio Broadland and served Norfolk and north Suffolk and Ipswich and Bury St Edmunds.-History:...
, became Classic Gold Amber, then Classic Gold
Classic Gold Digital Network
Classic Gold Digital Network was one of the biggest 'gold' formatted radio networks in the United Kingdom, with a potential audience of 47 million. Classic Gold was broadcast on analogue and DAB digital platforms, as well as Sky channel 0189.-History:...
, then simply Gold.
The East Anglian Radio Group was not linked to East Anglian Radio Services, a small independent business, based in Lowestoft operating in the theatrical production area since the mid 1980s.