Radio stations’ sale sees end of the Real brand

Heart and Classic FM owner Global Radio is to sell Smooth in the North West and North East, Real Radio stations in North Wales, Yorkshire and Manchester and Capital in Scotland and South Wales in order to meet competition concerns following its takeover of Guardian Media Group’s radio assets in 2012.

The company is allowing the buyer, Irish radio broadcaster Communicorp, to rebrand the Real stations under the Heart franchise, while the other Real radio stations which are remaining within Global are adopting the same name.

Communicorp, which will become the UK’s fourth largest commercial radio group, will also have licences for the Capital and Smooth stations, with the two Smooth outlets benefiting from the reintroduction of local programming.

Yesterday’s deal, which is believed to be worth around £30m, comes after the Competition Commission identified seven areas where Global’s 2012 takeover of Real and Smooth could lead to higher advertising prices.