The Breeze (radio network)

The Breeze was a network of Independent Local Radio stations broadcasting to Bristol, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Somerset, North Dorset, North Gloucestershire, South Devon, South West Surrey, West Berkshire and West Wiltshire. The stations, owned & operated by Bauer Radio, broadcast a 'contemporary easy listening' format, playing classic and recent melodic popular music aimed principally at listeners over the age of 40.

The Breeze
Broadcast areaBristol, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Somerset, North Dorset, North Gloucestershire, South Devon, South West Surrey, West Berkshire and West Wiltshire.
Frequency
Slogan"Your easy place to relax"
Programming
FormatAdult Contemporary
Ownership
OwnerBauer Radio (exc. Solent)
Nation Broadcasting (Solent)
History
First air date
1998–1999 (as individual stations)
4 July 2010 (current format)
Links
Websitehttp://www.thebreeze.com

The Breeze network operated on various FM frequencies and is also online at thebreeze.com.[1] All frequencies were previously separate stations centred on each of the broadcast areas, which had been acquired and combined into one network, carrying separate breakfast and drivetime programming for the south and the west of England.

It was closed on 1st September 2020 and replaced by Greatest Hits Radio.

History

The network launched when Play Radio (a combination of two stations in Hampshire) was acquired by Celador along with an additional station in Portsmouth and rebranded as The Breeze on 4 July 2010. The individual stations have all operated under various owners, formats and identities, with the stations having launched between 1998 and 1999 as a series of local stations focused on a specified broadcast area.

In 2011, Celador acquired two Total Star stations in Bristol & Bridgwater, and successfully applied for an FM licence serving the Bath area,[2] and relaunched all stations as The Breeze. All local programming is now identical across all licence areas.

The Breeze is currently based in Torbay, Southampton, Bristol and Basingstoke.

In February 2019, Bauer Radio acquired Celador Radio stations, including The Breeze. The licences for Southampton, Portsmouth and Winchester were sold on to Nation Broadcasting, along with Sam FM (South Coast) which also broadcasts from the Southampton studios, due to the overlap with existing Bauer-owned regional adult-contemporary service Wave 105. The other Breeze stations will remain with Bauer.

As of July 13, 2020, The Breeze network was replaced by the Greatest Hits Radio network. They are retaining their branding and share the same playlist as GHR until September 1 - which is when they will be fully replaced.

Stations

The Breeze originally launched as a number of stations in the South and the West of England.

References
  1. "Media titles owned by Celador Radio". Media UK. Retrieved 15 November 2011.
  2. "The Breeze heads to Bristol". Radio Today. Retrieved 20 January 2011.
  3. RadioToday: The Breeze to replace Total Star Somerset
  4. "Celador to Launch The Breeze 107". Radio Today. 21 June 2010. Archived from the original on 22 June 2010. Retrieved 21 June 2010.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.