Total Eclipse of the Heart - Broadcasting World

Total Eclipse of the Heart
June 22, 2009 - Posted By James

The final phase of the Heart roll-out has arrived, with nine more radio stations changing their names to Heart.

It's goodbye to Invicta FM, Southern FM, Ocean FM, 2CR, Essex FM, Marcher Sound, Coast 96.3, Buzz 97.1 and Champion 103.

The nine stations, spreading from Kent to Colwyn Bay, join 21 others who have changed in recent months, and together with the three original Heart stations in London, the West Midlands and East Midlands, make up a network of 33.

Local breakfast shows in each of the new regions officially launched Heart at 6am. Toby Anstis hosts the first show on the expanded network at 10am, joined by studio guests Lee Ryan, Duncan James, Simon Webbe and Anthony Costa from the band Blue.

A major marketing campaign for the entire Heart network launches this week, with cinema and television ads running along side bus and taxi adverts.

Global Radio’s Director of Broadcasting Richard Park said: “This is a monumental day in the history of Heart, as we launch the final nine stations in the roll-out of the brand, along with our debut Heartbreakers album with Universal Music, both supported by major investment through our new marketing campaigns. Heart has quickly established itself as the UK’s largest commercial radio network and we look forward to building on our growth and success as more people turn on, tune in and give it some Heart!”