‘A TRUE SHAME TO SEE WHAT IS LIKELY THE BEGINNING OF THE END FOR A GOOD RADIO STATION’
Your reaction to the rebranding of Signal
SCORES of listeners have reacted to the news that popular station Signal 2 is to disappear from the airwaves.
The radio station is being rebranded as Greatest Hits Radio while Signal 1 faces being left with just its flagship local breakfast show after being swallowed up by Hits Radio.
Broadcast giant Bauer Media has made the announcement just a year after acquiring the two Shelton-based stations.
Now it has started a consultation process with affected staff and freelance contracts are being reviewed. The changes will be introduced from September.
Sentinel readers have taken to social media to express their views - with many saying they would be sad to see the changes.
Judy Howland said: “I’m gutted. I’ve listened to Signal for over 30 years and I will be sad if the lovely DJS lose their jobs.
“But I’m sure they will all get work. Thank you Signal for many happy years of listening and good luck to Dave Johnson and Stu Haycock.”
Adam Durber said he was ‘genuinely gutted’.
He said: “I started to listen to Signal 2 more once we began lockdown, and it’s so community based.
“But I think it’s the things like the Flashback and three songs from one year that make it feel more fun. I also found some new songs that I’d never heard before.
“A true shame to see what is likely the beginning of the end for a good radio station.”
John Williams agreed saying: “Another local station gone to be replaced with a national station. This is not the business that so many people fell in love with all those years ago.
“There are so few options left if you want to hear local commercial radio. With this being the case I feel it is everyone who loses because of this except for the big companies who couldn’t care less about the listener to the station, you have invested so much of your time listening to.”
And Karen Bowcosk said: “I loved Signal 2 for years – so sad for the DJS that have felt part of the family for many years.
“Good luck to all the DJS. Looks like I will be looking for a new radio station.”
The changes will see:
■ Signal 1 retain its local branding and become part of the wider Hits Radio network.
Hits Radio ‘delivers a music proposition which is a soundtrack of the biggest hits and nostalgic throwback tracks and local breakfast shows;
■ Signal 2 re-branded as Greatest Hits Radio. Greatest Hits Radio ‘offers classic hits from the 70s, 80s and 90s alongside regional drive-time and networked breakfast shows’.