Name to remain at least a while longer despite purchase of Real Radio owner

THE radio station, Real Radio Scotland, is to continue with its present name despite its owners having been purchased by a rival.

Today, it was announced that GMG Radio has been purchased by Global Radio, which operates the Heart brand.

But it is to remain effectively ‘business as usual’ for both GMG and Global until an investigation – expected to take nine months – by the Competition Commission on the purchase has been completed.

Similarly, 105.2 Smooth Radio, operating in Glasgow and also part of the GMG portfolio, will keep its name, at least for a while longer.

Says a statement announcing the acquisition: “GMG Radio will continue to be run separately from Global Radio whilst a regulatory review into the acquisition is conducted. Global Radio will, however, continue to represent GMG Radio’s national airtime sales, as it has done since 2006.”

The statement begins: “Global Radio has today announced that it has acquired GMG Radio from Guardian Media Group PLC. The acquisition, for an undisclosed sum, includes the network of stations operating under the Real Radio and Smooth Radio brand names.”