Hits Radio South Yorkshire
{{short description|Radio station in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2012}}
{{Infobox radio station
| name = Hits Radio South Yorkshire
| logo = Hits Radio 2024.svg
| logo_size = 170px
| image =
| image_size = 80px
| image_alt =
| city = Sheffield
| country = United Kingdom
| area = South Yorkshire and
| branding = South Yorkshire's Hits Radio
The Biggest Hits, The Biggest Throwbacks
| airdate = {{start date and age|1974|10|1|df=y}}
| frequency = FM:
97.4 MHz (Sheffield)
102.9 MHz (Barnsley and Rotherham)
103.4 MHz (Doncaster)
DAB: 11C
| former_names = Radio Hallam
Hallam FM
| former_frequencies = 95.2 FM
95.9 FM
96.1 FM
1548 MW
| rds = HITS SYK
| format = CHR/Pop
| network = Hits Radio
| owner = Bauer Media Audio UK
| sister_stations = Greatest Hits Radio South Yorkshire
| webcast = [https://hellorayo.co.uk/hits-radio/south-yorkshire/play/ Rayo]
| website = [https://hellorayo.co.uk/hits-radio/south-yorkshire Hits Radio South Yorkshire]
| coordinates =
}}
Hits Radio South Yorkshire, formerly Hallam FM, is an Independent Local Radio station based in Sheffield, England, owned and operated by Bauer Media Audio UK as part of the Hits Radio network. It broadcasts to South Yorkshire and Chesterfield.
As of September 2024, the station has a weekly audience of 330,000 listeners according to RAJAR.{{cn|date=October 2024}}
History
The station started broadcasting on 1548 kHz/194m AM, 95.2 and 95.9 MHz FM under the name of Radio Hallam from its studios at Hartshead in Sheffield city centre on 1 October 1974. The first presenter heard on air was ex-BBC Radio 1 DJ Johnny Moran – the first record he played was I've Got the Music in Me by Kiki Dee, which stuck after a minute and a half.
On 1 October 1985, Radio Hallam's broadcast area significantly increased when it began to broadcast to all of South Yorkshire. In 1987, Radio Hallam merged with neighbouring Yorkshire stations Pennine Radio in Bradford and Viking Radio in Hull to form the now-defunct Yorkshire Radio Network.
The frequencies were changed during the 1980s to 96.1 FM for Rotherham, 97.4 FM for Sheffield, 102.9 FM for Barnsley, and 103.4 for the remainder of South Yorkshire. After a take-over of the parent company YRN by the Metro Radio Group, the AM frequency became Great Yorkshire Gold. As part of Hallam's licence agreement, the Rotherham transmitter ceased to be used by the station in the 1990s. Hallam also moved its studio facilities to 900 Herries Road, close to Sheffield Wednesday's Hillsborough ground. The office space at Hartshead was formerly used by the Sheffield Star newspaper.{{cn|date=October 2024}}
As the Metro Radio Group was bought by EMAP, Hallam FM also became part of the Big City Network in Northern England. In 2011, Bauer Media's Big City Network was replaced by the Place Portfolio, containing the group's local radio stations.
In 2016, Hallam FM was the "Station of the Year" at that year's ARIAS Radio Awards.{{Cite web|title=2016 ARIAS|url=https://www.radioacademy.org/arias/2016-arias/|access-date=2020-10-29|website=Radio Academy}}
From late 2019 until early 2020 Hallam FM's Sheffield studios were shared with sister Yorkshire station Viking FM, following the closure of Viking's studios in Hull. Viking FM was then moved to co-locate with Pulse 1 in Leeds.{{cite web|url=https://radiotoday.co.uk/2019/08/viking-fm-is-moving-out-of-hull-to-join-hallam-fm/ |title=Viking FM is moving out of Hull to join Hallam FM|work= Radio Today|date= 12 August 2019|access-date=12 August 2019}}
=Hits Radio rebrand=
On 10 January 2024, station owners Bauer announced Hallam FM would be rebranded as Hits Radio South Yorkshire on 17 April 2024, as part of a network-wide relaunch involving 17 local radio stations in England and Wales.{{cite web |date=10 January 2024 |title=Fifteen local stations get set for Hits Radio rebrand |url=https://www.bauermedia.co.uk/news/fifteen-local-stations-get-set-for-hits-radio-rebrand/ |access-date=10 January 2024 |website=Bauer }} The announcement signalled the end of the Radio Hallam brand after nearly 50 years of broadcasting.{{cite web |date=10 January 2024 |title=Bauer to rebrand heritage FM stations in England and Wales to Hits Radio |url=https://radiotoday.co.uk/2024/01/bauer-to-rebrand-heritage-fm-stations-in-england-and-wales-to-hits-radio/ |access-date=10 January 2024 |website=RadioToday }}
On 20 March 2025, Bauer announced it would end its local Hits Radio breakfast show for South Yorkshire to be replaced by a new national breakfast show for England and Wales on 9 June 2025.{{Cite web |date=2025-03-20 |title=Hits Radio to launch national Breakfast Show across England and Wales |url=https://www.bauermedia.co.uk/news/hits-radio-to-launch-national-breakfast-show-across-england-and-wales/ |access-date=2025-03-20 |website=Bauer Media |language=en-GB}} Local news and traffic bulletins will continue but the station's Sheffield studios will close.{{Cite web |date=2025-03-21 |title= Full list of Bauer sites closing once Breakfast goes national on Hits Radio |url= https://radiotoday.co.uk/2025/03/full-list-of-bauer-sites-closing-once-breakfast-goes-national-on-hits-radio/ |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=Radio Today |language=en-GB}}
Broadcasting
The station broadcasts on three analogue frequencies. Almost the whole region is covered on 103.4 FM from a transmitter at Clifton, near the M18 as well as on 97.4 FM (Tapton Hill, Sheffield) and 102.9 FM (Ardsley) which boosts reception in Sheffield, Doncaster and Barnsley. The station also broadcasts via DAB on the Bauer Radio South Yorkshire multiplex, and online via their app.
Programming
Networked programming originates from Bauer's Manchester studios.[https://radiotoday.co.uk/2019/05/hits-radio-network-stations-drop-local-weekend-programmes/ Hits Radio Network stations drop local weekend programmes], Radio Today, 30 May 2019[https://radiotoday.co.uk/2019/08/bauer-to-network-drivetime-across-11-licences-in-north-and-midlands/ Bauer to network drivetime across 11 licences in North and Midlands], Radio Today, 5 August 2019
The station's only remaining local programme is the long-running Big John @ Breakfast, which is produced and broadcast from Bauer's Sheffield studios and airs weekdays from 6–10 am.[https://planetradio.co.uk/hallam/public-file/ Hallam FM – Public File] The show has been on air since 2000{{Cite web |last=Quine |first=Sam |date=26 August 2022 |title=Big John @ Breakfast makes return to Sheffield's Hallam FM |url=https://www.thestar.co.uk/news/people/big-john-breakfast-makes-return-to-sheffields-hallam-fm-3821527 |access-date=25 April 2024 |website=The Star}} and is presented by "Big" John Harrison and Liesl Soards. During its time on air, the show has been recognised by the wider radio industry, most notably as winner of the "Best Breakfast Show" Gold award at the 2002 New York Radio Awards {{Cite web|title=Press - New York Festivals|url=https://radio.newyorkfestivals.com/media/Interior/467d1a42-841f-4239-8ff1-a38789b56d6c|access-date=2020-10-29|website=radio.newyorkfestivals.com}} and as "Breakfast Show of the Year" at the 2015 Arqiva Radio Awards.{{Cite web|date=2015-07-08|title=Arqiva Commercial Radio Awards 2015 – Winners|url=https://radiotoday.co.uk/2015/07/arqiva-commercial-radio-awards-2015-winners/|access-date=2020-10-29|website=RadioToday|language=en-GB}}
=News=
Bauer's Sheffield newsroom broadcasts local news bulletins hourly from 6 am–7 pm on weekdays, and from 7 am–1 pm on Saturdays and Sundays. Headlines are broadcast on the half-hour during weekday breakfast and drivetime shows, alongside traffic bulletins.
National bulletins from Sky News Radio are carried overnight with bespoke networked bulletins on weekend afternoons, usually originating from Bauer's Leeds newsroom.
=Big John @ Breakfast=
{{Infobox Radio Show
| show_name = Big John @ Breakfast
| format = Comedy, Talk, Music
| runtime = 240 minutes
| country = {{UK}}
| language = English
| home_station = Hits Radio South Yorkshire
| starring = "Big" John Harrison
Liesl Soards
| producer = James Crookes
| record_location = Sheffield
| first_aired = 31 August 2000
| last_aired = 6 June 2025
| website = https://hellorayo.co.uk/hits-radio/shows/big-john-breakfast-1/
}}
Big John @ Breakfast is the current breakfast show on Hits Radio South Yorkshire, and has been on air from 2000 to 2025.{{Cite web |last=Quine |first=Sam |date=26 August 2022 |title=Big John @ Breakfast makes return to Sheffield's Hallam FM |url=https://www.thestar.co.uk/news/people/big-john-breakfast-makes-return-to-sheffields-hallam-fm-3821527 |access-date=25 April 2024 |website=The Star}} It is presented by "Big" John Harrison and Liesl Soards, along with producer James Crookes. The show is broadcast live across South Yorkshire weekdays from 6am to 10am and it is now the only locally produced programme on the station.
On 6 June 2025 the show will end and be replaced by a new national breakfast show
Awards
- 2002 New York Radio Awards - "Best Breakfast Show" - Gold {{Cite web|title=Press - New York Festivals|url=https://radio.newyorkfestivals.com/media/Interior/467d1a42-841f-4239-8ff1-a38789b56d6c|access-date=2020-10-29|website=radio.newyorkfestivals.com}}
- 2005 Sony Radio Awards - “Promo Award - Get Me To The Church On Time” {{Cite web|date=2005-05-09|title=Sony Awards – the results|url=https://radiotoday.co.uk/2005/05/sony-awards-the-results/|access-date=2020-10-29|website=RadioToday|language=en-GB}}
- 2015 Arqiva Radio Awards - “Breakfast Show of the Year” {{Cite web|date=2015-07-08|title=Arqiva Commercial Radio Awards 2015 – Winners|url=https://radiotoday.co.uk/2015/07/arqiva-commercial-radio-awards-2015-winners/|access-date=2020-10-29|website=RadioToday|language=en-GB}}
- 2016 ARIAS Radio Awards - “Hallam FM - Station of the Year” {{Cite web|title=2016 ARIAS|url=https://www.radioacademy.org/arias/2016-arias/|access-date=2020-10-29|website=Radio Academy}}
- 2018 ARIAS Radio Awards - “Best Music Presenter at Breakfast” Nomination {{Cite web|title=2018 Gallery|url=https://www.radioacademy.org/30-under-30/2018-gallery/|access-date=2020-10-29|website=Radio Academy}}
- 2020 ARIAS Radio Awards - “Best Music Breakfast Show” Nomination {{Cite web|title=2020 ARIAS|url=https://www.radioacademy.org/arias/2020-arias/|access-date=2020-10-29|website=Radio Academy}}
Notable past presenters
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
- Steve Banyard
- Tom Binns{{cite news|url=https://www.sheffieldtelegraph.co.uk/news/spoof-hits-funny-bone-1-439289|title=Spoof hits funny bone|work=Sheffield Telegraph|date=5 October 2007|access-date=22 May 2019}}
- Jon Culshaw{{cite news|url=https://www.sheffieldtelegraph.co.uk/news/blades-to-support-tragic-dj-s-worthy-cause-1-1641728|title=Blades to support tragic DJ's worthy cause|work=Sheffield Telegraph|date=27 September 2010|access-date=22 May 2019}}
- Daryl Denham{{cite web|url=https://radiotoday.co.uk/2005/12/daryl-denham-back-at-hallam/|title=Daryl Denham back at Hallam|publisher=RadioToday|date=9 December 2005|access-date=22 May 2019}} (now at BBC Radio Kent)
- Stephanie Hirst (now at Hits Radio)
- Keith Skues
- Cindy Kent (now at Serenade Radio)
- Stuart Linnell (now at Serenade Radio)
- Scottie McClue (now at Nation Radio Scotland)
- Chris Rogers
- Matthew Rudd (now at Absolute 80s)
{{div col end}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons category-inline}}
- [http://planetradio.co.uk/hallam/ Hallam FM]
{{South Yorkshire radio}}
{{Hits Radio}}
Category:Radio stations established in 1974
Category:Mass media in Sheffield
Category:Radio stations in Yorkshire
Category:Contemporary hit radio stations in the United Kingdom