GMG radio re-launch to rock Scotland

Guardian Media Group (GMG) is to re-launch its Scottish station Q96 FM in January, creating a dedicated rock station called 96.3 Rock Radio.

Serving the Renfrewshire and central Scotland area, the station will broadcast classic rock tracks, which GMG hopes will appeal to a wide market but with a slight bias to 35 to 64 year old males.

GMG bought the Paisley-based radio station from Ulster Television (UTV) last year. In September, GMG's Real Radio Scotland group, which runs the station, was given permission from Ofcom last month to co-house Q96 within its Glasgow headquarters, providing it agreed to commit to its current remit.

Real Radio managing director Billy Anderson told The Guardian: "By providing a new station focusing on an extremely successful genre of music, 96.3 Rock Radio will provide an alternative listen whilst encompassing the key local news and information services."

The re-launch will be supported by a marketing campaign.

Earlier this month, GMG applied to Ofcom to change the format of Smooth FM in London from a jazz and soul station to an easy listening station for the over-50's.

Last week, the company acquired the two Century radio stations in the North West and North East of England from GCap Media for a combined price of £60 million.