Network shows extended on Galaxy, Heart

Local programming on Galaxy and Heart stations is to be slashed in favour of networked shows, owner Global Radio announced today.

On weekdays Heart programmes will all be shared nationally except for breakfast, mid-morning and drivetime. On Galaxy just breakfast and drivetime will be local. At the weekend, all shows will be networked, except for 8pm-midnight.

The changes, to begin on April 28, take advantage of recently relaxed regulations on how much content must be made locally. Global, chaired by ex-ITV chief Charles Allen, bought Heart and Galaxy-owner Chrysalis in June.

Global chief executive Ashley Tabor said the company wanted to create "quasi-national" stations to entice advertisers.

"When we started here what you heard on Heart in London was not very similar to what you heard on Heart in the east or west Midlands," he said.

"They were really quite different radio stations. They were the same name and the same jingles but that's where the similarities ended. It's about offering advertisers a national proposition."

Programming would "be national at the right time of day and local at the right time of day" and bring better quality presenters to more listeners, he said.

"People assume networking is about big name DJs," said Tabor. "It's not, it's about quality presenters... Why not take the two or three quality class players and put them across the network."

Networked Galaxy programmes will come from Leeds and Heart from London.

Global said: "Station identities will remain strongly localised with continued regional programming including breakfast and drive and local news and travel. This networking of programmes takes place during music intensive periods which are not traditionally personality led."