Why are Bauer radio stations being removed? Absolute 80s, 90s and others set to go

All Bauer-owned radio stations will be removed in December. Digital television accounts for 3.8 per cent of all digital listening according to the latest Radio Joint Audience Research (Rajar) figures.

Messages are starting to display on 10 radio stations currently available on the satellite and cable TV platforms, informing listeners of the changes. It is not known why the Bauer stations are being removed.

Bauer recently launched its Mission Christmas appeal, an annual campaign run by the charity Cash for Kids. Several stars, including Ant & Dec, Greatest Hits Radio’s Ken Bruce and Magic Breakfast’s Ronan Keating and Harriet Scott, are backing the appeal.

In 2022, Mission Christmas collected more than £14.2 million in gifts and cash donations. These were used to ensure that 270,728 children and young people had presents to open on Christmas Day.

In June, Ofcom (the UK's communications regulator) fined Bauer Radio £25,000 after it stopped broadcasting Absolute Radio’s national AM service before the end of its licence period.

The licence was most recently renewed for 10 years as of May 2021. However, on January 26, 2023, the station confirmed it had “ceased to provide” the Absolute Radio AM service.

Ofcom said the maximum penalty was £250,000, but “having taken account of all the relevant material in this case” it imposed a penalty of £25,000 payable to HM Paymaster General.

German magazine publisher Bauer bought the radio division of British company Emap in 2018. Consequently, Emap Radio Limited was renamed Bauer Radio Limited

Which Bauer radio stations are being removed?

Absolute Radio, Absolute 80s, Absolute 90s, Absolute Classic Rock, Hits Radio, Greatest Hits Radio, KISS, Magic, Jazz FM and Planet Rock will all be removed from Sky, Virgin and Freesat by December 13.

There are more than 50 radio stations using the Sky TV platform, including those owned by Global, the BBC, RTÉ and independent operators.

Where can you still listen to them?

All stations will still be available to listen to on Freeview.