| Hits Radio North East | |
| City: | Newcastle upon Tyne |
| Area: | Tyne and Wear, Northumberland and County Durham |
| Former Frequencies: | 97.0 MHz 1152 kHz |
| Former Names: | Metro Radio Metro FM |
| Licensing Authority: | Ofcom |
| Rds: | HITS_NE |
| Branding: | The North East’s Hits Radio The Biggest Hits, The Biggest Throwbacks |
| Format: | CHR/Pop |
| Network: | Hits Radio |
| Owner: | Bauer Media Audio UK |
| Sister Stations: | Hits Radio Teesside Greatest Hits Radio North East |
| Webcast: | Hits Radio North East Player |
| Website: | Hits Radio North East |
Hits Radio North East, formerly Metro Radio, is an Independent Local Radio station based in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, owned and operated by Bauer Media Audio UK as part of the Hits Radio network. The station launched in 1974 as Metro Radio. It broadcasts to County Durham, Northumberland, and Tyne and Wear.
As of September 2024, the station has a weekly audience of 338,000 listeners according to RAJAR.[1]
The Newcastle-based station, broadcasting to North-East England, launched on 15 July 1974. The first breakfast show was presented by Don Dwyer, an Australian radio presenter formerly at ABC and the United Biscuits Network. The first show included messages of congratulations from Kenny Everett at the equivalent local commercial station in London, Capital Radio.
The station transmitted from a studio in Swalwell, Gateshead, which in later years would be adjacent to the Metrocentre and is now Metropolitan House—a business centre providing serviced office accommodation. Metro, and sister station Magic 1152, moved in 2005 to the former BT building previously known as Swan Housenow known as 55° Northnext to the Tyne Bridge in Newcastle upon Tyne. In April 2021, it was announced that Metro Radio were relocating their studios once more. Later in 2021 as planned, they relocated their broadcasting studios to the Grade II listed building, Gainsborough House on Newcastle's Grey Street. Before the move, the studio had undergone a purposed fit-out which included 2 additional studios and a contemporary, flexible office space.[2]
Until 2005 the station broadcast live football commentary for the region's two biggest clubs; Newcastle United and Sunderland. In an attempt to boost ratings, the football commentary was stopped. However, a negative response from football fans prompted the owners to cover all Newcastle and Sunderland games on sister station Magic 1152.
From 8 April 2013, all Metro Radio's programming has been shared with TFM. However, the Metro Radio branding was retained along with separate advertising and local news bulletins.[3] The two stations were able to co-locate without consultation, for the Metro Radio licence area is located in one approved broadcast area (north-east England).[4]
On 17 April 2024 at 6am, Metro Radio was rebranded to Hits Radio North East, officially marking the end of the end of the Metro Radio brand after nearly 50 years of broadcasting.[5] The website for which had been replaced with the Hits Radio website earlier that morning.[6] The station's local news and regional output will not be affected as a result of the relaunch. The rebranded was part of a network-wide relaunch involving 17 Bauer-owned local radio stations in England and Wales.[7]
Regional programming (Steve & Karen's Breakfast Show) airs 6-10am on weekdays from Bauer’s Newcastle studios.
At all other times networked programming airs via Bauer’s London headquarters or studios in Birmingham, Liverpool and Manchester.[8]
Regional news bulletins air hourly from 6am-7pm on weekdays, and from 7am-1pm on Saturdays and Sundays. Headlines are broadcast on the half-hour during weekday breakfast and drivetime shows, alongside traffic bulletins.
National bulletins from other Bauer newsrooms or Sky News Radio are at other times.