Real Radio Research

105.4 Real Radio is an independent local radio station controlled by GMG Radio. It is the flagship station of the Real Radio network and has a regional license to broadcast to North West England. The station was part of the Century Network for over ten years until it was rebranded in 2009. This therefore would be our ideal broadcast audience in some respects as it is a local radio with a regional target to broadcast to the North West, as we would also hope to have.

The station was born as Century Radio in 1998 as the second Century station in the UK, the first being Gateshead-based 100-102 Century Radio. Owned by Border Television, the station was set up by managing director John Myers, who had also established the north east station. Like the first station, Myers also presented the breakfast show under the pseudonym Morgan.

The station operates from studios in Laser House, an office-building in Salford Quays. Also housed in this building are Real Radio's sister stations 100.4 Smooth Radio and 106.1 Rock Radio.
The programming team is led by Programme Director Dave Shearer. Local programming includes the Real Breakfast show with Ditchy & Salty, Daytime with Darren Parks, Debbie Mac in the Afternoon and Home Time with Glen Hunt and Lorna Bancroft. 105.4 Real Radio also produces the networked programming for Real Radio, including shows such as The Evening Show with David Heane, Through the Night with Dave Miller (weekdays) and Steve Jordan (weekends), High School Days with David Heane (Friday nights 8pm-12am) and Real Club Classics with Debbie Mac (Saturdays from 6pm-midnight) which is broadcast on Real Radio's sister stations in other areas. This shows the radio station as part of a much wider industry in producing and featuring other stations and programs.

Real Radio is the home of the biggest of three GMG radio news "hubs". The local head of news is Christian Spooner, leading a team of 12 journalists, and the group head of news based at Laser House is James Rea. Bulletins are broadcast on the hour between 6 am and 6 pm with headlines on the half-hour between 6 am & 10 am and 4 pm & 6 pm. The 1 pm and 5 pm are extended to five minutes and include local sport and networked entertainment bulletins. Sport is broadcast during these extended news bulletins and at 4.30 pm and 5.30 pm on weekdays. This demonstrates that as well as music and the comical, chatty newsroom banter, Real Radio does indeed focus on local news stories which is relevant to our own broadcast. Ultimately, we aim to target a slightly younger audience as Real Radio incorporate some older music in their shows.