Public File (West of England)

Hits Radio West of England, like each local commercial station in the UK has obligations with regard to its programmes, including its music and local content. These obligations are set out in the station Format which forms part of our Public File.

The Public File is just one indicator of our output. Just ask us if you’d like a hard copy. If you have any comments on it, let us know or, if necessary, contact our regulator, Ofcom.

News

Except in special or exceptional circumstances (which may include some bank holiday periods,) the station broadcasts news bulletins hourly from 0600 until 1900, with additional headlines in weekday breakfast and evening drive periods. Bulletins contain a mix of local/regional, national and world stories, along with sport, weather and entertainment news.

At the weekend, bulletins containing local/regional, national and world news, along with sport, weather and entertainment news, are broadcast between 0700 and 1300.

Additionally, at other times, bulletins containing national and world news, prepared by Sky, may be broadcast in some hours.

Our news pages online show some of our most recent stories, and the news team is managed by the Head of News.

You can contact the news team on swnews@bauermedia.co.uk or 0117 966 6107.

Our local journalists are based in the areas they cover. The news is compiled and read at our studios in Manchester for the most part and during peak times. From time to time, some content is prepared from other Bauer Radio Limited newsrooms.

Programmes

The station broadcasts twenty-four hours a day, with programmes as listed per the schedule on our website.

Programme Production

Programming within weekday daytimes is not regularly automated. Off peak programming is generally live with some programmes automated. These shows may be live in times of adverse weather or other relevant circumstances.

Local Programming

The station broadcasts programming from our studios in Manchester, with some programmes being broadcast from our studios in London – with occasional programmes broadcast from studios in Liverpool, Newcastle, Birmingham & Bristol.

Our Manchester studios are based at:

Castle Quay

Castlefield

Manchester

M15 4PR

Guidelines

Guidelines on localness have been published by our regulator OFCOM, and are available here: http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/broadcasting/radio/localness/localness-guidelines.

Contact

To contact the radio station generally, use our ‘contact us’ page and we’ll make every effort to reply to any emails which raise substantive issues.

Should you prefer to speak to programme management, please contact Content Director, Paul Gerrard – paul.gerrard@bauermedia.co.uk**.**

You can also contact the station during office hours on 0161 288 5000.

Events/Charities support or coverage

The station stages several events and charity initiatives through the year.

Our charity Cash for Kids raises thousands for children that really need it through appeals across the year such as ‘Mission Christmas’.

Recent Programme and/or News Highlights

Our website covers much of the programming we’re proud of (general and, where appropriate, news).

Check our news pages to see the latest stories we are covering.

Localness

We aim that our radio stations belong to the areas they serve through the information services it provides. Any suggestions or thoughts on our output are always much valued.

Music

Hits Radio is licensed to play ‘mainstream music’. It plays, accordingly, a mix of current mainstream pop songs alongside classic chart hits from the last twenty years.

Format

Hits Radio West of England broadcasts on DAB & online (FM across West of England). As outlined at the head of this document, each FM licence is governed by a Format. Formats for all of our AM and FM licences are available on the Ofcom website at

http://static.ofcom.org.uk/static/radiolicensing/html/radio-stations/analogue/analogue-main.htm.

How to complain

Live, entertaining radio always carries some risk. We try to get things right, and not all programmes will be to everyone’s taste. Where we do make mistakes, we’ll try to take appropriate action as quickly as we can. Please do get in touch with any comments – praise or complaints and we’ll consider them carefully.

To contact us directly, you can e-mail feedback@hitsradio.co.uk**.**

If you then feel we have not taken the right action regarding a broadcast after contacting us, you may refer the matter to our regulator, Ofcom.