Wigan to lose local radio station Wish FM with jobs 'at risk' in rebrand to Greatest Hits Radio

The station which was first broadcast out of Billinge 23 years ago, is currently based at Orrell Lodge

A local radio station, which has served Wigan since 1997, is to be shut down.

Wish FM, which broadcasts out of Orrell Lodge, in Orrell, will be merged into nationwide station Greatest Hits Radio as part of a national re-brand.

Bauer Media, which owns the station, has announced that 49 of its stations will be re-branded from early September.

While Bauer said it was too early to confirm exactly how Wish FM would be impacted by job losses, a spokesman confirmed some roles would be placed ‘at risk’ as part of a redundancy consultation process beginning today. In addition, freelance contracts at the station will be reviewed.

Graham Bryce, group managing director for the Hits Radio Network brand said: “We are committed to ensuring the future of radio in local markets and serving the needs of our listeners and advertisers. However, our top priority right now will be to support those affected through this period.”

Two other Bauer-owned stations are also broadcasted from Orrell Lodge - Tower FM and Wire FM, which serve Bolton and Bury, and Warrington respectively. These two stations will also be closed down as part of the re-branding.

With the re-branding, the Hits Radio Network is set to become the largest commercial radio network in the UK.

Dee Ford CBE, group managing director for radio at Bauer Radio, added: “Audiences love and trust radio. Expanding the Hits Radio Brand Network will ensure listeners to these acquired stations benefit from multi-platform digital distribution meaning they can continue to broadcast in an increasingly competitive, digital and voice-activated world.

"This ensures the provision of local news and information, traffic and travel as well as access for advertisers to highly valued audiences.”

Of the 56 stations Bauer took over from the Wireless group last year, 49 will be re-branded. Four Pulse 1 in Bradford, Signal 1 in Stoke, The Wave 96.4 in Swansea and Fire Radio in Bournemouth will keep their names but become part of the Hits Radio network. Each will have a local breakfast show and The Wave will also have its own daytime and drive-time programmes.

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The remaining three – Lincs FM in Lincoln, Pirate FM in Cornwall and Sam FM in Bristol – will remain as ‘stand-alone’ stations.