Saga ditches its radio stations

SAGA Radio has been bought by Guardian Media Group (GMG) for an undisclosed sum, it was revealed yesterday.

The move is part of a bid by the group to tap into the market currently monopolised by BBC Radio 2, it said.

The regional FM radio network, aimed at the over-50s market, currently attracts around 216,000 listeners in Glasgow. It also operates radio services in the East and West Midlands.

The company said: "It is our intention to rebrand the Saga stations in due course, to a name yet to be announced." So goodbye Saga Radio.

GMG Radio recently received permission to change the format of its London Smooth FM station from jazz and soul to an easy-listening station aimed at the over-50s.

GMG looks like it intends to be the new radio sound of the 50-plus.

An interesting move by GMG – an even more interesting move by Saga. True to form, there was no press release on the Saga web site. Dick Stroud