Smooth Radio transmitters turned off in Wales

Global has handed back the AM licence for Smooth Radio’s two frequencies in Cardiff and Newport/Gwent.

It follows the transmitters being taken out of service due to the redevelopment of one of the sites.

The two frequencies – 1305 kHz AM and 1359 kHz AM have been in operation since 1980 and have carried many different radio stations under various owners. They were originally home to CBC, then Red Dragon Radio, followed by Touch Radio.

They then joined the Capital Gold network, which became Classic Gold and then Gold, before Smooth Radio arrived in 2004.

The move leaves Smooth Radio on just one analogue transmitter in Wales – 1260 kHz AM serving Wrexham and Deeside in the north of the country. It continues on DAB digital radio.

It’s just the latest AM transmitter to be turned off by the industry, with the BBC and Bauer giving up many medium wave services in recent years.