Media UK

Yorkshire Radio Network

The Yorkshire Radio Network was based at Radio Hallam in Sheffield, and was formed when Radio Hallam took over Pennine Radio.

Viking Radio formed a new part of the Yorkshire Radio Network after it gained its franchise in the early 1980s, and went on to produce network programming, mostly after 8pm weekdays and slightly earlier over weekends. Commercial breaks were not split, so some programming, negotiated on a group basis (like the Benny Brown American Countdown) were played-out locally at other times by each station.

Yorkshire Radio Network's FM programming continued, with its own set of jingles. The thought behind the jingles was remarkably democratic. The lyrics ('Pennine, Hallam and Viking') were re-ordered on every jingle cut, to enable prominence of each station in turn. The tune used the start of that of 'Pennine Radio' (and that of 'Viking Radio'), and the end of that of 'Radio Hallam'. The packages were created and written by British jingle production house Alfasound,with the final package being a co-production with US Company JAM Creative Productions,using resings of "Non Stop Power" - a jingle package originally created for New York radio station WPLJ.

Splitting Viking Radio to produce Viking FM and Viking Gold in 1988, the AM station was networked throughout YRN in 1989, renamed Classic Gold - featuring 50's/60's music and resings of classic PAMS jingles,giving the station the sound of a 60's offshore pirate - a sound familiar to Programme Director Keith Skues-himself a veteran of Radio Caroline and London.

The Yorkshire Radio Network was taken over by Metro Radio Group in the early 1990s.