Magic networking arrives in the Northwest

The three Magic AM stations in the Northwest are to network 24 hours a day from Monday, with Ian Roberts taking on a new regional show.

Ian currently hosts the breakfast show on Magic 1152 in Manchester, but will be heard on Magic 999 in Lancashire and Magic 1548 in Merseyside.

Lancashire’s Darren Spence and Merseyside’s Keiron Fox hosted their last local breakfast shows today on the stations previously known as Red Rose Gold and City Gold.

The changes are being made possible because of a format change requested by owner Bauer Media to allow all Northern Magic stations to network all programmes, 24/7.

Last month, Magic 1170 presenter Alan Ross left the station in Teesside to make way for Magic 1152’s breakfast show with Anna Foster to be extended from Newcastle.

Steve King, Regional Managing Director, North West commented: “This change ensures that we remain fiercely competitive in the market place and will allow us to focus efforts on one, bigger Magic AM North West breakfast show, fronted by Ian Roberts who will present content relevant to the region as a whole, including news and traffic and travel information. Magic AM will continue to cater to local advertisers in Greater Manchester, Liverpool and Lancashire.

“As a result of this, I am sorry to confirm that Kieron Fox, presenter at Magic 1548 based in Liverpool, and Darren Spence, presenter at Magic 999 based in Preston, will be leaving the business.

“Kieron has been associated with Radio City for almost 17 years – he took over the Magic breakfast show full time when Phil Easton moved to City Talk in January 2008. Darren has been with Magic 999 for the last three years and in that time has been a fantastic ambassador for the station. He’s also been an incredible support for our charity, Cash for Kids.

“Kieron and Darren are extremely popular presenters and I’d like to thank them for their contribution and wish them well for the future.”