Sun FM to rebrand as Nation Radio North East and expand on DAB

Nation Radio is to replace Sun FM on across Sunderland, County Durham and Darlington.

Nation Radio North East will also be available on DAB in Newcastle + Gateshead, South Shields + Tynemouth, Darlington + Bishop Auckland, Middlesbrough + Redcar when it launches on 1st May.

Originally launching in 1990 as Wear FM, the station relaunched as Sun City FM in 1995 when it was taken over by the Minster Sound Group. It was rebranded as Sun FM after being bought by Border Radio Holdings and in 2000 became a part of the Capital Radio Group when it acquired Border Radio.

Radio Investments Limited bought the station in 2001, it was then acquired by UKRD in 2009 and sold to Nation Broadcasting in 2018.

Simon Grundy will continue on Breakfast, with Russ Williams, Greg Burns, and Neil Fox also a part of the line-up.

Simon Grundy said: “After broadcasting across Sunderland for over 25 years, I’m looking forward to waking up the wider North East region from May.”

Russ Williams added: “I loved my time in the North East – such a great part of the country. It’s fantastic to be back.”

Nation’s Chairman Jason Bryant commented: “Strong, national brands are increasingly important in commercial radio. Nation Radio competes with and often beats other national brands in markets across the UK. Its roll out to the North East is an important moment in our development.”