Hits Radio will replace KISS on FM in London, Norfolk and the West of England this Monday, 23rd September 2024.
This change is sooner than anticipated, even with Bauer announcing details in August.
RadioToday understood the move would wait till the new Media Act was implemented, eliminating the need to request format changes for frequencies changing from KISS to Hits.
KISS’s current FM formats say the frequencies must be occupied by a contemporary and classic dance music station for under 30s with specialist music features for at least 36 hours per week.
Hits will appear on 100FM in London, 101 in the west of England, along with 106.1 in Norwich.
In a change to the previous announcement, KISS will no longer remain on 97.2FM in Bristol, but will be replaced by Hits in addition to 106.5 also in the city.
KISS has been on 100FM in London since 1990, after getting a licence from the Radio Authority following many years as a pirate.
Bauer is also launching a new national station, KISSTORY R&B on DAB+ and adding KISS Fresh and KISS Dance to DAB+ in London.