Hits Radio North East

Hits Radio North East, formerly Metro Radio, is an Independent Local Radio station based in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, owned and operated by Bauer Media Audio UK as part of the Hits Radio network. The station launched in 1974 as Metro Radio. It broadcasts to County Durham, Northumberland, and Tyne and Wear.

As of March 2024, the station has a weekly audience of 382,000 listeners according to RAJAR.

Launch as Metro Radio
The Newcastle-based station, broadcasting to North-East England, launched on 15 July 1974. The first breakfast show was presented by Don Dwyer, an Australian radio presenter formerly at ABC and the United Biscuits Network. The first show included messages of congratulations from Kenny Everett at the equivalent local commercial station in London, Capital Radio.

Studios
The station transmitted from a studio in Swalwell, Gateshead, which in later years would be adjacent to the Metrocentre and is now Metropolitan House—a business centre providing serviced office accommodation. Metro, and sister station Magic 1152, moved in 2005 to the former BT building previously known as Swan House – now known as 55° North – next to the Tyne Bridge in Newcastle upon Tyne. In April 2021, it was announced that Metro Radio were relocating their studios once more. Later in 2021 as planned, they relocated their broadcasting studios to the Grade II listed building, Gainsborough House on Newcastle's Grey Street. Before the move, the studio had undergone a purposed fit-out which included 2 additional studios and a contemporary, flexible office space.

Football commentary
Until 2005 the station broadcast live football commentary for the region's two biggest clubs; Newcastle United and Sunderland. In an attempt to boost ratings, the football commentary was stopped. However, a negative response from football fans prompted the owners to cover all Newcastle and Sunderland games on sister station Magic 1152.

TFM co-location
From 8 April 2013, all Metro Radio's programming has been shared with TFM. However, the Metro Radio branding was retained along with separate advertising and local news bulletins. The two stations were able to co-locate without consultation, for the Metro Radio licence area is located in one approved broadcast area (north-east England).

Hits Radio rebrand
On 10 January 2024, station owners Bauer announced Metro Radio would be rebranded as Hits Radio North East from April 2024, as part of a network-wide relaunch involving 17 local radio stations in England and Wales. The announcement signalled the end of the Metro Radio brand after nearly 50 years of broadcasting.

The station's local news and regional output will not be affected as a result of the relaunch.

On 17 April 2024 at 6am, Metro Radio was rebranded to Hits Radio North East, officially marking the end of the Metro Radio brand, the website for which had been replaced with the Hits Radio website earlier that morning.

Programming
Regional programming (Steve & Karen's Breakfast Show) airs 6-10am on weekdays from Bauer’s Newcastle studios.

At all other times networked programming airs via Bauer’s London headquarters or studios in Birmingham, Liverpool and Manchester.

News
Regional news bulletins air hourly from 6am-7pm on weekdays, and from 7am-1pm on Saturdays and Sundays. Headlines are broadcast on the half-hour during weekday breakfast and drivetime shows, alongside traffic bulletins.

National bulletins from other Bauer newsrooms or Sky News Radio are at other times.

Notable former presenters

 * Allan Beswick (later with BBC Radio Lancashire, now retired)
 * Rich Clarke (Heart South)
 * Mark Goodier (Greatest Hits Radio)
 * Pete Graves (Sky Sports News)
 * Ingrid Hagemann
 * Lucy Horobin (Heart Dance)
 * Jason King (Heart London)
 * Gabby Logan
 * Jonathan Morrell (BBC Radio Newcastle)
 * Anna Foster (broadcaster) (BBC Radio Newcastle)
 * Jenny Powell (Greatest Hits Radio)
 * Alan Robson (later at Greatest Hits Radio, now on the Internet)
 * Joel Ross (Rock FM)
 * Lisa Shaw (deceased)
 * Bill Steel
 * Pip Tomson (Good Morning Britain)
 * Clive Warren
 * James Whale (talkRADIO)
 * Russ Williams (Nation Radio UK)