Heart Bedford (formerly Chiltern Radio 96.9) was an

Independent Local Radio Independent Local Radio is the collective name given to commercial radio stations in the United Kingdom. As a result of the buyouts and mergers permitted by the Broadcasting Act 1990, and deregulation resulting from the Communications Act 2003, ...

station based in the Priory Business Park in

Bedford Bedford is a market town in Bedfordshire, England. At the 2011 Census, the population of the Bedford built-up area (including Biddenham and Kempston) was 106,940, making it the second-largest settlement in Bedfordshire, behind Luton, whilst ...

Bedfordshire Bedfordshire (; abbreviated Beds) is a ceremonial county in the East of England. The county has been administered by three unitary authorities, Borough of Bedford, Central Bedfordshire and Borough of Luton, since Bedfordshire County Council wa ...

History

Together with sister stations 97.6 Chiltern FM,

Northants 96 Heart Northants (formerly Northants 96) was a local commercial radio station serving Northamptonshire. The station broadcast on 96.6 FM from studios in Northampton town centre, via the transmitter located in the Kingsthorpe area. As of August ...

and Horizon Radio, it formed the

Chiltern Radio Network Chiltern Radio Network (also known as Chiltern Radio Group) was the parent group of several independent local radio stations in the 1980s and 1990s. These were divided across two networks: ''The Hot FM'' and ''SuperGold''. History Chiltern Radi ...

, which became the Chiltern Radio Group. The station briefly changed its name to ''B97 FM'' in 1996 when GWR bought the station. The station changed back to ''Chiltern FM'' in 1999. Now part of the Global Radio portfolio, after GCap Media failed to stop the buyout, the station was rebranded as ''Heart Bedford'' on 5 January 2009, becoming a part of the

Heart Network Heart is a British radio network and brand of 13 adult contemporary music, adult contemporary Independent Local Radio, local stations operated by Global Media & Entertainment, Global throughout the United Kingdom, broadcasting a mix of local an ...

Network restructuring

On 21 June 2010, Global Radio announced plans to close Heart Bedford and merge the station with

Heart Milton Keynes Heart Milton Keynes (formerly Horizon Radio) was an Independent Local Radio station for Milton Keynes and North Buckinghamshire. Broadcasting on 103.3FM from the Bow Brickhill transmitter, the station was part of Global Radio's Heart Network. Th ...

Heart Dunstable Heart Dunstable (formerly 97.6 Chiltern FM) was an Independent Local Radio station based in Chiltern Road in Dunstable, Bedfordshire. History Together with sister stations 96.9 Chiltern FM, Northants 96 and Horizon Radio, the station formed th ...

and

Heart Northants Heart Northants (formerly Northants 96) was a local commercial radio station serving Northamptonshire. The station broadcast on 96.6 FM from studios in Northampton town centre, via the transmitter located in the Kingsthorpe area. As of August ...

as part of plans to reduce the Heart network of stations from 33 to 16. The new station, ''

Heart Home Counties Heart Four Counties was a local radio station owned and operated by Global Radio as part of the Heart network. It broadcast to Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Northamptonshire. The station launched on Friday 16 July 2010 as a r ...

'', began broadcasting from Dunstable on 16 July 2010.Heart slims but strengthens
, RadioToday, 21 June 2010

References

External links

Sandy Heath mast

Zouches Farm transmitter
{{Global Radio Radio stations in Bedfordshire Radio stations established in 1982

Defunct radio stations in the United Kingdom 1982 establishments in England