Hits Radio  Hits Radio is a network of 25 contemporary hit radio stations, owned and operated by Bauer. Hits Radio provides networked and local programming via 23 local FM stations and a national DAB station on local DAB multiplexes, with local variants in Manchester and London. The network was formerly known as the Big City Network, Bauer Place, Bauer City and Bauer City 1. The national DAB station was formerly known as The Hits. Hits Radio UK broadcasts on DAB in many parts of the UK, nationally on Freeview and Sky TV platforms and online - a localized version of the station airs on FM and DAB in Greater Manchester. A second localized version also airs on DAB in London. As of 15 June 2020, a total of 25 local radio stations in the UK providing local programming, news, traffic and sport, along with networked Hits Radio output. The network is based at studios at Castle Quay in the Castlefield area of Manchester, with a line up of young and established presenters from various stations within Bauer's radio networks. A separate version of the network provides bespoke programming for Bauer's local stations in Scotland. The Hits Radio launched on 1 April 2003. On 19 January 2015, The Hits Radio formed the backbone of a new locally branded Bauer City 3 network of radio stations in Northern England and Scotland. The local City 3 branding was dropped on 31 August 2017, in favour of adding The Hits to all local DAB Multiplexes. Initially known as the Big City Network, and latterly Bauer Place and Bauer City 1, networked programming on Bauer's local FM stations was initially confined to off-peak night time and weekend timeslots. In February 2014, the stations adopted a standardised audio identity package, produced by Wise Buddah, while retaining their local station branding. Two networked shows were also introduced across most stations - "Old Skool and Anthems" and "In: Demand" - produced from Key 103 in Manchester. Separate schedules for England and Scotland were introduced in August 2015, followed in July 2017 by two networked mid-morning shows for most of the FM stations, produced from Manchester and Glasgow respectively. Local weekend programming for most of the English stations was replaced with additional network output in July 2019, followed in September 2019 by the introduction of a networked Drivetime show. The Scottish network of stations is due to introduce a networked Drivetime show at the end of March 2020, except for MFR and Radio Borders. In February 2017, the Free Radio group of stations in the West Midlands began carrying off-peak programming from the Northern England network, replacing most of its own regional output from Birmingham.