V2 Radio joins DAB in Hampshire and grows coverage area

V2 Radio is dropping Sussex from its name as it grows its coverage area to include parts of Hampshire on DAB.

The move comes as regional service Wave 105 rebrands to Greatest Hits Radio, leaving some listeners actively looking for alternative radio stations to try.

V2 Radio was set-up as a result of Spirit FM being changed to Greatest Hits Radio, and is now looking to fill another gap in the market.

MD Justin Cottrell tells RadioToday: “We are now the only Proper Local Radio Station Covering Sussex and Hampshire.

“We have extended our reach so that we can continue to offer the appeal across our region, with a specific focus on a 25-mile radius of Chichester.

“We’ve decided to change our “core” target area for Local News, Travel, Weather, Advertising, and Vouchers to a 25-mile radius from Portsmouth to the West, Brighton to the East, and Gatwick Airport to the North. However, we will be inclusive of anyone listening further afield and online, as we always have been.”

The station adds that the extra coverage will be useful for local people who commute outside of their core area and still want to listen on DAB.

In the “Wave 105 Memories” group on Facebook, fans of the former Bauer station have been discussing which services to try as an alternative for people who live in Wave’s TSA of Dorset, Hampshire, west Sussex and the Isle of Wight.

V2 Radio has been mentioned regularly, along with Nation Radio South, Easy Radio, Heart, Capital, Outreach Radio, Express FM, Isle of Wight Radio, Salisbury Radio, Forest FM, Hot Radio and new station Bournemouth One.