Ex-Stray FM legend to launch new Harrogate media business

The popular presenter and broadcaster, who worked for the Harrogate-founded radio station for 11 successful years before it was rebranded Greatest Hits Radio FM earlier this month by its new owners Bauer, the German multimedia conglomerate, told the Harrogate Advertiser it was “going to be totally locally focussed content.”

Set to be launched on Thursday, October 1, Hancock said, although his new digital platform was not a radio station, he would be presenting a weekly podcast and posting regular videos on his brand new website.

Nick Hancock said: "I will be doing a daily podcast with guests but there will be more regular videos.

"It will be very visual with guest talkers and business advertising platforms for local firms.

"A lot of what I did before happened on Facebook rather than on air.

"My personal thought is that this approach is the best way of getting local content out."

Having said an emotional farewell at the end of August during a major staff purge at the station as Stray FM was turned into Greatest Hits Radio, which also included the departure of fellow presenter Will Smith and the station's managing director Sarah Barry, Hancock has not been slow off the mark to get back in the broadcasting saddle in the town he loves so much.

Nick's new website will be known as "Your Harrogate."

In terms of content, as well as local news, weather and traffic information, the main focus of Your Harrogate will be on vouchers, competition and local business tie-ins.

Although the popular Hancock's new media venture is a serious business concern for the radio presenter with advertising and backers, he also emphasised that Harrogate still needed and deserved a community voice in the way it had enjoyed before the demise of Stray FM.

He said: "Harrogate is a great area. There's always loads going on and loads to talk about, especially this year. It's really important to support the town and stick up for it."

As part of its charm offensive in the build-up to the controversial rebrand Bauer said Greatest Hits Radio (Harrogate and the Yorkshire Dales), would be leading new local initiatives within the region, including, offering free advertising airtime to local charities, hospices and other not-for-profit community organisations to support them in communicating messages as they rebuild their fundraising base post-lockdown.

Your Harrogate will launch on Thursday, October 1, 2020 at www.yourharrogate.co.uk

Temperature checking is the new contactless in Harrogate as hotel group expands Covid safety measures

A message from the Editor

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper.