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On Monday 30 March 30, ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Southern Counties listeners across Sussex will be waking up to a new name for their favourite station as it launches as ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Sussex, with series of outside broadcasts to celebrate all that's good in the county.

The decision to rename ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Southern Counties was taken to reflect the station's output which has dedicated services for listeners in Sussex, as well as those over the border in Surrey.

The name change comes after the station last week welcomed the voice of Sussex, Danny Pike, who will be presenting the mid-morning show from May.

Explaining the decision to rename Southern Counties Radio, Managing Editor Nicci Holliday said: "The move from SCR to ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Sussex is part of the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ's efforts to better reflect the needs of our communities. Today's announcement marks the culmination of a yearlong project for our station, developing content that is relevant to the two very distinct counties we serve. It also fits in with the roll out of the new branding for the whole ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Local Radio service.

"We now provide dedicated weekday breakfast and drive time programmes for listeners in Sussex as well their own specific travel service and news bulletins. Plus sports fans can also follow their local teams on the split frequencies. So by rebranding as ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Sussex our name now reflects what we do.

"Anyone familiar with the station's history will know that ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Sussex and ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Surrey are not new names. However, unlike previous arrangements, the name change announced today acknowledges that both should be equal while recognising the counties' individual personalities.

"On Monday, March 30, we'll be out and about across the county, broadcasting from all your favourite places to celebrate our new names and all that's good about Sussex. So, if you spot one of the team on the Big Day Out, do make sure you say hello."

Danny Pike, who lives in Patcham, will be presenting the new-look weekday show for ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Sussex and ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Surrey.

Looking forward to his new show, Danny commented: "After nearly 12 years of presenting a breakfast show, moving to mid-morning will be a change, it will be a different type of show. But I am really keen that it becomes something people like me want to listen to.

"We'll have plenty of good music, which I am passionate about. There'll be lots of humour and intelligent chat, plus we'll be working hard to get you all the best celebrities as they pass through the region."

Welcoming Danny, Nicci added: "We are delighted Danny has decided to join ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Sussex and ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Surrey. He will be a fantastic addition to the station and brings with him a huge amount of radio and life experience. He really impressed us with his ideas, creativity and passion for everything we are trying to do.

"The new mid-morning programme will be full of great entertainment as well discussion of the issues that matter to our listeners. Danny is set to go live on May 26 and we look forward to hearing what people think."

From Monday 30 March 2009, Southern Counties Radio will become ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Sussex broadcasting on 95.3, 104.5 and 104.8 FM. On the frequencies 104.0 and 104.6 FM listeners will hear ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Surrey output.

Notes to Editors

The History of ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Southern Counties Radio

³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Local Radio has been broadcasting in Sussex since 1968, initially as ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio Brighton. It was expanded to serve the whole county in 1983.

A service for Surrey launched in 1991 as an opt-out of ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Sussex, broadcasting from our Guildford studio, and carrying Sussex programmes between its own local output.

The stations were combined in 1993 and then renamed ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Southern Counties Radio in 1994. ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ SCR was originally launched as an all-talk service in 1994 serving Sussex, Surrey and North East Hampshire.

In 1997 the station was re-launched with three breakfast shows and music was introduced to the daytime schedule.

Pictures of Danny Pike are available on request.

HB