The station was part of the Yorkshire Radio Network which also owned Viking FM and Hallam FM, this was bought out by Newcastle based Metro Radio Group. Pennine Radio became Pennine FM in the late 1980s when the AM frequency was split off to create the original incarnation of Classic Gold. On 30 August 1991, in a bid to revive flagging fortunes, Pennine FM was rebranded as "The Pulse". The Metro Radio Group itself was bought out by EMAP in 1996 and ownership rules at the time meant that as they already owned neighbouring Radio Aire in Leeds something had to be sold on, and that was The Pulse and its sister station Classic Gold which were purchased in a management buyout from senior staff and ex-Metro Group executives. The new company was called The Radio Partnership, it was at this time that the station moved to number one position in the West Yorkshire radio market for the first time in its history. The Radio Partnership expanded over the years to include other stations, such as Signal Radio in Stoke-on-Trent. In 1999, Kelvin MacKenzie's Talk Radio UK bought The Radio Partnership and formed The Wireless Group to include the national broadcaster and a series of local stations. In July 2005 The Wireless Group was bought out by UTV Group. In September 2016, The Wireless Group was purchased by News UK. On 8 February 2019, Pulse 1 and the Wireless Group's network of local radio stations were sold to Bauer. In May 2020, Bauer announced that Pulse 1 would join the Hits Radio network, while retaining its on-air branding. Pulse 1 began introducing the Hits Radio network off peak programming from 15 June 2020. Pulse 1 officially joined the Hits Radio network from 20 July 2020.
Service area
The main 102.5 FM signal comes from the Vicars Lot transmitter close to the M62 between Scammonden Dam and junction 23, close to the Scammonden arched bridge. This signal covers a lot of West Yorkshire and can be heard as far south as Doncaster and Sheffield, and also in the other direction in Lancashire and Greater Manchester. The signal is much stronger, and the transmitter at a higher altitude than the Idle transmitter. The 97.5 FM signal covers Bradford, and comes from the Idle transmitter, which is on the top of Idle Moor, between Idle and Shipley. The Idle transmitter also carries national radio frequencies, Capital Yorkshire on 105.6FM, Sunrise Radio on 103.2FM and Heart Yorkshire on 107.6FM.
Programming
Networked programming originates from Bauer’s Manchester studios. Local programming is produced and broadcast from Bauer’s Bradford studios weekdays from 6-10am, presented by Danny Mylo and Rosie Madison.
News and sport
Bauer’s Bradford newsroom broadcasts local news bulletins hourly from 6am-7pm on weekdays and from 7am-1pm on weekends. Headlines are broadcast on the half-hour during weekday breakfast and drivetime shows. Henry Winter has held the position of the station's Acting News & Sport Editor since August 2019. He's presented the news on the Pulse 1 Breakfast Show with Mylo & Rosie since April 2018. The rest of the news team consists of freelancers including Edward Breslin, Ailsa Rochester and Patrick Carter. The station also simulcasts hourly Sky News Radio bulletins at all other times. Pulse 1 used to air extensive local sports coverage, including live match commentaries on Bradford City matches, led by Jason Thornton and former City striker Ian Ormondroyd, and a weekly rugby league magazine show, presented by Bradford Bulls CEO Robbie Hunter Paul. These are now available on AM station Pulse 2.
