Originally launched in 1982 as Red Rose Radio, transmitting on 97.3 MHz and 999 kHz (301m MW). The FM frequency transmission changed when the station split to 97.4 MHz in 1990. In 1990,
Red Rose Radio was split into two stations - Red Rose Rock FM using the
FM frequency and Red Rose Gold on the
medium wave frequency. Rock FM was given its name as the station was initially going to be based in Blackpool, Lancashire. However the agreement for the studio premises subsequently fell through and the station remained in Preston. The managing director was Dave Lincoln, with Mark Matthews as programme director, and at that time the station was owned by the Miss World Group, later known as
Trans World Communications (owned by
Owen Oyston) and which eventually became part of
Bauer Radio (previously
EMAP Radio). The total survey area of the station for
RAJAR is broadly defined as western, southern and central
Lancashire including parts of
Greater Manchester and
Merseyside, but the station is audible on FM from
Cumbria down into
Wales towards
The West Midlands and minor parts of North
Shropshire From its launch, Rock FM was based at studios in a converted church (
St. Paul's) in
Preston. The station consistently rates as the number one commercial radio station in its target service area by reach, share and hours. Over a quarter of all adults in its market listen every week. In January 2020, Bauer announced Rock FM would cease broadcasting from its Preston studios and co-locate with
Hits Radio at Bauer's Northern headquarters in Manchester the following month. The station retains local news, advertising and charity staff at offices elsewhere in the city. As of December 2023, the former studios at
St Paul's Church are now used as office space. On 16 November 2023, it was announced that Rock FM's weekday breakfast show - the station's sole remaining local programme - would be merged with
Radio City in Liverpool and simulcast across the two stations. As of January 2024, presenter
Joel Ross continues with Bauer, with the breakfast show broadcast from
Bauer's Liverpool studios. Rock FM retained its own local news bulletins, traffic updates and advertising.
Hits Radio rebrand On 10 January 2024, station owners Bauer announced Rock FM would be rebranded as
Hits Radio Lancashire from April 2024, as part of a network-wide relaunch involving 17 local radio stations in England and Wales.
End of regional programming On 20 March 2025, Bauer announced it would end its regional Hits Radio breakfast show for the North West to be replaced by a new national breakfast show for England and Wales on 9 June 2025. Local news and traffic bulletins will continue. The station's final regional programme aired on 6 June 2025 with breakfast presenter
Joel Ross moving to a new national breakfast show on sister station Hits Radio 00s. == Programming ==