Global's Smooth takeover has Kiss FM worried

Kiss FM owner Bauer has raised major doubts about rival Global Radio's £70m takeover of Smooth Radio owner GMG Radio, declaring that it cannot see how regulators could approve this "game- changing" deal.

Bauer chief executive Paul Keenan said that Global's takeover will harm both competition and plurality of news and he has commissioned research from independent firm Enders Analysis, which he said backs up his case. Mr Keenan said: "We think this transaction will change commercial radio forever and will lead to an excessive concentration of media ownership."

Global is already Britain's biggest radio group, it includes Capital, Heart, Classic and LBC.