Virgin Radio
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Format | Pop and Rock |
|---|---|
| Owner | SMG plc |
Virgin Radio, originally known as Virgin 1215, is a British commercial music radio station based in London which plays popular music and rock. Virgin currently broadcasts on mediumwave and DAB across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, on 105.8 FM in London, on Freeview, Sky Digital and cable television. It is also available in other parts of the world via satellite, cable, and on the Internet.
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[edit] Broadcasting history
Virgin Radio was originally called Virgin 1215 when it was launched nationally on 1215 kHz (although some regional transmitters used other frequencies) at 12.15pm on 30 April 1993 by Richard Branson as part of his Virgin brand. The "Virgin" brand has been used by Branson for all of his businesses; the name was chosen because a female friend setting it up with him commented "We're all virgins at business". It was then sold to Ginger Media, owned by Chris Evans, who was a mainstay on the station, presenting a breakfast show from 1997 until 2001. Evans sold Ginger Media to SMG plc for £225 million GBP in March 2000 and was subsequently fired by his new employer in 2001 for failing to report into work for 5 consecutive days while reportedly partying with his then wife Billie Piper. <ref>Radio Rewind Chris Evans page</ref> <ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/showbiz/1412225.stm BBC News, June 28, 2001</ref>
Some months later after the station launched, it also began broadcasting in stereo on satellite via Sky Television. This has continued with the switchover to digital broadcasting. Virgin Radio later acquired an FM frequency, 105.8 FM, in the London area, on which it launched on 10 April 1995.
On June 13, 2006 SMG plc signed a deal with YooMedia to make Virgin Radio available on Freeview. It has always placed a great emphasis on other methods of transmission than medium wave, as the 1215 kHz frequency suffers from considerable interference, particularly after dark - BBC Radio 1, which used 1215 kHz for its first eleven years on air, moved to higher-quality medium wave frequencies (now used by TalkSport) in 1978 mainly for this reason. Interference is thought to come from around Europe, particularly Russia, which has a station on this frequency.
[edit] The Station, its audience and playlist
Virgin Radio's present chief executive Fru Hazlitt, when interviewed for The Guardian (September 25, 2006), described what type of music the station champions. When told of comparisons between Virgin and other MOR, or "Middle-of-the-road" music radio stations, such as the BBC's Radio 2, she remarked that "that was [during] the Chris Evans era. Now, it's pretty much mainstream rock festival type music. Razorlight, Keane. These bands are becoming some of the biggest in the world."
The station's output does mainly consist of contemporary British guitar-based "MOR" rock-pop bands, such as the aforementioned Keane and Razorlight but also artists like Coldplay, James Blunt, Snow Patrol and The Feeling. It also plays various other "Adult album alternative" artists from Britain, Ireland and America, like Oasis, U2, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, R.E.M. and The Killers, as well as "Golden Oldies" such as The Clash, The Beatles, and Queen to name a few.
Virgin Radio's target audience is predominantly those aged 25-44 <ref>http://media.guardian.co.uk/mediaguardian/story/0,,1879948,00.html "Tuned in to Virgin", The Guardian, September 25, 2006</ref>. Its "spin-off" digital radio stations (see below) exploit the 'niche' musical tastes of this target audience, and leans on a particular rock sub-genre that is played on Virgin Radio, or to cater for an audience that is within its target demographic but are not served properly by the flagship station.
It does attempt to play some alternative rock music, a sub-genre that is not traditionally associated with mainstream commercial radio stations. Because of this, The Edge - the show that caters for alternative tastes on the main Virgin Radio, is on air Saturday mornings at 1.00am, on what has been traditionally termed a graveyard slot, to minimise the risk to vital audience share.
[edit] The Big Star
A little after 8:00 on the morning of Monday 25th September 2006, The station's breakfast DJ Christian O'Connell revealed The Big Star, which has turned out to be a giant 20 ft x 20 ft star, which took three weeks to complete in a secret location and hung outside the studio above Regent Street. It was also revealed that if listeners guessed the exact amount within it one of them could win it in cash. To play, listeners had to register the website and could view the star on the webcam. A listener would be selected randomly every hour. It was won at Noon on October 10th, by Phil from Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire with a winning guess of £108,125.15.
The Big Star will return in 2007.
[edit] Around the world
The Virgin name is used for other radio stations in other territories. Virgin Radio stations exist in Greece, Thailand, Singapore and China. These are not owned by SMG, and remain within Richard Branson's Virgin Group. In the USA, Radio Free Virgin is an online broadcaster - another Virgin Group company - and many Virgin companies, including Virgin Megastores and Virgin Trains, have in-store radio stations.
[edit] Spinoff stations
SMG plc has recently launched a number of spin-off stations within its Virgin Radio Network. These are:
[edit] Virgin Radio Classic Rock
A radio station on DAB, Sky Digital and the Internet playing classic rock from the sixties to the nineties.
[edit] Virgin Radio Groove
A radio station on DAB, Sky Digital and the Internet which plays motown, soul and disco music.
[edit] Virgin Radio Xtreme
Launched on September 5th 2005, Virgin Radio Xtreme plays rock music, and is aimed at teenage males.
[edit] Virgin Radio Party Classics
Launched on Thursday 15th June 2006, Virgin Radio Party Classics played party pop music. The radio station was based on Suggs Virgin Party Classics show broadcast on Virgin Radio. The station closed down on Friday 13th October 2006.
All 'Virgin' branded channels broadcast on DAB in London, the Internet, and Sky Digital.
[edit] Presenters
Past presenters on the network have included Chris Evans, Danny Baker, Nick Abbot, Jonathan Coleman, Daryl Denham, Jezza, Robin Banks, Lynn Parsons, Tommy Vance, Alan Freeman, Gary Davies, Kevin Greening, Richard Skinner, Vic Reeves & many others.
[edit] External links
- VirginRadio.co.uk
- smgradio.com - SMG Radio
- VirginBrand.com Unofficial blog of the Virgin Group
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Virgin Radio Classic Rock • Virgin Radio Groove • Virgin Radio Xtreme |
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stv • Grampian Television • Scottish Television • SMG Productions • Ginger Productions • Virgin Radio • Pearl & Dean |
