Classic FM (UK)

Classic FM, one of the United Kingdom's three Independent National Radio stations, broadcasts classical music.

Overview

Classic FM broadcasts nationally on FM, DAB digital radio, Freeview, satellite and cable television and is available internationally by streaming audio over the internet. As well as playing older music, the station plays several modern film scores and videogame music.

Notable current presenters

Past presenters

History

The idea for a national, commercial FM network devoted to classical music originated with the management at GWR group, an entrepreneurial group of UK commercial radio stations. It had been operating a trial programme on its AM frequencies in Wiltshire and Bristol, testing audience reaction to a regular drive-time programme of popular classical music. It proved successful and the company's CEO, Ralph Bernard, and programme director, Michael Bukht, drew up the plans for a national station.

Meanwhile, Brian Brolly, formerly the CEO of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Really Useful Group, had a similar idea in 1990. After failing to raise sufficient funds for the project Brolly's consortium was approached by GWR Group and the two merged. The UK Government had decided to award several new national radio licences and invited tenders. Brolly had brought the idea to Rick Senat, the long-serving head of business affairs in London for Warner Brothers and current owner of Hammer Films. Initially rejected by Warner Brothers, Senat showed the project to the President of Time Warner International Broadcasting, Tom McGrath, a former classical musician and conductor. Time Warner agreed to back the project but was prohibited under then current UK law from owning more than a 25% interest.

Classic FM

Classic FM may refer to:

Classic FM (South Africa)

Classic FM is a classical music radio station in South Africa.

Broadcast languages

Broadcast time

Broadcast area

Ownership breakdown

Listenership figures

References

External links

Classic FM (Netherlands)

Classic FM is a classical music radio station in the Netherlands, which at one time broadcast on FM, but is now available nationally on cable and internationally on the Internet. The station is owned by the Sky Radio Group.

It transmits soft classical music 24 hours per day. The format is almost identical to the UK Classic FM station, including the 'jingles' except, of course, that the presenters are Dutch. News is broadcast or streamed on the hour.

History

End of January 1994 there was a redistribution of FM terrestrial frequencies place. This happened on substantive grounds. It was to divide one frequency package for jazz and classical music. The preference of the Ministerie van Welzijn, Volksgezondheid en Cultuur (English: Ministry of Welfare, Health and Culture) was for EuroJazz (later called Jazz Radio), this station could not afford it financially. The British Classic FM also commanded the frequency package. After negotiations between the ministry and the British package was allotted to Classic FM on the condition that 40% jazz would be broadcast. On April 30, 1994 the Dutch Classic FM was founded and went the broadcasts from start.