Virgin Radio

Virgin Radio is a brand owned by the Virgin Group. Virgin Radio International was established in 2001 to develop the brand and has since built one of the world's most popular music radio franchises, broadcasting in multiple languages and music based formats in North America, Europe and Asia – including the Middle East – and has 18 million listeners worldwide. Virgin Radio stations in each country are owned independently of the Virgin Group and of each other and generally carry independent programming tailored to local tastes.

Virgin Radio UK

The first Virgin Radio branded station initially broadcast in the UK between 1993 and 2008 under several owners, but was renamed Absolute Radio after a further ownership change in 2008.

In January 2015, it was announced that Virgin Radio International and UTV Media had partnered to relaunch Virgin Radio subject to Ofcom awarding the necessary broadcast licence. In March 2015, Ofcom awarded a UK digital terrestrial commercial radio licence for Virgin Radio UK and the station is expected to launch in March 2016.

Absolute Radio

Coordinates: 51°30′44″N 0°08′13″W / 51.512248°N 0.136937°W / 51.512248; -0.136937

Absolute Radio is one of the UK's three Independent National Radio stations. The station rebranded to its current name at 7:45 am on 29 September 2008.

The station is based in London and plays popular rock music. It currently broadcasts on medium wave and DAB across the UK, on 105.8 FM in London and 105.2 FM in the West Midlands, Sky (channel 0107), Virgin Media (channel 915), Freeview (channel 727) and Freesat (channel 724). It is also available in other parts of the world via satellite, cable, and on the Internet. As of 31 December 2013, international streaming via the internet has been discontinued. Absolute Radio is a patron of The Radio Academy.

Absolute Radio is owned and operated by Bauer Radio of Hamburg based Bauer Media Group, it forms part of Bauer's National portfolio of radio brands.

History

1993–1997: Virgin Radio launch and early years

The 1990 Broadcasting Act allowed for the launch of independent national radio (INR) stations in the United Kingdom. The Radio Authority was mandated to award three INR licences, one of which (INR1) had to be for a 'non-pop' station (which was awarded to Classic FM), and one of which had to be for a predominantly speech-based service (this would be advertised later as INR3 and would be awarded to Talk Radio). The remaining licence was to be open to 'all-comers'. The licences were to be awarded to the highest cash bidder, providing that the applicant met criteria set down in the Broadcasting Act.

Virgin Radio (France)

Virgin Radio is a French network of FM radio stations dedicated to Rock and Pop music, operating on 250 different frequencies across France. Its musical programming is closely related to the American Hot Adult Contemporary format. The network was known as Europe 2 (as the contemporary music sister of Europe 1) until 1 January, 2008, when it was rebranded as Virgin Radio.

The station capital does not in fact belong to Virgin Group, but to Lagardère Active, which has to pay 0.5 to 1% of its profits to Virgin Group under a franchise contract.

Virgin Radio claims approximately 3 million listeners every day.

Because of the decline of the station's listening figures, Virgin Radio gave up playing rock music in 2011 to become a hit music station with a former Europe 2 slogan, "Un maxx de tubes".

Presenters