Media UK

Classic FM - news archive

This is an archive of news about Classic FM. Some links may no longer work, due to the transient nature of the internet.

More radio stations for Freesat
From Radio Today. Posted July 23 2008, 12.21am
Seven more stations will starting broadcasting via the Freesat line-up on August 1st.Capital 95.8, Xfm, Classic FM, Gold, NME Radio, Insight Radio and BFBS will join 10 BBC channels and Virgin Radio on the new free-to-air satellite service. (more)

My Life in Media: Paul Gambaccini
From The Independent. Posted July 21 2008, 12.00am
The "Professor of Pop" Paul Gambaccini, 59, began broadcasting on BBC Radio 1 thirty five years ago. Originally from New York, he was the Rolling Stone UK correspondent when an interview with Elton John brought him to the attention of Radio 1. He has since been awarded a Sony award for Music Broadcaster of the Year and the Radio Academy's Outstanding Contribution to Music Radio award, and is a regular presenter on Radio 2, 4 and Classic FM. He is also well known for his philanthropy and hosted Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday dinner in London. Tonight he is hosting the BBC Jazz Awards. He lives in London's South Bank and the Columbus Circle, New York. (more)

GCap Media shakeup puts 100 jobs at risk
From Media Guardian. Posted July 9 2008, 12.58pm
GCap Media, owner of radio brands including Classic FM, Capital, Choice and Xfm, is undertaking a new round of cost-cutting. By Ben Dowell (more)

GCap fine record £1.1m by Ofcom for phone-in scam
From The Times. Posted June 26 2008, 11.57am
GCap, the commercial radio group behind Capital 95.8 and Classic FM, has been fined a record £1.1 million by Ofcom, the media regulator, for manipulating phone-in quizes to stop prizes from being won too quickly. (more)

More concerts for Classic FM
From Radio Today. Posted June 18 2008, 8.21am
GCap Media's Classic FM has signed a deal worth over a million pounds with AEG, the owners of the London music venues indigO2 and the O2 arena.The agreement will see the national station as both sponsor and media partner for new classical concerts from October 2008 till February 2009. (more)

Classic FM, Magic and Xfm Manchester vie for top radio prize
From Media Guardian. Posted June 12 2008, 6.23am
Classic FM, London's Magic 105.4 and Xfm Manchester will do battle for the big station of the year prize at this year's Arqiva Commercial Radio Awards. By John Plunkett (more)

Blackadder man joins Classic FM
From Radio Today. Posted May 15 2008, 12.09pm
The man behind the music of tv shows such as Blackadder and The Vicar of Dibley has joined Classic FM as their composer-in-residence and Saturday afternoon presenter. (more)

Blackadder composer Howard Goodall joins Classic FM
From Media Guardian. Posted May 15 2008, 9.12am
Howard Goodall is to join Classic FM this summer as the station's next composer-in-residence and Saturday presenter. By Jemima Kiss (more)

Commercial Radio attracts more
From Radio Today. Posted May 1 2008, 7.00am
The commercial radio industry has added an extra 300 thousand listeners in the last three months, taking the total to 31 million adults. National stations Classic FM and talkSPORT all gained a small amount of extra listeners, but Virgin took a slight total drop of 0.2 per cent (more)

EXCLUSIVE: Full Sky Digital EPG listings after reshuffle
From Biz Asia. Posted April 24 2008, 11.52am
BizAsia.co.uk brings you the full Sky Digital channel listings as they will appear after the reshuffle. There are no changes planned for following EPG categories Documentaries, Sports, Adult and Radio. Sky plans to implement a marketing campaign through a number of different media prior to the changes taking place in order to inform viewers of the changes. The new channel line up is currently scheduled to be implemented on a genre by genre basis between 05:00 and 08:00 on the dates specified below. Entertainment 101 BBC1 / RTE1 102 BBC2 / RTE2 103 ITV1 / UTV / TV3 104 Channel 4 / TG4 / S4C 105 Five 106 Sky One 107 Sky Two 108 Sky Three 109 UKTV Gold 110 UKTV Gold +1 111 Dave 112 LIVING 113 LIVING +1 114 LIVING2 115 BBC THREE 116 BBC FOUR 117 Channel 4 (Wales) 118 ITV2 119 ITV3 120 ITV4 121 Virgin1 122 Virgin1+1 123 Bravo 124 Bravo+1 125 Challenge 126 ParaComedy 1 127 ParaComedy +1 128 ParaComedy 2 129 SCI FI 130 SCI FI +1 131 ITV2+1 132 UKTV Drama 133 UKTV Drama+1 134 S4C 135 Channel 4+1 / Channel 4 136 E4 / Channel 4+1 137 E4+1 / E4 EIRE 138 More4 / E4+1 (ROI) 139 More4+1 / More4 (ROI) 140 Channel 4 HD / More4+1 (ROI) 141 BBC1 NI (ROI Only) 142 BBC2 NI (ROI Only) 143 BBC HD 144 DMAX 145 DMAX+1 146 Zone Reality 147 Zone Reality +1 148 Zone Reality X 149 Zone Romantica 150 Hallmark 151 E! Entertainm 152 Challenge+1 153 Bravo2 154 DMAX+2 155 Hollywood TV 156 Biography 157 Film24 158 Dave +1 159 ParaComedy2+ 160 MTV 161 RTE1 (NI) 162 RTE2 (NI) 163 TG4 (NI) 164 FX 165 FX+ 166 Information TV 167 Info TV2 168 Passion TV 169 Raj TV 170 Sky One HD 171 My Channel 172 Trouble 173 Trouble +1 174 Five US 175 Five US +1 176 Five Life 177 Five Life +1 178 Men & Motors 179 ITV3+1 180 Red 181 fame TV 182 Channel 6 (only avail ROI) 183 Current TV 184 BEN 185 Ape TV 186 Life One 187 AIT Int'l 188 AnimeCentral 189 Open Access 2 190 Open Access 3 191 Urban TV 192 OBE 193 FX+1 194 Sumo TV 195 propeller 196 Nuts TV 197 Pulse 198 BET 199 200 201 202 203 Channel M 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 Lifestyle & Culture 240 Disc.RealTime 241 Disc.RT Extra 242 Disc.H&Health 243 Sky Real Lives 244 SkyRealLive+1 245 SkyRealLives2 246 UKTV Style 247 UKTV Style +1 248 UKTV Gardens 249 UKTV Food 250 UKTV Food +1 251 Travel Channel 252 Travel Ch +1 253 254 Disc.RT +1 255 Disc.H&H +1 256 Sky Arts 257 Sky Arts HD 258 UKTV Style 2 259 Performance 260 Mainstreet 261 Fashion TV 262 Real Estate TV 263 264 Wine TV 265 Disc.Travel&L 266 Wedding TV 267 Wedding TV+1 268 Africa Channel 269 Diva TV 270 SA Direct 271 Luxe TV 272 Baby Channel 273 Luxe TV HD 274 O'seasproperty 275 276 277 278 279 280 Horse&Country 281 282 283 284 285 286 287 288 289 290 291 292 293 294 295 296 297 298 299 300 Movies 301 Sky Premiere 302 Sky Prem+1 303 Sky Comedy 304 Sky Action 305 Sky Family 306 Sky Drama 307 Sky ScFi/Horror 308 Sky Classics 309 Sky Mdn Greats 310 Sky Indie 311 SkyScreen 1 312 SkyScreen 2 313 Sky PremiereHD 314 SkyScreen 1HD 315 Film4 316 Film4 +1 317 TCM 318 TCM 2 319 Zone Horror 320 Zone Thriller 321 True Movies 322 True Movies 2 323 movies4men 324 movies4men+1 325 movies4men 2 326 327 movies24 328 movies24+ 329 Nollywood 330 AIT 332 SkyScreen 2HD 333 334 335 336 337 338 339 340 341 342 343 344 345 347 348 349 Music 350 MTV ONE 351 MTV ONE+1 352 MTV BASE 353 MTV HITS 354 MTV DANCE 355 MTV TWO 356 VH1 357 VH1 Classic 358 TMF 359 The Box 360 The Hits 361 KISS 362 Smash Hits! 363 Magic 364 Q 365 Chart Show TV 366 The Vault 367 Flava 368 Kerrang! 369 oMusic TV 370 Channel U 371 Fizz 372 Bliss 373 374 Scuzz 375 376 Flaunt 377 378 ROCKWORLDTV 379 Bubble Hits 380 Musflash TV 381 Bedroom TV 382 NME TV 383 Clubland 384 385 386 387 388 389 390 391 392 393 394 395 Music Choice 396 Music Choice 397 398 399 400 Sports 401 Sky Sports 1 402 Sky Sports 2 403 Sky Sports 3 404 Sky Spts Xtra 405 Sky Spts News 406 MUTV 407 408 Sky Sports HD1 409 Sky Sports HD2 410 Eurosport UK 411 Eurosport2 UK 412 413 Motors TV 414 415 At The Races 416 417 NASN 418 Setanta Golf 419 Extreme Sports 420 421 Chelsea TV 422 423 Arsenal TV 424 Arsenal Replay 425 426 427 Fight Network 428 429 Setanta Sports1 430 Setanta Sports2 432 Racing UK 433 Racing World 434 Setanta Ireland (Not NI) 435 Setanta News 436 Celtic TV 437 438 Rangers TV 439 Setanta Sports (ROI) 440 441 442 ESPN Classic 443 444 445 RealmadridTV 446 447 448 LiverpoolFCTV 449 450 Sky Sports HD3 451 452 Rush HD 453 454 455 456 457 458 459 460 461 462 463 464 465 466 467 468 469 470 471 472 473 474 475 476 477 478 479 PPV 480 481 482 483 484 485 486 487 488 489 490 491 492 493 494 495 496 497 498 499 500 News 501 Sky News 502 Bloomberg 503 BBC NEWS 504 BBC PARL'MNT 505 CNBC 506 CNN 507 S4C2 508 EuroNews 509 FOX News 510 CCTV-9 511 NDTV 24x7 512 Russia Today 513 France 24 514 Al Jazeera Eng 515 516 517 518 519 Documentaries 520 Discovery 521 Discovery+1 522 Disc.Knowldge 523 Disc. Turbo 524 Disc. Science 525 Animal Planet 526 Nat Geo 527 Nat Geo+ 1hr 528 Nat Geo Wild 529 History 530 History+1hour 531 Crime 532 UKTV Docs 533 UKTV Docs+1 534 UKTV People 535 Animal Plnt+1 536 Discovery HD 537 UKTV History 538 UKTV H'tory+1 539 CommunityChnl 540 541 542 543 Nat Geo HD 544 545 History HD 546 547 Business Chn'l 548 549 Disc.Sci+1 550 551 552 553 554 555 556 557 558 559 560 561 562 563 564 565 566 567 568 569 570 571 572 573 574 575 576 577 578 579 Religion 580 GOD Channel 581 GOD Europe 582 Wonderful 583 TBN Europe 584 DAYSTAR 585 revelation 586 UCB TV 587 Inspiration 588 LOVEWORLD TV 589 EWTN 590 Gospel Channel 591 Word Network 592 Genesis 593 Faith 594 KICC TV 595 596 597 598 599 600 Kids 601 Cartoon Netwrk 602 CN Too 603 Boomerang 604 Nickelodeon 605 Nick Replay 606 Nicktoons 607 Jetix 608 Jetix +1 609 Disney Chnl 610 Disney Chnl+1 611 Play Disney 612 Play Disney+ 613 CBBC Channel 614 CBeebies 615 Nick Jr. 616 POP 617 Tiny Pop 618 Boomerang +1 619 Cartoonito 620 Nick Jr. 2 621 CITV 622 Disney Cine 623 BabyTV 624 BabyFirst 625 Tiny Pop +1 626 PopGirl 627 Pop +1 628 Disney Cine+1 629 630 631 632 633 634 635 636 637 638 639 Shopping 640 QVC 641 JML 642 JML Lifestyle 643 TV SHOP 644 Ideal World 645 price-drop tv 646 Pitch TV 647 Thomson TV 648 JJB Sports 649 Best Direct 650 Jewellery Ch. 651 Simply Ideas 652 TV Warehouse1 653 TV Warehouse 654 bid tv 655 Thomas Cook 656 Gems TV 657 Pitch World 658 Best Direct+ 659 Shop on TV 660 Thane Direct 661 TVW Select 662 JML Choice 663 Stop + Shop 664 Price Crash 665 speedauctiontv 666 JML Innovation 667 JML Solutions 668 Vitality 669 Sky Travel 670 Gems TV 2 671 Create & Craft 672 Teletext Hols 673 Vinappris 674 JJB Golf 675 Max TV 676 U Save.TV 677 CelebrityShop 678 Price Crash 2 679 Home&Travel 680 Screenshop2 681 682 Entrepreneur 683 684 685 686 687 688 689 690 691 692 693 694 695 696 697 698 699 Movies PPV 700 Sky Box Office 701 Sky Box Office 702 Sky Box Office 703 Sky Box Office 704 Sky Box Office 705 Sky Box Office 706 Sky Box Office 707 Sky Box Office 708 Sky Box Office 709 Sky Box Office 710 Sky Box Office 711 Sky Box Office 712 Sky Box Office 713 Sky Box Office 714 Sky Box Office 715 Sky Box Office 716 Sky Box Office 717 Sky Box Office 718 Sky Box Office 719 Sky Box Office 720 Sky Box Office 721 Sky Box Office 722 Sky Box Office 723 Sky Box Office 724 Sky Box Office 725 Sky Box Office 726 Sky Box Office 727 Sky Box Office 728 Sky Box Office 729 Sky Box Office 730 Sky Box Office 731 Sky Box Office 732 Sky Box Office 733 Sky Box Office 734 Sky Box Office 735 Sky Box Office 736 Sky Box Office 737 Sky Box Office 738 Sky Box Office 739 Sky Box Office 740 Sky Box Office 741 Sky Box Office 742 Sky Box Office 743 Sky Box Office 744 Sky Box Office 745 Sky Box Office 746 Sky Box Office 747 Sky Box Office 748 Sky Box Office 749 Sky Box Office 750 Sky Box Office 751 Sky Box Office 752 SBO HD1 753 SBO HD2 754 755 756 757 758 759 760 761 762 763 764 765 766 767 768 769 770 771 772 773 774 775 776 777 778 779 International 780 B4U Movies 781 B4U Music 782 Sony TV Asia 783 STAR One 784 STAR Plus 785 PCNE Chinese 786 Bangla TV 787 mta-muslim tv 788 Zee TV 789 Zee Music 790 Zee Cinema 791 ARY Digital 792 PTV Prime 793 MATV National 794 DW-TV 795 TVEi 796 Abu Dhabi TV 797 SouthForYou 798 AlphaEtcPun 799 TV5 800 MAX 801 Record TV 802 DM Digital 803 DM Gold 804 ARY QTV 805 Venus TV 806 ARY Oneworld 807 Aastha TV 808 STAR News 809 STAR Gold 810 PTV Global 811 Zee Gujarati 812 Mana Telugu 813 Islam Channel 814 Channel 'S' 815 GEO UK 816 Sahara Filmy 817 Sahara One 818 AAJ TAK 819 Noor TV 820 Peace TV 821 Channel Punjab 822 Music India 823 jazeerachildren 824 AAG 825 GEO News 826 Channel S NTV 827 ATN 828 DD-News 829 DD-India 830 Sunrise TV 831 NDTV Imagine 832 Glory TV 833 Brit Asia TV 834 835 836 837 838 839 840 841 842 843 844 845 846 847 848 849 850 851 852 853 854 855 856 857 858 859 Gaming 860 i Play TV 861 Gala TV 862 Pitch Gaming 863 YouPlay TV 864 Sky Vegas 865 SkyPoker.com 866 Live Roulette 867 Pitchgaming2 868 YouPlay TV2 869 SmartLive 870 871 872 873 874 Dating 875 Dating Channel 876 Gay Date TV 877 Gay Network 878 Chat Box 879 Specialist 880 Teachers TV 881 Pub Channel 882 Sky Venue 883 Open Access 884 Audi Channel 885 SupremrMastr 886 Psychic TV 887 888 889 890 891 892 893 894 895 896 897 898 899 Sky Cust Ch Adult 900 Playboy TV 901 Adult Channel 902 Spice Extreme 903 Television X 904 Television X2 905 Television X3 906 Babestation 907 FriendlyTV 908 Babeworld.tv 909 Get Lucky TV 910 Lucky Star 911 Playboy One 912 Tease Me 913 Television X4 914 Over 18 TV 915 Climax3 - 1 916 Climax3 - 2 917 Climax3 - 3 918 SportxxxBabes 919 redhot amateur 920 redhot 40 + 921 redhot just 18 922 redhot dd 923 redhot fetish 924 redhot girl girl 925 redhot raw 926 redhot viewers 927 XPLICITXXX 928 Playboy TV 929 Adult Channel 930 Spice Extreme 931 Hustler TV UK 932 100% Babes 933 XXX TV 934 Amateur Babes 935 Gay TV 936 SportxxxGirls 937 SportxxxWives 938 18 Plus Movies 939 18 Plus Movies 940 18 Plus Movies 941 18 Plus Movies 942 18 Plus Movies 943 18 Plus Movies 944 18 Plus Movies 945 Gay Prowler TV 946 Fantasy 1 947 Fantasy 2 948 Tease Me 2 949 House Of Fun 950 LivexxxBabes 951 Blue Kiss TV 952 The Other Side 953 954 Northern Birds 955 Essex Babes 956 HappyHourGirls 957 LiveXXX 958 959 960 961 962 963 964 965 966 967 968 969 Entertainment 970 Sky Cust Ch 971 BBC 1 Scotland 972 BBC 1 Wales 973 BBC 1 NI 974 BBC 1 London 975 BBC 1 NE & C 976 BBC 1 Yorks 977 BBC 1 Yrks&Lin 978 BBC 1 N West 979 BBC 1 W Mids 980 BBC 1 E Mids 981 BBC 1 East (E) 982 BBC 1 East (W) 983 BBC 1 S East 984 BBC 1 South 985 BBC 1 Oxford 986 BBC 1 West 987 BBC 1 S West 988 BBC 1 Cl 989 BBC 2 England 990 BBC 2 Scotland 991 BBC 2W 992 BBC 2 NI 993 ITV1 (AD) 994 Channel 4 (AD) 995 HD Retail Info (Ret Only)/ Channel 4+1 (AD) 996 Chl Line-up 997 Retail Info (Ret Only) 998 Sky 999 Sky Cust Ch Radio 0101 BBC R1 0102 BBC R2 0103 BBC R3 0104 BBC R4 FM 0105 BBC R5 Live 0106 Classic FM 0107 Virgin Radio 0108 talkSPORT 0109 Capital 0110 Planet Rock 0111 XFM 0112 FUN Radio 0113 theJazz 0114 Choice FM 0115 BBC WS 0116 BBC R Scot. 0117 BBC R Wales 0118 BBC R Ulster 0119 BBC Asian N 0120 BBC 6 Music 0121 Gold 0122 WRN Europe 0123 Premier 0124 Heart 0125 UCB UK 0126 0127 0128 smooth fm 0129 Solar Radio 0130 Panjab Radio 0131 BBC 7 0132 0133 Sunrise 0134 UCB Bible 0135 UCB Talk 0136 UCB Insp 0137 1Xtra BBC 0138 TWR 0139 BBC R n Gael 0140 0141 Raaj Radio 0142 RTE R1 Extra 0143 BBC R4 LW 0144 BBC 5LSport 0145 Club Asia 0146 Real Radio 0147 EWTN 0148 0149 0150 Sukh Sagar 0151 Asian Gold 0152 BBC London 0153 0154 BBC R Cymru 0155 0156 CC Radio 0157 0158 Gaydarradio 0159 Family Radio 0160 RTE Radio 1 0161 ArrwRock 0162 0163 0164 RTE 2FM 0165 RTE Lyric fm 0166 RTE RnaG 0167 0168 Akash Radio 0169 Desi Radio 0170 The Hits 0171 Galaxy 0172 Smash Hits 0173 Kismat 0174 0175 0176 Amrit Bani 0177 LBC 97.3 0178 Kiss 0179 Heat 0180 Magic 0181 Q 0182 MOJO 0183 Kerrang 0184 Radio 0185 Spectrum 1 0186 Liberty 0187 Yarr 0188 InsightRadio 0189 0190 big L 1395 0191 0192 0193 0194 Colourful 0195 RTI Radio 0196 0197 0198 0199 Caroline 0200 VirginXtrme 0201 VirginCRock 0202 VirginGrve 0203 Virgin 105.8 0204 0205 DutchIntSv 0206 Recordbrazil 0207 Rainbow 0208 0209 Yorkshire R 0210 Newstalk 0211 BFBS Radio 0212 Hot 0213 0214 0215 0216 0217 0218 0219 0220 0221 0222 0223 0224 0225 0226 0227 0228 0229 0230 0231 0232 0233 0234 0235 0236 0237 0238 0239 0240 Related links: EXCLUSIVE: Asian channels Sky EPG listings Sky EPG resuffle to affect Asian channels New EPG numbers for Asian channels on Sky Asian channels set for EPG reshuffle on Sky (more)

Nationals to promote in-car DAB
From Radio Today. Posted April 21 2008, 12.20am
Virgin Radio, talkSPORT, Planet Rock and Classic FM are just some of the high-profile radio stations promoting the benefits of in-car DAB listening this summer. (more)

Radio analysis: The Global shake-up
From Media Guardian. Posted April 6 2008, 11.02pm
Last week Global Radio - home of Heart and Galaxy - spent £375m aquiring GCap Media - the home of Classic FM and Capital Radio (more)

Global Radio offers £375 million to buy Classic FM-owner GCap
From The Times. Posted April 1 2008, 12.00am
Global Radio, the owner of Heart 106.2, has agreed to buy Capital Radio-owner GCap for £375 million. (more)

Major UK commercial radio deal agreed
From Media Network Weblog. Posted March 31 2008, 7.06pm
Privately-owned Global Radio said today it was to buy Britain’s largest commercial radio group, GCap Media for an agreed £375 million, to create a bigger rival for the BBC. The deal will bring together Global’s Heart and Galaxy brands with GCap’s national Classic FM and network of commercial radio stations across Britain including Capital 95.8 FM [...] (more)

Global to buy Classic FM owner
From BBC News. Posted March 31 2008, 6.27pm
Global Radio says it will buy GCap Media, the owner of radio stations Classic FM and Xfm, in a £375m deal. (more)

GCap braced for agreed Global Radio offer
From The Times. Posted March 31 2008, 1.44pm
GCap Media and Global Radio are expected to confirm in a joint statement an agreed £371 million offer for the Classic FM-owner, according to sources close to the deal. (more)

Global asks for extension to GCap deadline
From Daily Telegraph. Posted March 23 2008, 12.01am
The radio group chaired by former ITV boss Charles Allen is thought to have asked for more time to formalise its £371m takeover bid for Classic FM owner GCap Media (more)

Gcap opens books as Global takeover nears
From Daily Telegraph. Posted March 6 2008, 12.01am
GCap has finally agreed to takeover talks with Global Radio, which has improved its offer for the owner of Classic FM and Capital Radio. (more)

Global raises GCap proposal to £370m
From Financial Times. Posted March 4 2008, 8.33am
The UK's largest commercial radio broadcaster, which owns Classic FM and Capital Radio, has received a higher proposed offer of 225p a share from Global Radio (more)

Fresh offer for Classic FM firm
From BBC News. Posted March 4 2008, 8.00am
Global Radio says it will make an improved offer for GCap Media, the owner of Classic FM and Xfm. (more)

Global Radio raises GCap bid as battle hots up
From Daily Telegraph. Posted March 4 2008, 7.20am
Former ITV boss Charles Allen has put last-minute improved offer for GCap directly to shareholders as the battle for the owner of Classic FM and Capital Radio intensifies. (more)

GCap suitor expected to walk away
From Media Guardian. Posted March 3 2008, 7.55am
Global Radio is understood to have no desire to overpay for GCap, home to Classic FM and London's Capital, after its improved £333m offer was rejected last week (more)

Global Radio 'may tune out of GCap'
From Daily Telegraph. Posted March 2 2008, 12.01am
A decision by Global Radio about whether to raise its bid for GCap Radio hangs on a knife-edge this weekend after the owner of Classic FM and Capital Radio firmly rebuffed last week's improved £330m bid. (more)

GCap shareholders back decision to reject Global offer of 202p per share
From The Times. Posted February 29 2008, 11.35pm
Charles Allen, the chairman of Global Radio, was considering whether to sweeten his offer for GCap Media last night after the Classic FM owners rejected a revised offer that valued Britain's biggest commercial radio broadcaster at £333 million. (more)

GCap spurns higher offer from Global Radio
From Financial Times. Posted February 29 2008, 9.05am
The owner of Capital, Classic FM and Xfm radio stations rejected a revised £333m offer from Global Radio, the private-equity backed company run by former ITV boss Charles Allen (more)

Classic FM firm spurns new offer
From BBC News. Posted February 29 2008, 7.36am
Classic FM owner GCap Media turns down an improved takeover approach from rival Global Radio. (more)

Global Radio faces pressure from G Cap shareholders to raise offer
From The Times. Posted February 20 2008, 12.00am
Charles Allen’s Global Radio has come under pressure from key shareholders in GCap Media to increase its offer for the owner of Classic FM and Capital 95.8. (more)

Jazz moves to Classic FM
From Radio Today. Posted February 13 2008, 7.30am
Following news about the close of digital station theJazz, parent company GCap Media will introduce a new two-hour nightly jazz show on Classic FM. (more)

Classic FM in major schedule overhaul
From Media Guardian. Posted February 13 2008, 6.58am
Classic FM has signed Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, Alex James and Capital 95.8 DJ Margherita Taylor as part of the biggest schedule change in the station's 15-year history. By John Plunkett (more)

X Factor star joins Classic FM
From Radio Today. Posted February 6 2008, 1.07am
Jonathan Ansell, the young British tenor who shot to fame as the lead singer of X-Factor runners-up G4, is joining GCap's national station Classic FM. (more)

Another orchestra for Classic
From Radio Today. Posted February 5 2008, 12.25am
Classic FM has partnered with Northern Sinfonia of The Sage in Gateshead to air live music and help build awareness of the orchestra around the UK. (more)

Programme director leaves GCap
From Media Guardian. Posted January 24 2008, 11.30am
The GCap Media group programme director, Dirk Anthony, has become the latest executive to part company with the Capital and Classic FM parent company. By John Plunkett (more)

Internet radio: all the music without the awful adverts
From Media Guardian. Posted January 22 2008, 3.25pm
Netbytes: Internet radio stations like the newly launched My Classic FM offer the chance to listen to your favourite music without the constant interruptions of effusive presenters and advertising (more)

Cartridge joins Hampshire
From Radio Today. Posted January 22 2008, 8.15am
Former Classic FM, BBC Radio Solent and Original 106 presenter Richard Cartridge is joining Radio Hampshire to host the Saturday breakfast show. (more)

Less Fun but more jazz on DAB
From Radio Today. Posted January 9 2008, 8.32pm
It might not seem big news in the 21st century for a station to go stereo but a year after launch and Classic FM's sister station theJazz has secured extra capacity on the Digital One national multiplex. The station now transmits a stereo signal DAB at 128kbps. (more)

GCap should have broadcast Global’s bid
From The Times. Posted January 8 2008, 12.00am
For a communications company, GCap Media has been curiously uncommunicative. The owner of Capital Radio and Classic FM chose to keep quiet about a £313 million takeover approach it received in mid-December. Only our exclusive story on Saturday alerted shareholders to the truth and flushed out confirming announcements yesterday from GCap and from the would-be bidder Global Media. (more)

GCap admits to Global Media bid approach
From The Times. Posted January 7 2008, 7.57am
GCap, the owner of Capital Radio and Classic FM, admitted for the first time this morning that it has received a takeover approach from Global Media. (more)

Classic FM owner spurns takeover
From BBC News. Posted January 7 2008, 7.44am
GCap rejects an approach from its rival radio station owner Global Radio over a possible takeover. (more)

GCap rejects approach from Global Radio
From Media Guardian. Posted January 6 2008, 11.51pm
GCap, the commercial radio group, has rejected a takeover approach valuing the operator of Capital 95.8 and Classic FM at about £300m - a premium of more than 50% to the current share price (more)

GCap silence over approach from Global Radio angers big investors
From The Times. Posted January 6 2008, 11.10pm
GCap, the listed media group that owns Capital Radio and Classic FM, was under fire from institutional shareholders last night for failing to disclose a bid approach. (more)

Classic FM live from Liverpool
From Radio Today. Posted December 24 2007, 3.15am
Classic FM is helping to celebrate Liverpool's Capital of Culture year in 2008 by broadcasting live from the city. The station is an official partner of the Liverpool Philharmonic, and will showcase the orchestra and the city for a full 24 hours on January 3rd. (more)

Fru Hazlitt appointed GCap chief executive
From Media Guardian. Posted December 20 2007, 1.05pm
Fru Hazlitt has been confirmed as the new chief executive of GCap Media, the UK's largest commercial radio broadcaster and home to Classic FM and London's Capital 95.8. By Chris Tryhorn (more)

GCap in music download deal
From Radio Today. Posted December 20 2007, 8.36am
GCap Media has agreed a deal with iTunes to allow listeners and website visitors to instantly download songs they hear on-air. Over 50 GCap station websites will promote the campaign, including Capital 95.8 and Classic FM. (more)

Classic FM launch new services
From Radio Today. Posted December 12 2007, 9.44am
Classic FM is launching six new online radio streams of the station and a new online television channel. All seven of the services will be available online alongside the original Classic FM channel from January 7th at MyClassicFM.co.uk (more)

Nick Owen and Barbie join Classic FM
From Media Guardian. Posted December 11 2007, 11.16am
Classic FM has signed newsreader Nicholas Owen to present a 10-part festive quiz, part of the station's Christmas schedule that also includes a concert hosted by Barbie. By John Plunkett (more)

Nicholas Owen and Barbie join Classic FM
From Media Guardian. Posted December 11 2007, 11.16am
Classic FM has signed newsreader Nicholas Owen to present a 10-part festive quiz, part of the station's Christmas schedule that also includes a concert hosted by Barbie. By John Plunkett (more)

Classic FM turns to whisky
From Radio Today. Posted November 30 2007, 8.03am
GCap Media's national FM station has agreed a major deal to promote Grant's Whisky over the Christmas period. The online and on-air ads for its Scotch Whisky brand is part of a six-figure deal and starts tomorrow. (more)

GCap Media's veteran boss Bernard resigns
From Daily Telegraph. Posted November 23 2007, 12.05am
GCap Media, the owner of Classic FM and London's Capital radio, has confirmed that its chief executive of 25 years is to step down, at a "pivotal time" for the radio industry. (more)

Dutch Classic FM to also play pop music tomorrow
From Media Network Weblog. Posted November 15 2007, 2.38pm
Tomorrow between 7 am and 7 pm Dutch time (0600-1800 UTC) listeners to Classic FM, which normally plays light classical music, will instead hear both classics and pop music. The intention is to demonstrate how many pop music hits were inspired by classical music. Amongst the artists whose music will be featured are Donna Summer, [...] (more)

Classic FM hosts Teacher awards
From Radio Today. Posted November 13 2007, 12.19pm
The Classic FM Music Teacher of the Year Awards 2007have taken place at London’s Chappell music store in Wardour Street. Presenter Jane Jones and Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Education Lord Andrew Adonis presented the awards. (more)

Classic FM remains on top
From Radio Today. Posted October 25 2007, 8.56am
GCap Media's Classic FM remains the biggest commercial radio station this quarter. An extra 140,000 people are now listening, taking its audience to almost six million listeners every week. Virgin Radio remains steady with 1.5m and talkSPORT with 2.3m. (more)

Moyles and Wogan take a dip
From Radio Today. Posted October 25 2007, 8.27am
All five of the BBC's main national networks have seen a fall in breakfast figures, while Classic FM and talkSPORT have seen a rise. Chris Moyles drops from 7.257millon to 6.982million quarter on quarter, while Radio 2's Terry Wogan is down from 7.92m to 7.68m. (more)

Lord Eatwell joins Classic FM
From Radio Today. Posted October 22 2007, 8.33am
Classic FM has appointed Lord Eatwell, the President of Queens’ College Cambridge and the former chairman of the Commercial Radio Companies Association as the chairman of the Classic FM Consumer Panel. (more)

Tribute show on Classic FM
From Radio Today. Posted October 18 2007, 8.16am
National GCap Media station Classic FM is paying tribute to the work of great British cellist Jacqueline du Pré, who died 20 years ago. A special edition of the Evening Concert will be presented by Julian Lloyd Webber. (more)

Liverpool deal for Classic FM
From Radio Today. Posted October 12 2007, 9.12am
Classic FM has extended its partnership with the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra for another five years - representing the stations biggest investment in live orchestral music. The deal means the RLPO will be heard by 6 million people every week. (more)

Classic FM signs 25-concert deal with Liverpool Philharmomic Orchestra
From Media Guardian. Posted October 12 2007, 1.00am
8am: Classic FM has struck its biggest ever live music deal with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. By John Plunkett. (more)

Gambaccini returns to Classic FM
From Media Guardian. Posted September 28 2007, 1.00am
Paul Gambaccini is to return to Classic FM to present a landmark series about his classical music heroes. By John Plunkett. (more)

New radio service planned for older Australians
From Media Network Weblog. Posted September 24 2007, 12.35pm
University of Queensland researchers from the Australasian Centre on Ageing and 4MBS Classic FM are collaborating to develop a new radio service specifically for older Australians. Funded by a grant from the Wicking Trust, administered by ANZ Trustees, the new service will address the needs of older socially and emotionally isolated Australians including those living [...] (more)

The big Hug Off at Capital
From Radio Today. Posted August 31 2007, 1.33pm
Capital's Craig Doyle and Xfm's Alex Zane took part in a Hug Off in the Classic FM corridor in front of an over active crowd of radio people recently. The event was hosted by radio legend Simon Bates. Who wins? You'll have to watch it and decide for yourself with the following video footage.. (more)

Tim Marlow Joins Classic FM
From Merry Media. Posted August 29 2007, 1.20am
Tim Marlow joins Classic FM this autumn to host a new 12 part art series that will see him explore the artistic tastes of celebrities including Kirsty Wark, Michael Palin, Quentin Blake and Jon Snow.. (more)

Five presenter joins Classic
From Radio Today. Posted August 28 2007, 9.44am
Five arts presenter Tim Marlow is joining Classic FM to host a series of mini interviews looking at the artistic tastes of eminent celebrities. Michael Palin, Jon Snow, Quentin Blake and Kirsty Wark are among the celebrities confirmed for In The Frame, which is sponsored by The Art Fund. (more)

Classic FM talks visual art
From Media Guardian. Posted August 28 2007, 1.00am
8am: Classic FM has signed Channel Five arts presenter Tim Marlow to host a series exploring 12 celebrities' favourite works of art. By Chris Tryhorn. (more)

GCap moves into selling CDs to boost income
From Media Guardian. Posted August 7 2007, 1.00am
Classic FM owner GCap has entered a CD distribution and sales partnership with record label Universal Classics and Jazz. By Katie Allen. (more)

Blur's Alex James to present Classic FM show
From Media Guardian. Posted July 19 2007, 1.00am
8am: Classic FM has signed Blur's Alex James to present a show looking at classical music's influence on pop. By John Plunkett. (more)

GCap scoops London bomb story
From Radio Today. Posted July 5 2007, 9.28am
London radio stations owned by GCap Media are claiming they broke the news three hours earlier than their competition about the discovery of a car bomb in Park Lane on Friday. The stations, including Capital 95.8 and Classic FM confirmed the news at 4:45pm. (more)

Vaughan attracts £1m deal
From Radio Today. Posted June 26 2007, 7.47pm
GCap Media has secured a one million pound deal with bmi to sponsor the Johnny Vaughan breakfast show on Capital 95.8. The deal, which starts next week, includes promotions throughout the year on-air and online. BMI will also sponsor London travel news on fellow GCap station Classic FM. (more)

GCap to make online TV shows
From Radio Today. Posted June 22 2007, 8.46am
GCap Media is joining forces with Microsoft to promote the new 2007 Microsoft Office system on Capital FM, Classic FM, and the Xfm network. Part of the campaign, which starts today, includes GCap creating a series of short television shows to be aired weekly on each station’s website. (more)

GCap Media Sign £100,000 Microsoft Office Campaign
From Merry Media. Posted June 22 2007, 1.24am
GCap Media have secured a £100,000 5-week campaign with the 2007 Microsoft Office system that will run across Capital 95.8, Classic FM and XFM.. (more)

Rock and pop for Classic FM
From Radio Today. Posted June 19 2007, 8.30am
Classic FM is introducing a new weekly series of programmes entitled "When Classic Meets..", which will feature a look at popular music tracks influenced by classical music. From jazz to rock and pop music, the 10 programmes will be sponsored by Lexus Hybrid in a six figure deal. (more)

Classic FM in £1m Deal with Ford Galaxy
From Merry Media. Posted June 12 2007, 3.27pm
Classic FM has teamed up with Ford Galaxy in a £1 million campaign. The twenty-week deal will see the launch of a brand new programme - Ford Galaxy of Stories - which will air every Sunday from 4-5pm from June 17th.. (more)

Classic FM in £1m Ford deal
From Radio Today. Posted June 12 2007, 8.05am
Classic FM has signed a one million pound deal with Ford for a series of radio programmes, to run for 20 weeks on the national GCap station. Various celebrities including Richard E.Grant and Harry Enfield will narrate the weekly one-hour show named Ford Galaxy of Stories. (more)

Classic FM to air children's stories with star narrators
From Media Guardian. Posted June 12 2007, 1.00am
9.15am: Classic FM is to broadcast a 20-week children's series narrated by Richard E Grant and Harry Enfield as part of a £1m partnership deal with Ford. By Jemima Kiss. (more)

Listen Again arrives at Xfm
From Radio Today. Posted June 5 2007, 12.01am
GCap Media are launching an online Listen Again service for Xfm, whilst talks continue between RadioCentre and record companies in the hope of securing a deal to allow such activity to take place. GCap are hoping to roll out the facility to other stations including Capital Radio and Classic FM. (more)

Turnaround time for GCap after profits fall
From The Scotsman. Posted May 31 2007, 12.06am
RADIO group GCap Media - owner of brands including Xfm in Glasgow, Classic FM and Capital - yesterday underlined the continuing slump in advertising as it announced a 35 per cent drop in annual pre-tax profits, to £14.4 million. GCap immediately said it... (more)

Ex-Sindy arts man Anthony Barnes joins TheJazz
From Media Guardian. Posted May 29 2007, 1.00am
8am: Former Independent on Sunday reporter Anthony Barnes is joining Classic FM's sister station TheJazz as online editor. By Ben Dowell. (more)

Sonys - final 6 winners
From Radio Today. Posted April 30 2007, 11.08pm
Chris Evans has won his second Sony Radio Academy Award of the night, the Music Radio Personality of the Year, - an award he's now won 2 years in a row. Classic FM has been named UK Station of the Year and this year's Sony Gold Award to recognise a career achievement went to Paul Gambaccini. (more)

Classic FM in live webcast
From Radio Today. Posted April 16 2007, 2.56pm
GCap Media station Classic FM is producing its first ever webcast this week. The online show, the first one of its kind for the station, will feature opera singers Natasha Marsh and Alfie Boe plus Classic FM online talent contest winner, seventeen year old Rhiannon Lamberth. (more)

Classic FM Launching First Ever Webcast
From Merry Media. Posted April 16 2007, 1.41pm
Classic FM is producing its first ever live webcast tomorrow (Tuesday 17th April). The webcast includes 2 of the hottest opera stars of the moment - Natasha Marsh and Alfie Boe.. (more)

Classic FM Respond to CMS Hearing
From Merry Media. Posted February 27 2007, 4.43pm
New ideas to enhance public service broadcasting in the UK were outlined today by the UK's largest commercial radio station, Classic FM, including a Programme Development Fund and a new spectrum charging formula.. (more)

Classic FM Secures Promotion
From Merry Media. Posted February 13 2007, 12.50pm
GCap Media’s Classic FM has secured a three-week £135k deal with South African Tourism – the promotion will be South African Tourism’s first significant radio campaign.. (more)

SA Tourism deal for Classic FM
From Radio Today. Posted February 13 2007, 12.34pm
GCap Media station Classic FM has joined forces with South African Tourism for their first major radio campaign in the UK. The promotion will conclude with Henry Kelly giving away a trip to South Africa. The three week deal is worth £135k. (more)

GCap signs with Trafficmaster
From Radio Today. Posted February 7 2007, 4.12pm
GCap Media has signed a new deal which will see travel news from Trafficmaster featured on all 37 stations owned by GCap including Classic FM and Capital Radio. Trafficmaster's network comprises 7,500 sensor sites across the UK, covering 8,000 miles of Britain's motorways and A-roads. (more)

Henley gets MD gig for Classic FM
From Breaking Radio. Posted January 8 2007, 3.17pm
Classic FM's station manager, Darren Henley, has been given a wider role as managing director of the GCap-owned national radio station. (more)

New MD of Classic FM and theJazz
From Merry Media. Posted January 8 2007, 2.07pm
GCap Media has promoted Darren Henley to the position of Managing Director of its flagship national station Classic FM and new DAB station theJazz.. (more)

New MD for Classic FM brand
From Radio Today. Posted January 8 2007, 11.17am
National GCap Media station Classic FM has appointed a new managing director to oversee the station and all associated brands, included recently launched the Jazz. Darren Henley has been promoted from his position of station manager and will take up the new role with immediate effect. (more)

Station manager given broader remit at Classic FM
From Media Guardian. Posted January 8 2007, 12.00am
Classic FM's manager, Darren Henley, has been given a wider role as managing director of the GCap-owned national radio station. (more)

Laser to launch online radio station
From Media Guardian. Posted December 29 2006, 12.00am
Laser Broadcasting, the radio group run by one of Classic FM's founders, is planning to launch an online radio station. By Richard Wray. (more)

O Holy Night wins radio poll of carols
From Media Guardian. Posted December 23 2006, 12.00am
O Holy Night has retained its place as the nation's favourite Christmas carol in a poll of 37,000 Classic FM listeners. By David Ward. (more)

Dutch Classic FM also on satellite from 18 December
From Media Network Weblog. Posted December 14 2006, 9.53am
Dutch commercial station Classic FM is joining the bouquet of Canal Digitaal Satelliet from Monday 18 December. It will be encoded in Mediaguard2 (and Irdeto2) and will broadcast via Astra 1G as follows: 12515 GHz, Horizontaal (transponder 105), symbol rate: 22000, FEC: 5/6. Classic FM continues to be available on cable and Internet. (Source: Classic FM)  (more)

Classic FM sign up Paul McCartney
From Breaking Radio. Posted December 4 2006, 5.08pm
Classic FM announced today that Thursday is to be Paul McCartney Day, when the former Beatle will become a guest DJ and the station will play his classical works. (more)

Paul McCartney turns Classic FM DJ
From Media Guardian. Posted December 4 2006, 12.00am
4.30pm: Classic FM has announced Paul McCartney will be a guest DJ on Thursday. By Katie Allen. (more)

GCap revenues down as it unveils digital jazz station
From Brand Republic. Posted November 28 2006, 8.11am
LONDON - Revenues at GCap Media, the parent company of Capital Radio and Classic FM, have fallen by almost £10m to £102.2m for the six months to September 30 as it revealed its new national digital station is to be called thejazz. (more)

Xmas Day launch for GCap Jazz
From Radio Today. Posted November 28 2006, 7.40am
GCap Media are set to launch their new digital-only jazz music station at 9am on Christmas Day.'thejazz' will operate as a sister service to Classic FM, targeting the similar ABC1 audience, both stations will create numerous cross-promotion and endorsement opportunities. (more)

Radio 3 to reduce volume on classical music
From Breaking Radio. Posted November 5 2006, 2.19pm
The Telegraph is reporting that Radio 3 is to reduce the amount of live classical music replacing it with Classic FM-like sequence programmes. (more)

Classic FM runs TV guide feature to promote Sky Digital
From Brand Republic. Posted October 30 2006, 11.10am
LONDON - Classic FM's breakfast show has kicked off a six-month special feature promoting Sky Digital channels in a £900,000 deal brokered by MediaCom. (more)

GCap Media expects 9% decline in revenues
From Brand Republic. Posted September 28 2006, 11.09am
LONDON - Classic FM and Capital Radio group GCap Media is forecasting a 9% drop in total revenues for the six months ending September 30. (more)

GCap gets hip with jazz launch
From Media Guardian. Posted September 19 2006, 1.00am
11.45am: GCap Media is to launch a digital station that will aim to do for jazz what Classic FM has done for classical music. by Chris Tryhorn. (more)

GCap Media value dips below £300m
From Media Guardian. Posted August 8 2006, 1.00am
3.30pm: The value of Capital Radio and Classic FM owner GCap Media sank below £300m for the first time today. By Julia Day. (more)

3 hits a magic number
From Radio Today. Posted August 8 2006, 12.15am
People listen longer to 3FM than any other FM commercial radio station in the whole of the UK, that’s 15.1 average hours per week. The latest industry listening figures prove that 3FM has become the 2nd most listened to radio station on the Isle of Man and the station of choice for 25-44 year olds. Data released by RAJAR, the joint BBC and commercial radio industry research, has revealed that 3FM has more listeners on the Island than any of the national BBC radio stations and Classic FM. In fact only Manx Radio still has more listeners. (more)

RAJAR Q2-06 - GCap
From Merry Media. Posted August 3 2006, 3.33pm
Solid audience performance across GCap Media Stations with reach up to 16.3 million listeners and 33% commercial share. Overall commercial listening has increased and GCap remains the largest operator in the commercial radio sector with topline growth across the group. The UK's leading commercial station Classic FM increases reach to 5.8 million listeners. XFM National reach increases to 1.1 million listeners. Growth at key One Network stations with reach up to 7.4 million listeners.. (more)

Kelly in Classic FM comeback
From Media Guardian. Posted August 2 2006, 1.00am
2.45pm: Henry Kelly is to make a surprise return to Classic FM as Sunday morning presenter four years after he was fired. By Ben Dowell. (more)

Classic FM launch record label
From Radio Today. Posted July 11 2006, 2.30pm
GCap Media national station Classic FM is the latest radio station to launch a record label. Classic FM Presents… will be produced in association with Sony BMG, with whom the station has already worked with in releasing albums in the past, including the most recent release Classic FM At The Movies. Classic FM Presents… will showcase young unsigned British classical artists. The label’s first signing is the British tenor Alfie Boe, whose debut album of tenor arias will be released in early September. (more)

Licence savings ahead for commercial radio
From Media Guardian. Posted July 4 2006, 6.43pm
Classic FM, TalkSport and Virgin Radio, will between them save more than £5.5m annually over the next four years, after Ofcom proposed slashing their annual licence fees. By Leigh Holmwood. (more)

UK media regulator reduces analogue licence fees for national commercial stations
From Media Network Weblog. Posted July 4 2006, 10.37am
UK media regulator Ofcom has announced that the Independent National Radio (INR) operators - Classic FM, TalkSPORT and Virgin Radio – have applied for an extension to their INR licences. Following this request, Ofcom has undertaken a review and is today announcing revised financial terms which will apply to the licence extension periods. The revised terms [...] (more)

Hollywood Glamour for Classic FM
From Radio Today. Posted June 28 2006, 10.15am
The film actor and director Richard E. Grant is to make his radio presenting debut on Classic FM with a brand new programme delving into the lives and the music of Hollywood’s greatest film composers. Richard E. Grant’s Great Movie Composers begins on Sunday, July 23 at 2pm. During the course of the series, Grant will turn the spotlight on film composers Ennio Morricone, John Barry, Michael Nyman, Howard Shore, Patrick Doyle and John Williams. (more)

Brunel FM appoints Programmer
From Radio Today. Posted June 27 2006, 10.45pm
107.7 Brunel FM, the new local radio station for Swindon launching in late Summer has appointed Andy Beeley as its Programme Controller. Andy joins Brunel FM having spent the last couple of years at radio stations in Canada. Prior to his stint overseas, Andy was Station Manager of Country 1035 in London. With over 16 years experience working in radio, Andy has worked at radio stations as diverse as Choice FM and Classic FM with stops at Severn Sound, Chiltern Radio, Galaxy Radio, 603 Radio and Mix 107. (more)

Richard E Grant signed up to present Classic FM show
From Brand Republic. Posted June 27 2006, 2.06pm
LONDON - Richard E Grant, star of 'Withnail & I' and 'How to Get Ahead in Advertising', will make his radio debut on GCap Media's Classic FM presenting a new programme delving into the lives and the music of Hollywood's greatest film composers. (more)

GCap release preliminary results
From Radio Today. Posted May 24 2006, 1.00pm
GCap Media today release their Preliminary Results for the 12 months to 31 March 2006. Their underlying Pro-forma Group Results indicate revenue is down 12.7 per cent at 220.2 million pounds with profit before tax of 22.2 million. GCap also report the company has made annual savings of 27 million pounds whilst the relaunch of Capital Radio is on-track, and Classic FM have reached their highest revenues since 2002. (more)

Classic FM launch new charity
From Radio Today. Posted May 2 2006, 7.45am
Classic FM is proud to announce the launch of their new charity which is called Classic FM Music Makers. With the help of listeners, they aim to transform thousands of lives, using classical music. By raising money, and funding live performances and music experiences all over the United Kingdom, they plan to make a real difference, especially for those who would not otherwise have the chance to share in the excitement of live music-making. (more)

100th turn-on for Digital One
From Radio Today. Posted April 21 2006, 2.30pm
The world's largest DAB digital radio network, operated by Digital One, turned on its 100th transmitter at Preseli in southwest Wales today. The Preseli transmitter brings national commercial DAB digital radio coverage to more than 140,000 people in the area. As a result, DAB digital radio owners will be able to start enjoying Planet Rock, Capital Life, Core, Oneword, Virgin Radio, Classic FM and talkSPORT. (more)

Takeover of Sky Radio group officially completed
From Media Network Weblog. Posted April 15 2006, 10.56am
The takeover of the Sky Radio Group by the Telegraaf Media Groep (TMG) and its investment partners has officially been completed, following formal approval being granted by the authorities in the Netherlands and Hessen, Germany. The new owners paid 190 million euro to News International for the four stations - Sky Radio, Radio Veronica, Classic FM and Sky Radio Hessen. TMG holds 28% of the shares, (more)

Veronica increases stake in Sky Radio Group to 10%
From Media Network Weblog. Posted April 14 2006, 11.41am
Dutch broadcasting foundation Veronica has increased its stake in the Sky Radio Group from 3.5% to 10%. The move follows the purchase of the group by a consortium including the Telegraaf Media Group (TMG) and some investment partners. The Sky Radio Group operates three stations in the Netherlands - Sky Radio, Radio Veronica and Classic FM - as well as Sky Radio Hessen in Germany. Veronica has also (more)

Telegraaf Media Groep to take over Sky Radio group
From Media Network Weblog. Posted February 1 2006, 10.21am
The Telegraaf Media Groep (TMG), publisher of the largest-selling daily newspaper in the Netherlands, has announced that, together with investment concern ING Corporate Investments Participaties BV, it is taking over the Sky Radio group for 190 million euro. The group operates three commercial stations in the Netherlands - Sky Radio 101FM, Radio Veronica and Classic FM. It also owns a commercial (more)

Classic FM puts on Klass act
From Media Guardian. Posted January 27 2006, 11.13am
11.15am: Popstar turned classical pianist Myleene Klass is joining Classic FM as a presenter, with a new Sunday breakfast show launching next month. By Jason Deans. (more)

Classic FM hands microphone to Myleene Klass
From Brand Republic. Posted January 27 2006, 11.01am
LONDON - Classic FM has hired Myleene Klass, TV presenter and former member of pop group HearSay, to present a two-hour early morning Sunday show. (more)

Classic FM celebrates Mozart
From Media Guardian. Posted December 30 2005, 9.19am
Classic FM is dedicating its New Year's Day schedule to Mozart to mark the 250th anniversary of his birth. By Julia Day. (more)

Darren Henley: My Life In Media
From The Independent. Posted January 1 1970, 12.59am
Darren Henley, 34, is the managing director of Classic FM and the new national digital radio station, theJazz. He has worked at Classic FM since its launch in 1992, starting as an overnight newsreader. He has written 15 books about music and musicians; the latest is The Classic FM Friendly Guide to Music (Hodder Arnold). He lives in Canterbury. (more)

Classic FM: Reinvention of a radio classic
From The Independent. Posted January 1 1970, 12.59am
Classic FM brands itself the "relaxing" radio station, a refuge from the stress of traffic jams, a soothing balm for the mental pressures of studying for exams, a culture-laden cosh with which to calm the kids on the school run. (more)