Timeline of Absolute Radio
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A timeline of notable events relating to Absolute Radio and its spin-off stations, and its predecessor Virgin 1215/Virgin Radio.
1990s
1990
- The Broadcasting Act 1990 paves the way for the launch of Independent National Radio (INR) stations in the United Kingdom.[1] The Radio Authority is mandated to award three licences, awarding each licence to the highest cash bidder, providing that the applicant meets criteria set down in the Broadcasting Act.[2]
1991
- October – The second Independent National Radio licence is advertised.[3] It will broadcast on MW, using the 1197 kHz and 1215 kHz frequencies, which will be relinquished by BBC Radio 3.[4]
1992
- 29 February – BBC Radio 3 stops broadcasting on 1197 kHz and 1215 kHz MW.
- April – The Radio Authority awards the second Independent National Radio licence to Independent Music Radio, a consortium jointly owned by TV-am and Virgin Communications.[5] There had been four other applicants for the licence.
1993
- Ahead of its launch on MW, Virgin campaigns to broadcast nationally on FM and spends 1993 lobbying to broadcast on BBC Radio 4's FM frequencies.[6]
- March – TV-am sells its stake in Virgin Radio[7] to Apax Partners, JP Morgan Investment Corporation and Sir David Frost.[8][9]
- 30 April – The station launches as Virgin 1215 at 12.15 pm on 30 April 1993.[10] Richard Branson is the first voice to be heard, live from the Virgin Megastore in Manchester, with Richard Skinner the first voice back in the London studios. The first song to be played is a cover version of the Steppenwolf song Born to be Wild, recorded by Australian group INXS.
- 2 May – As part of its launch schedule, the first edition of Virgin 1215' album chart show is broadcast, airing at 4pm on Sundays, in direct competition with the charts shows broadcast on both BBC Radio 1 and commercial radio.
- July – Jonathan Coleman becomes Russ Williams breakfast show co-host. Also, Kevin Greening moves from weekend slots to the weekday afternoon show.
- December – Kevin Greening becomes the first presenter to leave Virgin 1215.
- Summer – Virgin 1215 begins broadcasting in stereo on the Astra 1A satellite on an audio sub-carrier of the Sky News channel.[11][12]
1994
- January – Gary Davies joins the station to present the Sunday morning Classic Tracks show. Also Graham Dene moves to weekday afternoons and Gary King joins to take on weekend breakfast.
- Having been unsuccessful at trying to obtain BBC Radio 4's FM frequencies, the station tries to persuade The Radio Authority to allocate the recently available 105–108 MHz part of the FM waveband to a fourth INR licence as part of a renewed bid to broadcast nationally on FM.[13]
- 29 June – Following its failure to persuade The Radio Authority to use 105–108 MHz FM for a new commercial national station, Virgin Radio applies for one of the new licenses to broadcast to London.[14]
- 8 October – Virgin Radio is awarded one of the new London-wide FM licences.[15]
1995
- 10 April – Virgin Radio starts broadcasting on FM in London. The station is a full simulcast of the national service apart from a 45-minute weekday early evening programme, presented initially by Rowland Rivron.[16][17]
- April – To coincide with the launch of Virgin London, the national station is renamed as Virgin Radio.
- 3 December – Following a brief sabbatical, Gary Davies returns to take over the Sunday late show.
1996
- 7 March – Virgin Radio launches its first website.[18][19]
- 15 March – Alan Freeman joins the station to present a new Friday night rock show.
- 3 August – Lynn Parsons joins the station to present the weekend early evening show.
- October – Richard Skinner, who presented the first show, leaves the station. Graham Dene replaces Richard as the presenter of the weekday morning show.
1997
- May – It is announced that Capital Radio has agreed to acquire Virgin Radio in an £87 million deal.[20] Capital's plans included moving Virgin Radio from 1 Golden Square to Capital's Leicester Square building and splitting programming between the AM and FM services.[21] The Radio Authority approved the acquisition,[22] but Nigel Griffiths, the Consumer Affairs Minister, referred the takeover to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission (MMC).[23] The MMC report into the takeover would not be issued until January 1998, and would recommend that the deal could only go ahead if Capital Gold was sold or Virgin's London FM licence was left out of the deal.[24] The delay in approval of the Capital acquisition ultimately leads to the deal not going through.
- 26 September – Alan Freeman presents his final rock show for Virgin Radio.[25]
- 13 October – Chris Evans rejoins the station to take over the breakfast show from Russ Williams who moves to Drivetime before being transferred to the mid-morning show in early 1998.
- 9 December – Chris Evans's media production company, Ginger Media Group, buys Virgin Radio from Richard Branson for £85m. Branson had planned to sell the station to Capital Radio, but Evans, who had not wanted to work for the station, launched a rival bid.[26][27]
1998
- August – Virgin Radio launches a new Saturday afternoon football show called Rock 'n' Roll Football.[28]
- 5 October – Virgin Radio starts simulcasts of the breakfast show on Sky One each morning for an hour between 7.30 and 8.30 am. When a track was played on the radio, viewers see the track's video at the same time.[16][29]
- Lynn Parsons leaves.
1999
- January – Gary Davies takes over the weeknight late show.
- 7 February – Danny Baker joins the station to present a Saturday morning show. He replaces Jonathan Ross.
- 15 November – Virgin Radio starts broadcasting on DAB digital radio following the launch of the UK's first national commercial multiplex Digital One.
- 17 December – Britain's first million pounds prize is given away, on a segment of Chris Evans's Virgin breakfast show called Someone's Going to be a Millionaire (a reference to ITV's Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, which at the time has not had a million pound winner).
2000s
2000
- March – Scottish Media Group (now STV Group plc) buys Virgin Radio for £225 million. The Scottish Media Group, which owned Scottish Television and the Herald newspaper, fought off other bidders including Clear Channel, NRJ and Guardian Media. Evans personally made £75 million out of the sale.[30]
- April – Leona Graham joins.
- 26 June – The Groove launches. Virgin Radio Classic Rock also launches in 2000.
- October – Clive Warren joins to present the Sunday afternoon show.
- 14 December – Gary Davies leaves[31] and in the new year Clive Warren replaces him as presenter of the weeknight late show.
- Danny Baker leaves.
2001
- 28 June – Chris Evans is dismissed for repeatedly failing to arrive at work. Evans is replaced Steve Penk.[32]
- 1 July – Virgin Radio stops broadcasting via Sky's analogue satellite service.
2002
- 28 January – Less than a month after joining the station, Daryl Denham takes over the breakfast show from Steve Penk.[33]
- 1 July – Jeremy Kyle joins the station to present a weeknight show called Jezza's Virgin Confessions. He is the permanent replacement for Clive Warren who had left the station at the start of 2002.
2003
- 6 January – Pete and Geoff take over the breakfast show. They replace Daryl Denham who moves to the Drivetime show.
2004
- Richard Skinner rejoins the station to present for Virgin Radio Classic Rock. He also provides holiday cover on the main station.
- Soul, Motown and disco spin-off station The Groove is renamed Virgin Radio Groove.
- June – Jeremy Kyle and Daryl Denham leave.
2005
- 5 September – Virgin Xtreme launches. The station plays modern rock music.
- December – Richard Skinner leaves Virgin Radio Classic Rock when the station dispenses with live programming.
- 16 December – Pete and Geoff present the breakfast show for the final time.
2006
- 3 January – Geoff Lloyd launches The Geoff Show. It runs Monday to Thursday late evenings.
- 23 January – Former XFM presenter Christian O'Connell joins to present The Christian O'Connell Breakfast Show.[34]
- 13 June – SMG plc signs a deal with YooMedia to make Virgin Radio available on Freeview.[35]
- 15 June – Virgin Radio Party Classics launches. The station was a full-time spin-off of Suggs' Party Classics show.
- 13 October – Virgin Radio Party Classics closes.
2007
- 3 August – Tony Hadley replaces Suggs as host of Virgin Radio's Party Classics show.[36]
- 30 November – Less than a year after taking over the afternoon show, Suggs leaves the station. He is replaced by Drive presenter Neil Francis with Nick Jackson moving from weekends to take over Drivetime.[37]
2008
- 6 January – Iain Lee[38] and JK and Joel[39] join the station to present weekend shows.
- 4 April – Virgin Radio Groove stops broadcasting.
- 30 May – SMG sells Virgin Radio to TIML Golden Square Limited, a subsidiary of The Times Group for £53.2 million with £15 million set aside for rebranding. As part of the deal, Absolute Radio International, which operates two FM licences in Oxford, will manage the station.[40][41]
- 1 September – The station's new owners announce that Virgin Radio will be rebranded as Absolute Radio at the end of the month.[42]
- 25 September – The final edition of The Geoff Show is broadcast. JK and Joel also leave at around the same time.[43]
Absolute Radio
2000s
2008
- 29 September – At 7:45 am Virgin Radio is relaunched as Absolute Radio and sister station Virgin Classic Rock is renamed Absolute Classic Rock.
2009
- March – Frank Skinner joins the station to host the Saturday breakfast show. The programme has initially only been planned to last 12 weeks but was extended due to its popularity.[44] The show is still running with both Emily Dean and Alun Cochrane.[45][46]
- 1 October – Absolute Xtreme closes and a 'user-controlled' station called Dabbl launches.[47]
- 12 November – Iain Lee replaces Ben Jones as presenter of the weeknight late show. Consequently Sunday Night Show ends.
- 4 December – Absolute Radio 80s launches although DAB carriage is restricted to a part-time slot in London.[48]
2010s
2010
- 14 May – Absolute Radio 80s launches on the Digital One multiplex.[49]
- 21 June – Absolute Radio 90s launches. It uses the part-time London slot previously occupied by Absolute 80s.[49]
- 16 July – Absolute Radio Extra launches as an opt-out service from Absolute Radio.[50] It broadcasts on Saturday afternoons to provide football coverage following the station's acquisition of rights to some Premier League football matches.[51]
- August – Absolute 90s launches on the Digital One multiplex, initially as a two-month test. Two months later the carriage agreement was made permanent.
- 25 August – dabbl closes.[52]
- 10 December – Absolute Radio 00s launches.[53]
2011
- 29 July – Ben Jones leaves after a decade at Virgin Radio/Absolute Radio.[54]
- 18 October – Iain Lee leaves.[55]
- 1 November Frank Skinner's Saturday morning show starts to be simulcast across the decades-only stations and Absolute Classic Rock with different music played on each station between the links.[56]
- 22 November – Absolute Radio 60s launches.[57]
- 29 November – Absolute Radio 70s launches. The first show is presented by Richard Skinner, who had launched Virgin 1215 18 years earlier.
2012
- 13 August – To celebrate Team GB's Olympic success at London 2012 Absolute Radio's breakfast show host Christian O'Connell plays Spandau Ballet's 1983 hit Gold 29 times between 6.00am and 10.30am, matching the number of gold medals won by Britain's athletes.
2013
- 23 April – The Radio Today website reports that Absolute Radio has removed Absolute Radio 60s and Absolute Classic Rock from several DAB platforms in England and Wales, but the stations continue to broadcast in London and online.[58]
- 29 July – Bauer Media Group announces that it intends to purchase Absolute from current owner, The Times Group for an amount believed to be between £20m-£25m, pending regulatory approval of the sale.[59]
- 23 December – The deal for Bauer to buy Absolute Radio is cleared by the Office of Fair Trading.[60]
- Absolute Radio acquires rights to broadcast the American football's National Football League. The station only held the rights for a single season.
2014
- No events.
2015
- 5 January – Absolute Radio changes from broadcasting in stereo to mono to make way for Magic on the Digital One multiplex.[61] Also, Absolute 90s is removed from the Digital One multiplex.
- 9 February – Absolute 70s starts broadcasting on free-to-air satellite.
- 2 April – Absolute 80s announces that it will begin airing classic charts from the 1980s in the 4.00–7.00pm Sunday slot vacated by Radio 1. The show, hosted by Martyn Lee, will begin in May.[62]
- 28 April – Russ Williams announces that he will be leaving his mid-morning show on Absolute Radio after presenting the programme for 20 years.[63]
- July – Danielle Perry joins the station to present the weekday mid-afternoon show.[64]
- 7 September – Absolute Radio starts broadcasting on FM in the West Midlands, replacing Planet Rock.[65]
2016
- 29 February – Absolute 80s moves from Digital One to the newly launched Sound Digital multiplex although it continued to broadcast on Digital One until the end of April 2016.[66]
- May – One of the station's original presenters Russ Williams leaves at the end of the 2015/16 football season. He had ended his 23 years at the station presenting the Saturday afternoon programme Rock and Roll Football which ends following Absolute Radio's decision to drop its coverage of Premier League football.
2017
- 18 January – Absolute Radio presenters Geoff Lloyd and Annabel Port leave the station.[67] They leave in April.
- 2 October – Dave Berry joins the station to present the weekday drive time show.[68]
2018
- 29 January – Absolute 90s returns to the Digital One multiplex.
- May – Bauer announces that it will switch off a number of Absolute Radio's filler transmitters and reduce power at five of its main transmitters. This will reduce the station's reach on MW from 90% to 85%.
- 18 May – Christian O'Connell presents the breakfast show for the final time.[69][70]
- 21 May – Pete Donaldson replaces Dave Berry as presenter of the weekday "Hometime" show. Dave is to become the new breakfast show presenter.
- 23 May – Absolute 70s ends radio transmission and becomes an on-line station. It had previously been available on DAB in London and on free-to-air satellite.[71]
- 4 June – Dave Berry takes over the breakfast show.
- 24 September – Andy Bush and Richie Firth replace Pete Donaldson as presenters of the Hometime show.[72]
- 23 October – Launch of Jack Radio on DAB, a station from the Absolute Radio team and the first radio station to have a playlist made up entirely of female artists. Jack will also feature female sports and material from female stand-up comedians.[73]
- 17 December – Absolute Radio stops broadcasting on FM in the West Midlands. The frequency will be transferred to Greatest Hits Radio.[74]
2019
- 7 January – Absolute Classic Rock starts broadcasting on MW in Birmingham, Wolverhampton and Shropshire.
- 18 November – Absolute Radio 10s launches. Unlike the other decades-only stations, Absolute 10s operates exclusively online.[75]
- 22 December – Pete Donaldson leaves.[76]
2020s
2020
- 24 February – Absolute Radio 20s launches and also operates exclusively online.[77]
- 8 May – A one-off pop up station called Absolute Radio 40s broadcasts on 1215 MW and online to mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day.[78] The service was also made available over DAB+ in London, replaced the following day by Absolute Radio 00s.
- 18 October – Skunk Anansie singer Skin joins the station to present "The Skin Show", which airs Sunday nights 10pm-12am.[79]
2021
- 26 April –
- Ahead of the cessation of Absolute Radio on FM in London, Absolute Radio (London feed) is removed from the CE London DAB multiplex. It is replaced by Absolute Radio 10s.
- Absolute Radio 70s is reinstated to the Switch London DAB, converting to a stereo DAB+ service on 28 April.
- 17 May –
- Following permission from Ofcom,[80] Absolute Radio is removed from 105.8 FM in London and is replaced by Greatest Hits Radio.[81] Absolute Radio, and its predecessor Virgin Radio, had been available on FM in London since 1995.
- Country Hits Radio becomes part of the Absolute Radio Network when it is rebranded as Absolute Radio Country.[82]
- 11 June – Absolute Radio launches the pop-up station Absolute Radio Noel to celebrate the release of the Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds compilation album Back the Way We Came. The station is on air until 18 June.[83]
- 6 September – Absolute Radio broadcasts its first scripted comedy series, Rockanory. Short episodes were broadcast Monday to Thursday at 11pm for the next six weeks.[84]
- 29 September – Absolute Radio launches a week-long pop-up station Bond 24/7 to mark the release of the 25th film in the James Bond series No Time to Die and plays music from the James Bond films.[85]
2022
- 14 July – Bauer Media launches a subscription service for Absolute Radio called Absolute Radio Premium which allows listeners to access commercial free content for a monthly fee.[86] Five stations are launched. Two are Absolute Radio spin-offs – Absolute Radio Acoustic and Absolute Radio Classic Country – with the other three based on programmes and segments on the main station – Andy Bush's Indie Disco 24/7, Through The Decades and Haven't Heard It For Ages.[87]
- 12 August – Absolute Radio 60s dedicates a day of programming to pirate radio stations on the anniversary of the Marine Broadcasting Offences Act 1967 which made them illegal.[88]
- 14 November – Launch of Absolute Radio Terrace Anthems, Absolute Radio Movies and Absolute Radio 50s on Absolute Radio Premium.[89]
2023
- 20 January – Absolute Radio stops broadcasting on AM.[90][91] Consequently, Absolute Radio becomes a digital-only station.[92] A retune loop is active from midnight on this day.
- 10 February – Launch of Absolute Radio Kevin, a station showcasing debut hits from the past and present.[93]
- 14 February – Ofcom revokes the mediumwave licence from Absolute Radio following Bauer's decision to cease broadcasting on its AM frequency.[94]
- 1 June – Bauer Media is fined £25,000 by Ofcom for turning off Absolute Radio's mediumwave frequency.[95]
- 1 August – Absolute Radio adds the new station Forgotten 80s to its subscription service.[96]
- 16 October – Absolute 80s and Absolute 90s move to the DAB+ format, broadcasting in stereo. This gives Bauer the space on the semi-national SDL multiplex to carry more stations, and these include Absolute Country and Absolute Classic Rock.[97]
- 12 December – Absolute Radio and Absolute Radio 80s were removed from Freesat.[98]
- 13 December – Absolute Radio, Absolute Radio 80s, Absolute Radio 90s and Absolute Radio Classic Rock were removed from Sky (all four stations) and Virgin Media (all except Absolute Radio 90s), along with every other radio station owned by Bauer Media. Bauer stations will continue to be available on Freeview.[99]
2024
- 23 March – Frank Skinner announces he is leaving Absolute Radio after 15 years, and after his contract was not renewed.[100]
- 13 August – Absolute Radio have signed up comedian Jon Richardson to present a Saturday morning show from September.[101]
2025
- 31 March – Absolute Radio will begin broadcasting via DAB+, and in stereo.[102]
References
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- ↑ "Fact Sheet 3: The Radio Authority: Its licences and licensing procedures". London: Radio Authority. Archived from the original on 5 June 2011. Retrieved 2 May 2011.
- ↑ "Radio Authority consults on INR opt-outs". London: Radio Authority. Retrieved 2 May 2011.
- ↑ Linton, Martin (5 February 1992). "Pop hopefuls go under the hammer and over the top". The Guardian. London. p. 3. Archived from the original on 11 August 2011. Retrieved 2 May 2011.
- ↑ Henry, Georgina (3 April 1992). "TV-am and Virgin awarded pop radio franchise". The Guardian. London. p. 2. Archived from the original on 2 October 2011. Retrieved 2 May 2011.
- ↑ Culf, Andrew (29 April 1993). "Virgin pushes for Radio 4's FM slot". The Guardian. London. p. 7. Archived from the original on 2 October 2011. Retrieved 8 May 2011.
- ↑ Hosking, Patrick (2 December 1992). "TV-am gives up hunt for a new business". The Independent. London. Retrieved 8 May 2011.
- ↑ Hosking, Patrick (29 April 1993). "Branson takes to the airwaves: Hopes are high as Virgin Radio begins broadcasting". The Independent. London. Retrieved 8 May 2011.
- ↑ Bell, Emily (13 April 1997). "Branson to buy back radio shares". The Observer. London. p. 37. Archived from the original on 20 April 2013. Retrieved 29 May 2009.
- ↑ gadgets and games 1975 (7 March 2012). "THIS IS THE LAUNCH OF VIRGIN RADIO IN THE UK ON THE 30TH APRIL 1993" – via YouTube.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ↑ Hebditch, Stephen (August 1993). "Satellite Radio". AM/FM. TQM Communications. Retrieved 7 May 2011.
- ↑ Matthias Zepf (28 October 1993). "Astra, Radioprogramme". Newsgroup: de.etc.lists. Usenet: 1993Oct24.123808.27190@amylnd.stgt.sub.org. Retrieved 7 May 2011.
- ↑ Culf, Andrew (9 February 1994). "Branson begins crusade to gain FM frequency for Virgin Radio". The Guardian. London. p. 8. Archived from the original on 2 October 2011. Retrieved 8 May 2011.
- ↑ Culf, Andrew (29 June 1994). "41 fight for London radio licences". The Guardian. London. p. 5. Archived from the original on 2 October 2011. Retrieved 8 May 2011.
- ↑ Williams, Rhys (8 October 1994). "Virgin wins one of six new slots on London's airwaves". The Independent. London. Retrieved 8 May 2011.
- 1 2 Bowie, Adam (26 September 2008). "A Brief History of Virgin Radio". Archived from the original on 2 December 2008. Retrieved 8 May 2011.
- ↑ Culf, Andrew (10 April 1995). "Wave of restricted radio hits peak". The Guardian. London. p. 7. Archived from the original on 2 October 2011. Retrieved 24 May 2009.
- ↑ "Website history". Virgin Radio. Virgin Radio Ltd. Archived from the original on 17 May 2008. Retrieved 30 May 2011.
- ↑ Waldman, Simon (18 March 1996). "Virgin Radio via the net". The Guardian. London. p. 36. Archived from the original on 2 October 2011. Retrieved 30 May 2011.
- ↑ Finch, Julia (7 May 1997). "Capital buys its rival Virgin as it prepares to challenge Radio 1". The Guardian. London. p. 19. Archived from the original on 2 October 2011. Retrieved 29 May 2011.
- ↑ Newman, Cathy (7 May 1997). "Capital acquires Virgin Radio". The Independent. London. Retrieved 29 May 2011.
- ↑ "Capital gets go-ahead to buy Virgin Radio". The Independent. London. 18 July 1997. Retrieved 29 May 2011.
- ↑ Finch, Julia (1 August 1997). "Virgin Radio sale hits MMC snag". The Guardian. London. p. 19. Archived from the original on 2 October 2011. Retrieved 29 May 2011.
- ↑ Barrie, Chris (14 January 1998). "Capital dealt blow to big ambitions as monopolies body bites". The Guardian. London. p. 19. Archived from the original on 3 December 2011. Retrieved 29 May 2011.
- ↑ "Mixcloud". Mixcloud. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
- ↑ "Chris Evans takes over at Virgin Radio". London: BBC News. 9 December 1997. Retrieved 29 May 2011.
- ↑ Beavis, Simon; Barrie, Chris (9 December 1997). "BBC faces new onslaught as Evans snatches Virgin Radio". The Guardian. London. p. 2. Archived from the original on 3 December 2011. Retrieved 29 May 2011.
- ↑ Evans 2010.
- ↑ Lacey, Hester (4 October 1998). "A bumper breakfast, with ulcers". The Independent. London. Retrieved 29 May 2011.
- ↑ "Evans sells up". London: BBC News. 13 January 2000. Retrieved 29 May 2011.
- ↑ "Mixcloud". Mixcloud. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
- ↑ "Penk replaces Evans at Virgin Radio". BBC News. 2 July 2001. Retrieved 30 December 2009.
- ↑ "Denham to front Virgin breakfast show". The Guardian. 25 January 2002. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
- ↑ Farey-Jones, Daniel (11 January 2006). "Virgin shouts about O'Connell's arrival as breakfast show campaigns kick off". Brand Republic. Retrieved 23 July 2012.
- ↑ "Virgin Radio to broadcast on Freeview". The Guardian. 13 June 2006. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
- ↑ "Spandau star joins Virgin's party". The Guardian. 30 July 2007. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
- ↑ "Suggs goes one step beyond Virgin". The Guardian. 3 December 2007. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
- ↑ "Iain Lee joins Virgin Radio". The Guardian. 14 November 2007. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
- ↑ "JK and Joel join Virgin Radio". The Guardian. 20 November 2007. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
- ↑ Andrews, Amanda (30 May 2008). "Virgin Radio is sold to Absolute for £53.2m". The Times. London. Archived from the original on 1 May 2009. Retrieved 30 May 2008.
- ↑ "Virgin Radio sold for £53million". Radio Today. 30 May 2008. Archived from the original on 31 May 2008. Retrieved 30 May 2008.
- ↑ Barnett, Emma (1 September 2008). "Plans revealed to rebrand Virgin Radio as Absolute". Brand Republic. Archived from the original on 7 September 2008. Retrieved 1 September 2008.
- ↑ "JK and Joel quit Virgin Radio". Digital Spy. September 2008. Retrieved 27 April 2014.
- ↑ Plunkett, John (16 June 2009). "Frank Skinner extends contract at Absolute Radio". London: Guardian.co.uk. Retrieved 16 June 2009.
- ↑ Sturges, fiona (14 May 2014). "The Week in Radio: Why waking up with Frank Skinner is an absolute joy". London: Independent.co.uk. Archived from the original on 7 May 2022. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
- ↑ "Frank Skinner show". Absolute radio. 18 May 2016.
- ↑ "Absolute Radio to launch live digital music station called Dabbl". The Guardian. 1 October 2009. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
- ↑ "Absolute Radio to launch 80s station". The Guardian. 3 November 2009. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
- 1 2 "Absolute Radio to launch 90s station as Absolute 80s goes nationwide". The Guardian. 14 May 2010. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
- ↑ "Absolute Radio to launch fifth digital service". The Guardian. 14 July 2010. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
- ↑ "Absolute Radio snaps up rights to Premier League football commentary". The Guardian. 11 February 2010. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
- ↑ "Absolute Radio axes dabbl". The Guardian. 25 August 2010. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
- ↑ "Absolute Radio launches noughties-only station". The Guardian. 29 November 2010. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
- ↑ "Ben Jones to Leave Absolute Radio to Pursue TV Projects". One Golden Square. 9 May 2011. Retrieved 29 August 2011.
- ↑ "Absolute Radio's Iain Lee leaves station". The Guardian. 18 October 2011. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
- ↑ "Frank Skinner's show to change the tune for Absolute Radio". The Guardian. 30 September 2011. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
- ↑ "Absolute Radio 60s and 70s prepare for launch". The Guardian. 17 October 2011. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
- ↑ "Absolute Radio stations dropped from DAB". Radio Today. 23 April 2013. Retrieved 24 April 2013.
- ↑ O'Carroll, Lisa (29 July 2013). "Bauer Media buys Absolute Radio". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
- ↑ Martin, Roy (23 December 2013). "OFT clears Bauer's Absolute Radio deal". Radio Today. Retrieved 30 December 2013.
- ↑ Martin, Roy (5 January 2015). "Bauer puts Magic on D1, puts Absolute in mono". Radio Today. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
- ↑ Martin, Roy (2 April 2015). "Absolute 80s to introduce Sunday night chart". Radio Today. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
- ↑ "Russ Williams ends daily Absolute Radio show". RadioToday. 28 April 2015.
- ↑ Martin, Roy (28 May 2015). "Danielle Perry joins Absolute Radio daytime". Radio Today. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
- ↑ "Absolute Radio to replace Planet Rock on FM in the West Midlands". a516digital. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
- ↑ "Absolute 80s, Planet Rock, Heat and Kisstory to end dual DAB transmission". a516digital. a516digital.com. 15 April 2016.
- ↑ Martin, Roy (18 January 2017). "Geoff Lloyd and Annabel Port to leave Absolute Radio". Radio Today. Retrieved 21 January 2017.
- ↑ "Absolute Radio confirms autumn schedule changes". Radio Today. 11 September 2017. Retrieved 5 October 2017.
- ↑ ARN secures UK radio star Christian O'Connell for Gold 104.3 Radio Info 2 February 2018
- ↑ Lindsay, Jessia (4 May 2018). "When does Christian O'Connell leave Absolute Radio?". Metro.ch
- ↑ "Changes to listening to Absolute Radio 70s on digital radio in London and on digital TV". Absolute Radio. 17 May 2018. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
- ↑ "Andy Bush and Richie Firth for Absolute Hometime". 11 June 2018. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
- ↑ "JACK Radio will be first station with a 100% female playlist, from Adele to Aretha Franklin". News.co.uk. 23 October 2018. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
- ↑ New Greatest Hits Radio network confirmed for 2019
- ↑ Martin, Roy (18 November 2019). "Bauer to launch Absolute Radio 10s online". Radio Today. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
- ↑ "Pete Donaldson to leave Absolute Radio after nine years". radiotoday.co.uk/. Radio Today. 12 December 2019. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
- ↑ Collins, Steve (20 February 2020). "Bauer's Paul Keenan announces Absolute Radio 20s". Radio Today. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
- ↑ "Absolute Radio 40s to pop up on medium wave". 28 April 2020. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
- ↑ "Skunk Anansie lead singer Skin joins Absolute Radio". 30 September 2020. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
- ↑ "Greatest Hits Radio approved for London 105.8FM". 25 March 2021. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
- ↑ "Greatest Hits Radio arrives in London on 105.8 FM". 17 May 2021. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
- ↑ "Country Hits Radio is rebranding to Absolute Radio Country". 10 February 2021. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
- ↑ "Absolute Radio launches pop-up station Absolute Radio Noel". 10 June 2021. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
- ↑ "Shaun Keaveny joins Absolute Radio for comedy series". Radiotoday.co.uk. 23 August 2021. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
- ↑ "Bauer Media launches Bond 24/7 pop-up radio station". 30 September 2021.
- ↑ "Absolute Radio and KISS to offer premium services for monthly fee". 27 May 2022. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
- ↑ "Absolute Radio and KISS to launch premium subscription services". 27 May 2022.
- ↑ "Absolute Radio 60s plans one-day tribute to pirate stations". 26 July 2022. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
- ↑ Martin, Roy (14 November 2022). "Bauer launches three more Absolute Radio spin-off stations". Retrieved 14 November 2022.
- ↑ "Absolute Radio ends AM broadcasts". Digital Radio Choice. 20 January 2023. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
- ↑ "How you listen to Absolute Radio could be changing". Planet Radio. Bauer Media Group. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
- ↑ Martin, Roy (4 January 2023). "Absolute Radio to switch off all AM transmitters across the UK". Radio Today. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
- ↑ "Introducing Absolute Radio Kevin – Where Debut Songs Matter". 2 February 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
- ↑ "Absolute Radio's national AM licence revoked by Ofcom". 14 February 2023. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
- ↑ Martin, Roy (1 June 2023). "Bauer handed £25,000 fine after turning off Absolute Radio's AM transmitters". Radio Today. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
- ↑ Collins, Steve (1 August 2023). "Absolute Radio launches Forgotten 80s for Premium listeners". Radio Today. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
- ↑ Bauer Media Audio UK to launch services on DAB+
- ↑ "Bauer to remove all radio stations from satellite and cable TV platforms". 28 November 2023.
- ↑ "Bauer to remove all radio stations from satellite and cable TV platforms". 28 November 2023.
- ↑ Martin, Roy (23 March 2024). "Frank Skinner announces departure from Absolute Radio". Radio Today. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
- ↑ "Absolute Radio signs Jon Richardson for weekend show". Radio Today. 13 August 2024. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
- ↑ "Absolute Radio, KISS, KISSTORY, and Magic Radio to change to DAB+ – RadioToday". radiotoday.co.uk. 3 March 2025. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
- Bibliography
- Evans, Chris (2010). Memoirs of a Fruitcake. HarperCollins. ISBN 978-0-00-734568-7.
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