EuroMedia Radio

EuroMedia Radio is a Euroish radio company that currently owns various stations around the world.

History
EuroMedia Radio was formed out of the former City Radio Group which operated Play, Topic Radio and Choice FM, which EuroMedia acquired in 1994.

EuroMedia Radio entered the British radio sector in July 1998 - acquiring the financially troubled "alternative" station Xfm, fending off stiff opposition from Capital Radio Group - who had planned to strip it of it's wide-ranging music policy for a mainstream soft rock format. September 1999's acquisition of Chrysalis Radio, who operated the Galaxy and Heart brands.

There was a major acquisition in 2001 of Capital Radio Group and also the Century Radio network, which EuroMedia Radio used to expand the Galaxy network and an as yet unnamed new adult contemporary, oldies and easy listening hybrid network. It's acquisition of UBC Media Group also led to EuroMedia taking over the Classic Gold radio network in 2002, one of the biggest 'gold' (oldies) formatted radio networks in the United Kingdom, with a potential audience of 47 million.

In January 2003, it merged Capital Gold, the Classic Gold network and digital station Life into a major "super station" under the revamped Life branding and positioned as a powerful commercial alternative to BBC Radio 2. It's music remit would be to mix the widest possible selection of music from the 1950s all the way to the present day. Presenters would also be able to have a say in their own music policy and tailor their programmes to their tastes whilst being able to keep in with the station's wide playlist. To illustrate the new station's mass potential audience and power, EuroMedia hired a team of star presenters for the new station, some joined from Classic Gold and Life in it's digital incarnation, whilst there was also a lot poached from Radio 2 and breakfast host Chris Tarrant joined from 95.8 Capital FM.

These programmes carried brands. On weekdays the launch schedule was:


 * Chris Tarrant at breakfast (07.00-09.30) - Breakfast Life
 * Judi Spiers in the mid mornings (09.30-12.00) - Daily Life
 * Jimmy Young at lunchtime (12.00-14.00) - World Life
 * David Hamilton at drivetime (14.00-17.00) - Drive Life
 * Noel Edmonds in the early evenings (17.00-20.00) - Home Life
 * Bob Harris in the evening (20.00-23.00) - Modern Life
 * Nicky Horne in the late evening (23.00-02.00) - Bedtime Life
 * Alex Lester in the very early hours (02.00-05.00) - Night Life
 * Lynn Parsons before breakfast (05.00-07.00) - Early Life

And on weekends:


 * Richard Allison on Saturday early breakfast (05.00-08.00) - Early Life (Saturday edition)
 * Simon Bates on Saturday breakfast (08.00-11.00) - Relaxing Life
 * Noddy Holder on Saturday lunchtime (11.00-14.00) - More Life
 * Paul Coia and Debbie Greenwood on Saturday afternoon (14.00-17.00) - Family Life
 * Gloria Hunniford on Saturday teatime (17.00-20.00) - Saturday Life
 * Emperor Rosko on Saturday evening (20.00-23.00) - Rock Life
 * Mo Dutta on Sunday early breakfast (05.00-08.00) - Early Life (Sunday edition)
 * Don Maclean on Sunday breakfast (08.00-11.00) - Faithful Life
 * Paul Phear on Sunday lunchtime (11.00-14.00) - Love Life
 * Pam Ayres on Sunday afternoons (14.00-17.00) - Good Life
 * Jon O'Neil on Sunday early evening (17.00-20.00) - Sunday Life
 * John Suchet on Sunday evening (20.00-23.00) - Classic Life
 * Keith Skues on weekend late evenings (23.00-02.00) - Bedtime Life (Weekend editions)

In addition to nationwide DAB coverage, Life also replaced Century FM's frequencies in the North West and North East, and took over from Heart 106.2 in London and 100.7 Heart FM in the West Midlands. This paid off, as Life quickly skyrocketed to the 4th most listened to radio network.

A further reshuffle took place in September 2003 when the Galaxy network added 95.8 Capital FM, Leicester Sound, Red Dragon FM, Ram FM, Trent FM, Ten 17 FM and Mercury FM were taken under it's purview, and each were rebranded under the Galaxy brand by April 2004, when Johnny Vaughan began a new nationally networked breakfast show to take on BBC Radio 1.

September 2015 saw a relaunch of Xfm in which it replaced most of the Life branded stations, which moved to new frequencies.

Play
Play is a brand of radio stations owned by EuroMedia. It is a station, primarily playing pop and dance hits alongside a limited playlist of rock, classic rock & soft rock. Play is popular with teen & young adult audiences, with a feminine skew. Play launched in Euro City in March 1973 as City Radio, rebranding under it's current name in October 1988, relaunching as a national network in February 1999.

Local Play stations typically include local mid-morning, lunchtime and drivetime programmes, but all are required to carry The Breakfast Club with Sara Mellor. There is a DAB version, Play 2, which is a straight simulcast of the Euro City station, albiet with altered jingles.

Play stations include:


 * Play
 * Euro City (101-103 FM)
 * Belton (93-95 FM)
 * Hartchester (99-100 FM)
 * Faulkshire (105-107 FM)
 * Newshaw (93-94 FM)
 * Play 2 (launched 2003)
 * Play Dance (launched 2002)
 * Play Megahits (launched 2010)
 * Play Christmas (December)
 * Play Summer (May-August)

Play Xtra
Play Xtra is an urban contemporary radio station, playing genres including hip-hop, RnB, grime, drill, rap, pop-rap, latin, dance, UK garage, jungle and rythmic pop.

The station launched in January 2011, partly to fill the gap left by the sale of Choice FM to 365 Media in 2009. Unlike it's demographic rival EBC 3XM - which is only available to listeners outside of Euro City on DAB, Play Xtra is available on FM in all major cities.

Virgin Radio
Virgin Radio is a radio station aimed at an older, more masculine audience than Play. The station's playlist primarily revolves around a variety of rock music, ranging from the 1960's to the present day. The station also plays a selection of other genres, including britpop, synth-pop, metal and experimental. Speech content on Virgin Radio includes sports coverage - notably football - and scripted comedy.

The station was originally a joint venture between Virgin Group and British television station TV-AM, before it was sold to the City Radio Group in 1998.

Launched on nationwide AM frequencies in 1991, expanding to FM in 1995.

Magic Radio Network
The Magic Radio Network is a network of easy listening stations which originated with the original Magic 99, a golden oldies station in Belton in 1988. Magic launched as a national station on DAB in 1996, at which time the station's playlist was changed towards easy listening.

Since it's DAB launch in 1996, the brand began to expand it's FM reach into other cities, leading to the formation of the Magic Radio Network. Whilst most of the stations in the network have adopted the Magic brand, format and presenters over the years, some stations in the network retain their brands with the Magic playlist and presenters.

3C Radio
3C Radio is a station targeted towards children and teenagers. Aimed at 8 to 15 year olds, the station broadcasts 24 hours a day with presenter and music led programming.

Topic Radio
Topic Radio is a talk radio station, similar in many ways to the UK station LBC. Mainly focused on news discussion, Topic includes a roster of both left-wing, centre-wing & right-wing presenters. It originated in Euro City in 1990 as Topic 91.2, before expanding to all areas by 1994. EuroMedia bought the station in 1995.

Aquarius
Aquarius is a classical music station which plays orchestral music, opera and includes a nightly news programme and arts discussion programmes. The station's presentation style is noticeably more commercial and populist than EBC Radio 4 - with a mix of talk, light classical records from more notable composers (the likes of Mozart, Handel and Beethoven) and advertising breaks.

Galaxy
Galaxy is EuroMedia Radio's primary youth brand in the United Kingdom. Unlike it's main rivals BBC Radio 1 and The Hits, Galaxy focuses less on top 40 chart hits and more on modern electronic dance music. RnB and hip hop. Galaxy's target is a 16-29 age demographic. Charlie Powell and Robert Bruce are Galaxy's main breakfast presenters.

Xfm
Xfm is EuroMedia Radio's national network playing a wide-ranging lineup of specialist and alternative music, with a blend of rock, indie and metal from across the years, and targeted at a 19-35 male demographic. It primarily competes with BBC Radio 6 Music and Absolute Radio, with the advantage of being a major network of FM stations as opposed to it's rivals' digital radio exclusivity. Chris Moyles presents the Xfm breakfast show.

Life
Life is EuroMedia Radio's semi-national network available on AM and FM (dependent on location) which plays a wide range of adult contemporary music, crossed between it and the oldies and easy listening formats. It is targeted at a 35+ age demographic and is the primary ratings competition to BBC Radio 2. Jamie Theakston, Amanda Holden and Jenni Falconer are Life's breakfast presenters.

Core
Core is a digital radio station dedicated to top 40 pop and modern chart hits. It has a heavy listener interaction element in which listeners are able to control the station's playlist via requests on the website and social media pages. It primarily competes with BBC Radio 1 and The Hits and aims itself at the 16-34 age demographic. Melvin Odoom and Rickie Haywood-Williams present Core's breakfast show.

Classic FM
Classic FM broadcasts nationwide on DAB and on FM in the South of England, and is similar to Aquarius as a populist alternative to BBC Radio 3, focused on classical music for the 50+ audience. Tim Lihoreau presents the Classic FM breakfast programme.

Chill
Chill broadcasts nationwide on DAB and on FM in the North of England. It is also available on Sky Satellite Radio in the Euro Republics. It is intended as a mellow, gentle and relaxing station set to chill out, ambient and trip-hop music. It is aimed at an 18-35 age demographic and competes primarily with BBC Radio 1 Relax. The station does not use presenters and notably has limited advertising breaks, broadcasting only one break every hour and not transmitting any advertising between 6pm and 6am.

LBC
LBC broadcasts nationwide on DAB and in some areas on AM radio. It is a topical talk and news station. It competes with BBC Radio 4 and BBC Radio 5 Live. Nick Ferrari presents the LBC breakfast show.