| Capital Disney | |
 |
|
| Broadcast area |  United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Slogan | Your Music, Your Way |
| Frequency | DAB Sky Digital: 0175 Virgin Media: 960 and Online |
| Format | 8 - 16 Year Old Music & Chart |
| Former callsigns | Cube |
| Affiliations | The Walt Disney Company |
| Owner | GCap Media (Previously Capital Radio Group) |
| Sister stations | Capital 95.8 |
| Website | www.capitaldisney.co.uk (now inactive) |
Capital Disney was a British digital radio station aimed at 8 to 16 year olds which used to broadcast across the UK on DAB Digital Radio (in selected areas). It was also broadcast on Sky Digital, Tiscali TV, Virgin Media, and streaming online. The station announced on May 14 2007 that it will close down on June 29 2007. There are plans to bring back capital disney in 2008 re-branded as its US sister station Radio Disney.[1]
Contents |
About Capital Disney
Capital Disney was owned by GCap Media PLC (previously being owned by Capital Radio PLC before the company merged with GWR Group PLC) and was based at GCap Media's London offices in Leicester Square. The station broadcast twenty four hours a day with a series of presenter and music led programming. It was originally launched as Cube, but Capital Radio and the Walt Disney Company struck a deal in February 2002 which allowed Capital Radio to manage a British version of the American service, Radio Disney, on some of its digital platforms. The station launched officially on the 12th October 2002, having soft launched the month before on 16th September 2002. Past presenters on the radio station include: Adam Morris (AKA The General), James Beckingham, Matt James, Val Mellon, Leigh Purves, Nigel Mitchell, Adam O'Neill, Saffron Oddy and Sophie Bruce. Previous presenters have included Allan Lake, Tim Lichfield, Korry Denison, Andy Kench, Dan Marsh, Kelli Nelson, Will Chambers, Carl Carter and Gema Ensenat.
The Concept
Capital Disney was one of the first radio stations in the country to use the newly developed Digital radio (DAB) format to provide a radio station specifically aimed at children and teenagers. In 1998 the Capital Radio Group announced plans to launch a kids-only format radio station, bidding for the North East England FM licence (which was won by Galaxy 105-106). Called Fun Radio it was to be a pop station aimed at 8-16 year olds. Despite this failure Capital still had hopes of launching this station, at the time a brand new format for an underserved audience. The station aired in 2001 under the name of Cube in several regional areas of England and Wales with a purely new pop music format aimed at young teens. It was seen as a competitor to GWR Group's Core (radio station), which launched two years earlier. Because Cube was on DAB, at the time very few listened to the service, so it began broadcasting on Sky Digital. Cube was noted for its high tempo music-driven formula, coupled with live DJs (A rarity for digital radio- most were voicetracked) and humorous and informative short clips in between the music (Such as 'How Does a Piano Work?') designed to create a learning environment, possibly to curb outside criticism that Cube was just a mindless music station. Cube closed down in 2001, only to re-launch as Capital Disney. The name chosen as it is a station operated by Capital Radio and co-owned with Disney UK. This co-operation revealed itself on-air with promotions such as Disney on Ice and promotions for the Disney Channel on television. The jingles at the time of re-launch simply sang the new station's name before changing in 2004, adding the new slogan which stayed with the station to its final days Your Music, Your Way!.
The Playlist
Capital Disney played a range of chart music and new acts. Originally, talking story books could be heard often during school hours, but were replaced by non-stop music from 9am until 1pm and then a DJ, James Beckingham, from 1-4pm, under the name of "Daytime". They also played artists that didn't get any airplay on mainstream radio such as The Lovebites and album tracks from artists that appear on the playlist. Overnight, Capital Disney played non-stop hits, however previously to this overnight was the home of non-stop chillout music. This ceased in 2003 and now this type of music can be heard on sister station Chill.
Awards
In 2004, the station won the NTL Digital Radio station of the year award. In 2005, the station was nominated for and won the Sony Radio Academy award 'Digital Terrestrial Radio Station' of the year, against BBC 6 Music and BBC 7. The judges noted that, "Capital Disney gave every appearance of filling a genuine gap in the market with a professional and entertaining service directly meeting the needs of an under-served audience." In 2006, Capital Disney was nominated for the Sony Radio Academy 'Digital Terrestrial Radio Station Of The Year' award. Planet Rock, another GCap Media station, was presented with the award. The judges noted that, "Capital Disney continues to be warm, funny and inventive without ever patronising its target audience. It was a station of great charm."
Closure
It was announced on air on Monday May 14, 2007 that Capital Disney would close down on June 29th 2007. The last presenter led show was broadcast on June 1. For the remainder of the 28 days of Capital Disney, the station played continuous music. A statement on the Capital Disney website told that 'both parties (GCap Media and The Walt Disney Company) had agreed to pursue their interests individually.' A number of petitions were started by fans of the station arguing against its closure but these were ultimately unsuccessful. The station started to leave DAB multiplexes across the UK on June 28 and 29, in most areas being replaced with Traffic Radio or XFM. However, due to an operational freeze at Sky, the station remained until July 3, however, with the original name of 'Cube', as the Walt Disney Company had agreed with GCap Media to only contract their name until June 29. The website remained for a short time after presenters were taken off air, but this too was closed on the 29th June 2007, replaced by a message and redirect to London's Capital Radio website.
Slogans
2003 The Station for 21st Century Hits 2004 Your Music, Your Way!
References
- ^ Capital Disney confirms closure. Radio Today (2007-05-14). Retrieved on 2007-05-14.
