Classic Gold Digital Network

Not to be mistaken for the original Yorkshire Radio Network named station: Classic Gold.

Classic Gold Digital Network was one of the biggest 'gold' formatted radio networks in the United Kingdom, with a potential audience of 47 million. Classic Gold was broadcast on analogue and DAB digital platforms, as well as Sky channel 0189.

Contents 1 History 2 Programmes 3 Presenters 4 Past Presenters 5 Regional stations 6 External links

History

Most of the stations were originally the medium wave services of Independent Local Radio stations. For example, "Classic Gold 1359" in Coventry was originally part of "Mercia Sound" and was a full local service. In the 1980s, FM/AM stations split (in this case to "Mercia FM" and "Xtra AM"), before the station was bought by GWR radio, and the AM station rebranded to "Classic Gold". Mercia FM is still on air today. The stations were sold to UBC in 2 parts in 2000 and 2002; however in 2007 they came back under the control of GCap (formerly GWR & Capital). Most stations in the network carried the same programming, except for a local 4-hour afternoon programme from 3pm to 7pm. Additionally the AM service operated by UTV Radio in West Yorkshire - Pulse Classic Gold carried programming supplied by the Classic Gold network (with additional localisation and programmes), although it was not owned by UBC. In summer 2007, GCap Media agreed to acquire the 18 AM Classic Gold radio stations owned by Classic Gold Digital for a cash consideration of £3.95 million. GCap merged the network with its own existing Capital Gold network of stations to form one classic hits network. The acquisition, which included relevant DAB digital licences held by Classic Gold, was approved by Ofcom. The new network rebranded as 'Gold' launched at 7pm on Friday 3rd August 2007.

Programmes

• The Even Tastier Breakfast
• Classic Gold Drivetime (local opt-out programme)
• Classic Gold Late Night
• The Retro Countdown
• Classic Gold Albums
• Neil Sean's Star People
• Saturday Night At The Movies

Presenters

• Paul Baker
• Tony Blackburn
• Amanda Bowman
• Paul Burnett
• Matthew Hardy
• Erika North
• Gary Crowley
• Graham Rogers
• Sandy Warr
• Trevor Dann
• Mark Dennison
• Steve Springett
• Chris Hawkins

Past Presenters

• Jimmy Savile
• Dave Lee Travis
• Johnnie Walker
• Mike Read
• Noddy Holder
• David Hamilton
• Simon Bates
• Emperor Rosko
• Gordon Wray
• Geoff Barker

Regional stations

There were 20 stations in the GWR Plc / UBC Classic Gold Digital Network:

• Classic Gold 1152, Plymouth
• Classic Gold 1260, Bristol and Bath
• Classic Gold 1332, Peterborough
• Classic Gold 1359, Coventry and Warwickshire
• Classic Gold 1431/1485, Reading
• Classic Gold 1557, Northampton
• Classic Gold 666/954, Exeter and Torbay
• Classic Gold 774, Gloucester
• Classic Gold 828, Bournemouth
• Classic Gold 828/792, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Cambridgeshire
• Classic Gold 936/1161, Swindon and West Wiltshire
• Classic Gold Amber 1152, Norfolk and north Suffolk
• Classic Gold Amber 1170/1251, Ipswich and Bury St Edmunds
• Classic Gold Breeze, Essex
• Classic Gold Digital, London and various regions including Leeds, Sheffield, Merseyside and Lancashire. Across Europe on Sky Digital 0189 (until 3rd July 2007).
• Classic Gold GEM, Nottingham and Derby
• Classic Gold Marcher, Wrexham and Chester
• Classic Gold 990/1017, Wolverhampton, Shrewsbury and Telford
• Classic Gold Digital 1521, Reigate and Crawley

In addition, the UTV Radio-owned Pulse Classic Gold in West Yorkshire broadcast programming supplied by the network, with additional localisation and programmes specific to West Yorkshire.

External links

• Classic Gold Digital Network homepage
• Pulse Classic Gold - West Yorkshire affiliate homepage
• Merry Media News Page

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United Kingdom Radio Markets: • Manchester • See also: List of radio stations in the United Kingdom