Absolute Radio Classic Rock
51°30′44″N 0°08′13″W / 51.512248°N 0.136937°W
 | |
| Broadcast area | United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Frequency | DAB: 11B (Greater London) Virgin Media: 952 Sky: 0203 |
| Programming | |
| Format | Classic rock |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Bauer Radio |
| Absolute Radio Absolute Radio 60s Absolute Radio 70s Absolute Radio 80s Absolute Radio 90s Absolute Radio 00s Absolute Radio Extra | |
| History | |
First air date | 2000 |
| Links | |
| Website | www.absoluteclassicrock.co.uk |
Absolute Classic Rock is a radio station part of the Absolute Radio network, broadcasting to London via DAB, Virgin Media, Sky and worldwide on the internet.
Formerly known as Virgin Radio Classic Rock, it originally was an internet-only radio station, and launched in 2000 under the name Virgin Classic by Lee Roberts, SMG Radio Director.[1] On DAB Digital Radio in London, the station launched at 12:15pm with Richard Skinner introducing Steppenwolf's Born to Be Wild. The launch time, presenter, and song (though not the artist) were identical to its parent station Virgin Radio.
On 1 September 2008 it was announced that Virgin Radio Classic Rock would be rebranded as Absolute Classic Rock on 29 September 2008.[2]
The station was removed from Freesat channel 725 on 8 December 2011 because of "economic realities".[3]
DAB expansion
On 10 December 2010 Absolute Classic Rock expanded on DAB from London, taking over from Global Radio owned Gold on DAB in the North of England where there were 10 million potential new listeners on DAB in Newcastle, Sunderland, Darlington, Middlesbrough, Leeds, Hull, Scunthorpe, Grimsby, York, Huddersfield, Doncaster, Harrogate, Bradford, Sheffield, Blackburn, Preston, Blackpool, Bolton, Lancaster, Liverpool, Chester, Wrexham (North Wales) and Warrington
On 20 December 2010 Absolute Classic Rock launched on DAB to a potential new 3 million new listeners in Ayr, Bath, Cardiff, Coventry and Exeter.
In 2011 it was confirmed by Ofcom that to accommodate the launch of new sister station Absolute Radio 60s, the reduction of the broadcast bitrate of Absolute Classic Rock would be permitted on the various multiplexes on which it broadcasts.[4]
Schedule
Monday to Thursday
- 00:00 Absolute Classic Rock
- 06:00 Christian O'Connell Breakfast Show (syndicated from Absolute Radio)
- 10:00 Chris Martin
- 13:00 Leona Graham
- 16:00 Claire Sturgess
- 20:00 Absolute Classic Rock
Friday
- 00:00 Absolute Classic Rock
- 06:00 Christian O'Connell Breakfast Show (syndicated from Absolute Radio)
- 10:00 Chris Martin
- 13:00 Leona Graham
- 16:00 Claire Sturgess
- 20:00 Absolute Classic Rock
Saturday
- 00:00 Absolute Classic Rock
- 10:00 Chris Martin
- 12:00 Absolute Classic Rock
- 19:00 Absolute Classic Rock Party with Claire Sturgess (syndicated on Absolute Radio)
- 22:00 Absolute Classic Rock
Sunday
- 00:00 Absolute Classic Rock
- 10:00 Chris Martin
- 12:00 Absolute Classic Rock
Former DJs
Richard Skinner, Tommy Vance, Gordon Loncaster, Selena Harrington, Bernard Doherty, Alice Cooper, Guy Jagger and Russ Williams.
References
- ^ "Virgin launches online classic". Broadcast. 4 December 2000.
- ^ 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.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "Changes to Absolute Classic Rock and Absolute Radio 00s". One Golden Square. 21 November 2011.
- ^ Ofcom radio broadcast licensing update for October 2011, published 1 Nov 2011 Archived 3 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine