Capital XTRA
 | |
| City | London |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | United Kingdom |
| Slogan | Dance. Urban. UK. |
| Frequency |
FM: 96.9, 107.1 MHz (London) DAB: 11D (England/Wales/N. Ireland) 12A (Scotland) RDS: Cap_XTRA Sky: 0114 Freesat: 720 Virgin Media: 959 |
| First air date | 31 March 1990 |
| Format |
Rhythmic contemporary formerly urban contemporary |
| Audience share | 1.8% (June 2013, RAJAR) |
| Owner | Global Radio |
| Sister stations |
Capital FM Heart Classic FM Smooth Radio Radio X LBC Gold |
| Website |
www |
Capital XTRA (formerly Choice FM) is an urban music radio station owned by Global Radio. It is anchored by an FM operation in London, and is also broadcast via DAB Digital Radio, Freesat, Sky, Virgin Media and online.
History
Choice 96.9 began as an independent company in March 1990, broadcasting from studios in Trinity Gardens, Brixton. It was Britain’s first 24-hour black music radio station with a licence, covering South London. The group won a second licence (see Buzz FM) in 1995, bringing a local version of their London offering to Birmingham, on 102.2 FM - in place of Buzz FM.
The advent of digital radio in the UK saw Choice, which already had an active webstream, joining the new MXR consortium and launching a DAB service which anchored London output with news inserts produced by the consortium's news service DNN.
The Birmingham licence was sold to Chrysalis Radio in 1999 and became Galaxy Birmingham, but Choice expanded within the capital in May 2000 when a largely independent North London licence was awarded for Choice 107.1, with the intention of reaching a larger Afro-Caribbean audience outside the limited range of the coverage from Brixton. The station was now broadcasting from Borough High Street, Borough, London.
Having previously been a minority shareholder, Capital Radio Group took full control of the station in February 2004 and moved the station's base from the target service area to the group's central studios in London's Leicester Square. The move resulted in a community march from the coverage area and their studios. It was accused of selling out as some of their DJs were removed and replaced by their Kiss counterparts who play some electronic music.[1]
By 12 October 2004, Capital had received and implemented a merger of their FM licences, operating a service across the capital on the two frequencies and cutting back on the North London-specific music requirements.[2]
The DAB service also became a simulcast of the London station, with the demise of local drop-ins.
Following their takeover of Choice, Capital Radio Group merged with GWR to form GCap Media in 2005. Choice was flagged up as one of the key brands of the new larger network, and the station was made available to digital TV viewers via its addition to Sky (and later to Virgin Media).
GCap were subsequently taken over by Global Radio, who already owned the Galaxy Network of dance/urban music stations. Despite the separate music format and branding, Choice was marketed to advertisers as part of the Galaxy network for package advertising deals. In 2010 Global Radio announced[3] that the Galaxy network stations would be networked with 95.8 Capital FM, leaving Choice as a standalone brand again.
On 3 October 2013, Global announced that Choice would be rebranded as Capital Xtra on 7 October.[4]
Capital Xtra reaches 680,000 listeners in London alone.[5]
Supporting Global Radio's commitment to a Social Responsibility programme, Choice FM promoted social action campaigns, I Have a Choice and I Have a Choice - Music Potential.
Programme Schedule
MONDAYS
0000-0200 The Reggae Recipe with Ras Kwame
0200-0600 Emma CB
0600-1000 Capital Xtra In The Morning with Jez Welham
1000-1300 Manny Norte
1600-1900 Abrantee Boateng
1900-2200 Yinka Bokinni
2200-0200 Jay London
TUESDAYS, WEDNESDAYS & THURSDAYS
0200-0600 Emma CB
0600-1000 Capital Xtra In The Morning with Jez Welham
1000-1300 Manny Norte
1300-1600 Toni Phillips
1600-1900 Abrantee Boateng
1900-2200 Yinka Bokinni
2000-0200 Jay London
FRIDAY VARIANTS
1600-1900 Clubbers Guide with Ministry Of Sound (presented by Coco Cole)
1900-2100 Craig David Presents TS5
2100-0100 Mike Panteli
SATURDAY
0100-0600 Playlist (no presenter)
0600-1000 Vick Hope
1000-1300 Jez Welham
1300-1600 Yinka Bokinni
1600-1900 DJ Charlsey
1900-2300 Tim Westwood
2300-0100 Afrobeats with Abrantee Boateng
SUNDAY
0100-0600 Playlist (no presenter)
0600-1000 Jay London
1000-1300 Vick Hope
1300-1600 Toni Phillips
1600-1900 Jonny Park (aka JP)
1900-2200 The Norte Show with Manny Norte
2200-0000 Coco Cole
(Note: Early breakfast presenters (2-6am) vary)
See also
References
- ↑ "Choice FM is dead" (PDF). New Nation. 2003-06-02. Retrieved 2009-12-31.
- ↑ Day, Julia (2004-10-12). "Capital gets go-ahead for London licence merger". The Guardian. Retrieved 2013-09-15.
- ↑ Archived 25 November 2010 at the Wayback Machine.
- ↑ "Global to change Choice to Capital XTRA". Radio Today. 2013-10-03. Retrieved 2013-10-03.
- ↑ "Capital Xtra: audience figures". Media UK. Retrieved 2013-10-06.
External links
Coordinates: 51°30′36″N 0°07′45″W / 51.51007°N 0.12929°W