Classic Gold
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Classic Gold is one of the biggest 'gold' formatted radio networks in the United Kingdom, with a potential audience of 47 million. Classic Gold is broadcast on both analogue and DAB digital platforms.
Most 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 format is now owned and operated by UBC, and most stations in the network carry the same programming, except for a local 4-hour afternoon programme from 3pm to 7pm. The stations were previously part of the GWR network, but were sold off as competition rules limited the number of stations a company could own.
Additionally the AM service operated by UTV Radio in West Yorkshire - Pulse Classic Gold carries programming supplied by the Classic Gold network (with additional localisation and programmes), although it is not owned by UBC.
Contents |
[edit] Programmes
- The Even Tastier Breakfast
- The Graham Rogers Morning Show
- Classic Gold Drivetime (local programme)
- Paul Baker's Evening Show
- Classic Gold Late Night
- The Retro Countdown
- Classic Gold Albums
[edit] Presenters
- Paul Baker
- Tony Blackburn
- Paul Burnett
- Matthew Hardy
- Erika North
- Gary Crowley
- Graham Rogers
- Sandy Warr
- Trevor Dann
- Mark Dennison
- Chris Hawkins
[edit] Past Presenters
- Jimmy Savile
- Dave Lee Travis
- Johnnie Walker:
- Mike Read
- Noddy Holder
- David Hamilton
- Simon Bates
- Emperor Rosko
[edit] Regional stations
There are 20 stations in the UBC Classic Gold 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 1359/1431, Essex
- Classic Gold Digital, London and various regions. Across Europe on Sky Digital 0189.
- Classic Gold GEM, Nottingham and Derby
- Classic Gold Marcher 1260, 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 broadcasts programming supplied by the network, with additional localisation and programmes specific to West Yorkshire.
