Virgin Radio
Virgin Radio launched in the United Kingdom in 1993. In 2008, Virgin Radio UK was sold to TIML, a subsidiary of the Times of India group, and the name was changed to Absolute Radio; the Virgin Radio name was not included in the sale.
Type | Private company |
---|---|
Industry | Commercial radio |
Founded | 2001 |
Area served | Global |
Revenue | Approx. US$100 million |
Website | www.virginradio.com |
In 2001, the Virgin Group teamed up with an Asia-focused investment fund to launch Virgin Radio Asia. Radio stations were launched in China, India and Thailand between 2002 and 2006. Virgin Radio Asia acquired a global remit in 2006, transforming into Virgin Radio International.[1]
Whilst expansion continued in Asia with additional stations in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Kolkata, the United Arab Emirates, Thailand and Indonesia, Virgin Radio also launched in Italy, France, Lebanon, Turkey, Romania, Oman and Switzerland, as well as 12 cities in Canada. Virgin Radio re-launched in the UK in 2016 and there are now 4 Virgin Radio stations in the UK.[2]
Music television stations were also launched in France and Italy.[3][4]
As of November 2020, there are over 40 Virgin Radio stations globally.[5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15]
Stations
Country | Stations | Frequency | Year of launch | Operator |
---|---|---|---|---|
Canada | Virgin Radio Calgary (CIBK-FM) | 98.5 FM | 2010 | Bell Media |
Virgin Radio Edmonton (CFMG-FM) | 104.9 FM | 2011 | ||
Virgin Radio Halifax (CJCH-FM) | 101.3 FM | 2016 | ||
Virgin Radio Kelowna (CHSU-FM) | 99.9 FM | 2019[16] | ||
Virgin Radio Kitchener (CFCA-FM) | 105.3 FM | 2016 | ||
Virgin Radio London (CIQM-FM) | 97.5 FM | 2012 | ||
Virgin Radio Montreal (CJFM-FM) | 95.9 FM | 2009 | ||
Virgin Radio Toronto (CKFM-FM) | 99.9 FM | 2008 | ||
Virgin Radio Vancouver (CFBT-FM) | 94.5 FM | 2015 | ||
Virgin Radio Victoria (CHBE-FM) | 107.3 FM | 2019[17] | ||
Virgin Radio Windsor (CIDR-FM) | 93.9 FM | 2020[18] | ||
Virgin Radio Winnipeg (CKMM-FM) | 103.1 FM | 2012 | ||
France | Virgin Radio France | Various FM | 2008 | Lagardère Active |
Virgin Radio France Hits | Internet Radio | 2015 | ||
Virgin Radio France Classics | ||||
Virgin Radio France Tonic | ||||
Virgin Radio France Rock | ||||
Virgin Radio France New | ||||
Virgin Radio France Electroshock | ||||
Virgin Radio France Nouvelle Scène | 2019 | |||
Italy | Virgin Radio Italy | Various FM | 2007 | Mediaset S.p.A. |
Virgin Radio Italy Classic Rock | Internet Radio | 2010 | ||
Virgin Radio Italy Hard Rock | ||||
Virgin Radio Italy Rock '70 | ||||
Virgin Radio Italy Rock '80 | ||||
Virgin Radio Italy Rock '90 | 2015 | |||
Virgin Radio Italy Alternative Rock | ||||
Virgin Radio Italy Rock Ballads | ||||
Virgin Radio Italy Rock Hits | ||||
Virgin Radio Italy Rock 2K | ||||
Virgin Radio Italy Rock Party | ||||
Lebanon | Virgin Radio Lebanon | 89.5 FM | 2013 | Levant Media Hub |
Virgin Radio Stars Lebanon | 89.7 FM | 2019[19] | ||
Oman | Virgin Radio Oman | 100.9 FM | 2018[20] | SABCO Media |
Romania | Virgin Radio Romania | Various FM | 2017 | Czech Media Invest |
Switzerland | Virgin Radio Switzerland | DAB | 2018[21] | Radio Medien AG |
Virgin Radio Rock Switzerland | ||||
Turkey | Virgin Radio Turkey | Various FM | 2013 | Karnaval |
United Arab Emirates | Virgin Radio Dubai | 104.4 FM | 2008 | Arab Media Group |
United Kingdom | Virgin Radio UK | DAB | 2016 | News UK |
Virgin Radio Anthems UK | 2018[22] | |||
Virgin Radio Chilled UK | ||||
Virgin Radio Groove UK | 2019[23] |
References
- "About Virgin Radio International".
- "Virgin Radio International".
- "Virgin Radio France TV".
- "Virgin Radio Italy".
- "Virgin Radio Canada".
- "Virgin Radio France".
- "Virgin Radio Jakarta".
- "Virgin Radio Italy".
- "Virgin Radio Lebanon".
- "Virgin Radio Oman".
- "Virgin Radio Romania".
- "Virgin Radio Switzerland".
- "Virgin Radio Turkey".
- "Virgin Radio Dubai".
- "Virgin Radio UK".
- "99.9 Virgin Radio Launches in Kelowna". Kelowna Capital News. 3 October 2019.
- "Victoria's KOOL FM becomes 107.3 Virgin Radio". CTV News Vancouver Island. 8 February 2019.
- "Bell Media Launches Pure Country 89 & Virgin Radio 93.9 In Windsor/Detroit". radioINSIGHT. 19 November 2020.
- "Ben Weston fronts new Virgin Radio Stars in Beirut". Radio Today. 2 September 2019.
- "Virgin Radio launches in Oman, targets youth market". Arabian Business. 10 March 2018.
- "Switzerland's Virgin Radio Launches Two New DAB+ Stations". Radio World. 24 January 2018.
- "Wireless launches new digital channels - Virgin Radio Anthems and Virgin Radio Chilled". News UK. January 2019.
- "Wireless brings back Virgin Radio Groove on DAB+". Radio Today. 30 December 2019.