Plymouth Gold
Encyclopedia
Plymouth Gold is a radio station broadcasting to the city of Plymouth
in Devon
and surrounding areas. It is owned by GCap Media
and was part of the national Classic Gold Digital Network
. It broadcasts on 1152 kHz AM
, DAB digital radio, as well as online http://www.golddigital.com and on Sky Digital Channel 0189 (the latter two were the national versions of Classic Gold, lacking the local elements). Based at Earl's Acre, Plymouth
, its sister station is Heart Plymouth, formerly known as Plymouth Sound until 2009.
and 261 metres medium wave (1152 AM
). It was one of the earliest ILR
's to launch in the UK and was the first commercial radio station
for the West Country.
Towards the end of the 1980s/ early 1990s, as with most other ILR
s Plymouth Sound split into two stations; the FM frequency remained as Plymouth Sound
and the AM service became Plymouth Sound AM. After being owned (either fully or partly) by the GWR Group, the Capital Group and The Local Radio Company
, throughout the 1990s, the station was fully bought by the GWR Group around 2000. On 7 February 2000 Plymouth Sound AM was re-branded Classic Gold 1152 (Plymouth). Due to ownership rules the GWR Group had to sell off all of their Classic Gold stations. They were sold to the UBC Media Group
, although the GWR Group did keep a 20% stake in the brand. The 20% stake was increased to 100% in 2007 and GCap
assumed full control of both Capital Gold
and the Classic Gold Digital Network
, merging the two networks, and renaming it simply Gold on 3 August.
results for the period ending December 2006, the station had a total of 6,000 listeners and a 1.1% market share.
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
in Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
and surrounding areas. It is owned by GCap Media
GCap Media
GCap Media was a British commercial radio company formed from the merger of the Capital Radio Group and GWR Group. The merger was completed in May 2005. It was listed on the London Stock Exchange and was a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index. On 31 March 2008 the company agreed a takeover by...
and was part of the national Classic Gold Digital Network
Classic Gold Digital Network
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.-History:...
. It broadcasts on 1152 kHz AM
AM broadcasting
AM broadcasting is the process of radio broadcasting using amplitude modulation. AM was the first method of impressing sound on a radio signal and is still widely used today. Commercial and public AM broadcasting is carried out in the medium wave band world wide, and on long wave and short wave...
, DAB digital radio, as well as online http://www.golddigital.com and on Sky Digital Channel 0189 (the latter two were the national versions of Classic Gold, lacking the local elements). Based at Earl's Acre, Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
, its sister station is Heart Plymouth, formerly known as Plymouth Sound until 2009.
History
Plymouth Gold was launched on 19 May 1975, as Plymouth Sound, broadcasting on 97.0 FMFM broadcasting
FM broadcasting is a broadcasting technology pioneered by Edwin Howard Armstrong which uses frequency modulation to provide high-fidelity sound over broadcast radio. The term "FM band" describes the "frequency band in which FM is used for broadcasting"...
and 261 metres medium wave (1152 AM
AM broadcasting
AM broadcasting is the process of radio broadcasting using amplitude modulation. AM was the first method of impressing sound on a radio signal and is still widely used today. Commercial and public AM broadcasting is carried out in the medium wave band world wide, and on long wave and short wave...
). It was one of the earliest ILR
ILR
ILR may refer to:* Institute for Legal Reform, an advocacy group founded in 1998 by the United States Chamber of Commerce* Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations...
's to launch in the UK and was the first commercial radio station
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
for the West Country.
Towards the end of the 1980s/ early 1990s, as with most other ILR
ILR
ILR may refer to:* Institute for Legal Reform, an advocacy group founded in 1998 by the United States Chamber of Commerce* Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations...
s Plymouth Sound split into two stations; the FM frequency remained as Plymouth Sound
Plymouth Sound
Plymouth Sound, or locally just The Sound, is a bay at Plymouth in England.Its southwest and southeast corners are Penlee Point in Cornwall and Wembury Point on Devon, a distance of about 3 nautical miles . Its northern limit is Plymouth Hoe giving a north-south distance of nearly 3 nautical miles...
and the AM service became Plymouth Sound AM. After being owned (either fully or partly) by the GWR Group, the Capital Group and The Local Radio Company
The Local Radio Company
The Local Radio Company is a British media company, originally based in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, that owns ten independent local radio stations in the UK...
, throughout the 1990s, the station was fully bought by the GWR Group around 2000. On 7 February 2000 Plymouth Sound AM was re-branded Classic Gold 1152 (Plymouth). Due to ownership rules the GWR Group had to sell off all of their Classic Gold stations. They were sold to the UBC Media Group
UBC Media Group
UBC Media Group is an independent supplier of services to the radio industry. It provides content to BBC and commercial stations, as well as private clients...
, although the GWR Group did keep a 20% stake in the brand. The 20% stake was increased to 100% in 2007 and GCap
GCAP
GCAP may refer to:* Global Call to Action Against Poverty, a global anti-poverty movement/coalition* GCap Media - British commercial radio company* Grupo Capoeira Angola Pelourinho - Capoeira group by Mestre Moraes* Guanylate cyclase-activating protein...
assumed full control of both Capital Gold
Capital Gold
Gold is a network of oldies radio stations which was formed by the merger of the Capital Gold network and the Classic Gold Network in August 2007...
and the Classic Gold Digital Network
Classic Gold Digital Network
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.-History:...
, merging the two networks, and renaming it simply Gold on 3 August.
Present Day
Plymouth Gold until recently, had around 20 hours a day of networked programming. Only the weekday drivetime show was local and was presented by Peter Greig. Network shows still have local adverts, information and news aired at selected intervals. The station plays the best songs from the 1960s to today (although songs from the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s do predominate). According to the RAJARRAJAR
RAJAR was established in 1992 to operate a single audience measurement system for the radio industry in the United Kingdom. RAJAR is jointly owned by the British Broadcasting Corporation and the RadioCentre...
results for the period ending December 2006, the station had a total of 6,000 listeners and a 1.1% market share.
Network Programmes under Classic Gold
- 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
Network Presenters
- Paul Baker
- Tony BlackburnTony BlackburnTony Blackburn is an English disc jockey, who broadcast on the "pirate" stations Radio Caroline and Radio London in the 1960s and was the first disc jockey to broadcast on BBC Radio 1 in 1967. In 2002 he was the winner of the ITV reality TV programme I'm a Celebrity.....
- Paul BurnettPaul BurnettPaul Burnett is an English radio disc jockey, who began his radio career while in the Royal Air Force in the Persian Gulf in 1964. In 1966 he joined offshore radio station, Radio 270, broadcasting off Scarborough, North Yorkshire...
- Matthew Hardy
- Erika North
- Gary CrowleyGary CrowleyGary Crowley is an English broadcaster and DJ.When he was at school in the late Seventies Crowley started a punk fanzine titled The Modern World, interviewing some of the most important bands of the day including the Sex Pistols, the Clash and the Jam.After leaving school he took up a junior...
- Graham Rogers
- Sandy Warr
- Trevor DannTrevor DannTrevor Dann is a British writer and broadcaster who has been associated with some of the most influential radio and television pop music programmes and events of the last 30 years.-Early career:...
- Mark Dennison
- Chris HawkinsChris HawkinsChris Hawkins is a presenter, performance DJ, reporter, journalist, producer, and music pundit....
Past Network Presenters
- Jimmy SavileJimmy SavileSir James Wilson Vincent Savile, OBE, KCSG was an English disc jockey, television presenter and media personality, best known for his BBC television show Jim'll Fix It, and for being the first and last presenter of the long-running BBC music chart show Top of the Pops...
- Dave Lee TravisDave Lee TravisDave Lee Travis , also known professionally as DLT and the Hairy Cornflake, is a British radio presenter, best known for his career on BBC Radio 1.-Early life:...
- Johnnie WalkerJohnnie Walker (DJ)Johnnie Walker MBE is a popular British veteran radio disc jockey and broadcaster....
: - Mike ReadMike ReadMichael David Kenneth Read is an English radio disc jockey, writer, journalist and television presenter.-Early life:...
- Noddy HolderNoddy HolderNeville John "Noddy" Holder MBE is an English musician and actor. He was the lead vocalist and guitarist with the rock band Slade....
- David HamiltonDavid HamiltonDavid Hamilton or Dave Hamilton or Davey Hamilton may refer to:*David Hamilton of Cadzow, 3rd Laird of Cadzow Scottish nobleman*David Hamilton Scottish architect...
- Simon BatesSimon BatesSimon Bates is a UK disc jockey and radio presenter. Between 1976 and 1993 he worked at BBC Radio 1, presenting the station's weekday mid-morning show for most of this period. He later became a regular presenter on Classic FM...
- Emperor RoskoEmperor RoskoMike Pasternak, better known by his stage name of Emperor Rosko is a well known pop radio presenter.Born Michael Joseph Pasternak, he is the son of Hollywood film producer Joe Pasternak. He was influenced in his career choice by KYA Radio Los Angeles DJs Lord Tim Hudson and Wolfman Jack...