Real Radio Wales is an
independent local radioIndependent Local Radio is the collective name given to commercial radio stations in the United Kingdom. The same name is used for Independent Local Radio in Ireland.-Development of ILR:...
that broadcasts on FM from Morganstown,
CardiffCardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for many national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for Wales. According to recent estimates, the...
across South and West
WalesWales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom, bordered by England to its east, and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It is also an elective region of the European Union...
. It is also available on
DABDigital Audio Broadcasting , is a digital radio technology for broadcasting radio stations, used in several countries, particularly in Europe. As of 2006, approximately 1,000 stations worldwide broadcast in the DAB format....
via the
MXR Severn EstuaryMXR Severn Estuary is a regional commercial digital radio multiplex in the United Kingdom, which serves the West of England and South Wales, including Bristol, Bath, Weston-super-Mare, Cardiff, Newport, Swansea, the South Wales Valleys and north Somerset....
multiplex and, since the closure of Real Radio (Digital), has been carried across the UK on digital satellite TV (Sky Digital channel 0146).
In 2008 GMG was awarded the last UK analogue licence covering North and Mid
WalesWales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom, bordered by England to its east, and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It is also an elective region of the European Union...
. It intends to extend the Real Radio format across all of
WalesWales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom, bordered by England to its east, and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It is also an elective region of the European Union...
by the end of 2009 basing its mid and north Wales operations in
WrexhamWrexham is a town in Wales. It is the administrative centre of the wider Wrexham County Borough, and the largest town in North Wales, located to the east of the region. It is situated between the Welsh mountains and the lower Dee Valley close to the border with Cheshire, England...
. The north Wales station will opt out at breakfast and afternoon-drive.
History
Real Radio was the first radio station within the GMG Radio's
Real RadioReal Radio is a brand of independent local radio stations in the United Kingdom owned by GMG Radio. The brand was developed by John Myers in 2000. Myers was also responsible for the similar early format of the Century FM radio stations, which were rebranded as Real Radio in March 2009...
brand. The station was launched in October 2000 with an introduction from
Tom JonesSir Thomas Jones Woodward, OBE , known by his stage name Tom Jones, is a Welsh singer. Since 1965, Jones has sold over 100 million records.-Early life:...
, followed by John Myers introducing the song
A Star is Born. The format is very similar to the Century Network, which Myers had established in the mid-1990s.
Programming
Real Radio is a music and speech station, playing classic and modern tunes for South Wales. The station broadcasts hits from the 60s to today's best music. Real specialises in
variety, with old, contemporary and current hits appearing on the playlist. The station airs
The Big Top 40 ShowThe Big Top 40 Show is a chart show broadcast on commercial radio stations in the UK. The chart is based on a combination of airplay and music download figures provided by iTunes.-Format:...
, thus having to play more contemporary music than ever before. The format is classed as a Hot Adult Contemporary music station.
The station also carries news bulletins every hour (including half-hour headlines at breakfast and drivetime) from Cardiff and the Guardian Media Group's Manchester news
Hub (8pm-6am on weeknights and 2pm-6am at weekends).
External links