Virgin Radio Classic Rock
Encyclopedia
A sister station to Absolute Radio, Absolute Classic Rock, is a radio station
broadcasting to London
via FM DAB
, Virgin Media
, Sky, Freesat
channel 725 and worldwide on the internet
. Absolute Classic Rock is part of the Absolute Radio Network.
Formerly known as Virgin Radio Classic Rock, it originally was an internet-only radio station, and launched in 2000 under the name Virgin Classic. On DAB Digital Radio in London, the station launched at 12:15pm with Richard Skinner
introducing Steppenwolf
's Born to Be Wild
. The launch time, presenter, and song (though not the artist) were identical to its parent station Virgin Radio
.
On 1 September 2008 it was announced that Virgin Radio Classic Rock would be rebranded as Absolute Classic Rock on 29 September 2008.
On 20 December 2010 Absolute Classic Rock launched on DAB to a potential new 3 million new listeners in Ayr, Bath, Cardiff, Coventry and Exeter.
In 2011 it was confirmed by Ofcom that to accommodate the launch of new sister station Absolute Radio 60s, the reduction of the broadcast bitrate of Absolute Classic Rock would be permitted on the various multiplexes on which it broadcasts.
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
, Tommy Vance
, Gordon Loncaster, Selena Harrington, Bernard Doherty, Alice Cooper
and Guy Jagger.
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...
broadcasting to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
via FM DAB
Digital audio broadcasting
Digital 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....
, Virgin Media
Virgin Media
Virgin Media Inc. is a company which provides fixed and mobile telephone, television and broadband internet services to businesses and consumers in the United Kingdom...
, Sky, Freesat
Freesat
Freesat is a free-to-air digital satellite television joint venture between the BBC and ITV plc, serving the United Kingdom. The service was formed as a memorandum in 2007 and has been marketed since 6 May 2008...
channel 725 and worldwide on the internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
. Absolute Classic Rock is part of the Absolute Radio Network.
Formerly known as Virgin Radio Classic Rock, it originally was an internet-only radio station, and launched in 2000 under the name Virgin Classic. On DAB Digital Radio in London, the station launched at 12:15pm with Richard Skinner
Richard Skinner (broadcaster)
Richard Skinner is a British radio and television broadcaster.He is the only presenter to have fronted the three BBC 'flagship' pop music programmes Whistle Test, Top of the Pops and Top 40 show. -Early career:...
introducing Steppenwolf
Steppenwolf (band)
Steppenwolf are a Canadian-American rock group that was prominent in the late 1960s. The group was formed in 1967 in Los Angeles by vocalist John Kay, guitarist Michael Monarch, bassist Rushton Moreve, keyboardist Goldy McJohn and drummer Jerry Edmonton after the dissolution of Toronto group The...
's Born to Be Wild
Born to Be Wild
"Born to Be Wild" is a rock song written by Mars Bonfire and made famous by the Canadian-American rock band Steppenwolf. It is often used in popular culture to denote a biker appearance or attitude...
. The launch time, presenter, and song (though not the artist) were identical to its parent station Virgin Radio
Virgin Radio
Absolute Radio is one of the UK's three Independent National Radio stations. The station rebranded to its current name at 7.45am on 29 September 2008.The station is based in London and plays popular rock music...
.
On 1 September 2008 it was announced that Virgin Radio Classic Rock would be rebranded as Absolute Classic Rock on 29 September 2008.
DAB Expansion
On 10 December 2010 Absolute Classic Rock expanded on DAB from London, taking over from Global Radio owned Gold on DAB in the North of England where there were 10 million potential new listeners on DAB in Newcastle, Sunderland, Darlington, Middlesbrough, Leeds, Hull, Scunthorpe, Grimsby, York, Huddersfield, Doncaster, Harrogate, Bradford, Sheffield, Blackburn, Preston, Blackpool, Bolton, Lancaster, Liverpool, Chester, Wrexham (North Wales) and WarringtonOn 20 December 2010 Absolute Classic Rock launched on DAB to a potential new 3 million new listeners in Ayr, Bath, Cardiff, Coventry and Exeter.
In 2011 it was confirmed by Ofcom that to accommodate the launch of new sister station Absolute Radio 60s, the reduction of the broadcast bitrate of Absolute Classic Rock would be permitted on the various multiplexes on which it broadcasts.
Schedule
Monday to Thursday- 00:00 Absolute Classic Rock
- 06:00 Christian O'Connell Breakfast Show (syndicated from Absolute Radio)
- 10:00 Leona GrahamLeona GrahamLeona Graham is a British radio broadcaster and voiceover artist. She is currently a presenter of Absolute Radio , a position she has held since 2000...
- 13:00 Non-stop Classic Rock
- 14:00 Martyn LeeMartyn LeeMartyn Lee is a national radio broadcaster, Sony award-winning radio producer, NLP Master Practitioner and Hypnotist. He is a presenter on Absolute Radio, Absolute 80s, Absolute Radio 90s, Absolute Classic Rock and, most recently, Absolute Radio 00s.He is formerly Programme Director for radio...
- 16:00 The Ronnie Wood Show
- 17:00 Russ WilliamsRuss WilliamsRussell "Russ" Williams is an English radio DJ from Blackpool, primarily known for his long-running shows on Virgin Radio , and since 2008 on Absolute Radio, the re-launched version of Virgin Radio.-Biography:...
- 21:00 The Ronnie Wood Show (repeat)
- 22:00 Absolute Classic Rock
Friday
- 00:00 Absolute Classic Rock
- 06:00 Christian O'Connell Breakfast Show (syndicated from Absolute Radio)
- 10:00 Leona GrahamLeona GrahamLeona Graham is a British radio broadcaster and voiceover artist. She is currently a presenter of Absolute Radio , a position she has held since 2000...
- 13:00 Non-stop Classic Rock
- 14:00 Martyn LeeMartyn LeeMartyn Lee is a national radio broadcaster, Sony award-winning radio producer, NLP Master Practitioner and Hypnotist. He is a presenter on Absolute Radio, Absolute 80s, Absolute Radio 90s, Absolute Classic Rock and, most recently, Absolute Radio 00s.He is formerly Programme Director for radio...
- 16:00 Russ WilliamsRuss WilliamsRussell "Russ" Williams is an English radio DJ from Blackpool, primarily known for his long-running shows on Virgin Radio , and since 2008 on Absolute Radio, the re-launched version of Virgin Radio.-Biography:...
- 20:00 The Ronnie Wood Show
- 21:00 Absolute Classic Rock
Saturday
- 00:00 Absolute Classic Rock
- 09:00 Russ WilliamsRuss WilliamsRussell "Russ" Williams is an English radio DJ from Blackpool, primarily known for his long-running shows on Virgin Radio , and since 2008 on Absolute Radio, the re-launched version of Virgin Radio.-Biography:...
- 13:00 Absolute Classic Rock
- 18:30 Absolute Classic Rock Party with Leona Graham (syndicated on Absolute Radio)
- 22:00 The Ronnie Wood Show (syndicated on Absolute Radio)
- 23:00 Absolute Classic Rock
Sunday
- 00:00 Absolute Classic Rock
- 09:00 Leona GrahamLeona GrahamLeona Graham is a British radio broadcaster and voiceover artist. She is currently a presenter of Absolute Radio , a position she has held since 2000...
- 12:00 Absolute Classic Rock
Former DJs
Richard SkinnerRichard Skinner (broadcaster)
Richard Skinner is a British radio and television broadcaster.He is the only presenter to have fronted the three BBC 'flagship' pop music programmes Whistle Test, Top of the Pops and Top 40 show. -Early career:...
, Tommy Vance
Tommy Vance
Tommy Vance was a British pop radio broadcaster, born in Eynsham, Oxfordshire. He was one of the few music broadcasters in the United Kingdom to champion hard rock and heavy metal in the early 1980s, providing the only national radio forum for both bands and fans...
, Gordon Loncaster, Selena Harrington, Bernard Doherty, Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper is an American rock singer, songwriter and musician whose career spans more than four decades...
and Guy Jagger.