Capital Radio Group

: Capital Radio Group and GWR Group have merged. For information on the combined radio group, as well as a list of stations owned by the company, refer to the GCap Media article. : Information about the London radio station can be found in the Capital FM article.

Capital Radio was, until May 2005, a London-based United Kingdom radio group. The company was originally set up to operate a music service to London on AM and FM. Its flagship station, now known as Capital FM, went on air in October 1973. Capital was the second legal commercial radio station to launch in the UK, a few days after London news station LBC. In the 1980s the station was allowed to operate separate services on AM and FM.

Changes to media ownership laws meant that Capital was able to acquire other stations throughout the UK, becoming a powerful player in the UK s commercial radio industry; before the merger with GWR, Capital Radio controlled 22 analogue and 59 digital radio licences. In July 1998, Capital bought the financially troubled alternative radio station, XFM.

In the early 21st Century Capital Radio Group expanded its range of FM stations, and also started broadcasting digital-only stations such as Capital Disney and Capital Life.

On Monday 9th May 2005 the parent company Capital Radio Group merged with GWR Group, another major UK radio group, to form GCap Media. The combined size of Capital and GWR make GCap the largest commercial radio broadcaster in the UK.

The headquarters of Capital Radio Group (and now GCap), as well as the studios of Capital FM, are based in Leicester Square.

=External link=

*[http://www.capitalfm.com Capital FM website] *[http://www.listentolife.com Capital Life Website] *[http://www.gcapmedia.com GCap Media Website - Parent Company]