GWR 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.
GWR Group was a United Kingdom radio company, until its merger with Capital Radio Group in May 2005 to form the new company GCap Media. Major assets included the nationwide station Classic FM (UK) and an extensive network of independent local radio stations - both of which are now operated by the new company.
Between 1996 and 1999 GWR was a major shareholder in London News Radio, which owned and operated London s LBC and News Direct radio stations. These stations were sold to Chrysalis Radio in 2002.
GWR was owned by Daily Mail and General Trust plc (majority share), various asset management firms, Sir Peter Michael and other small shareholders. Until the merger, the group was chaired by Ralph Bernard and its head office was in Passage Street, Bristol.
GWR attempted to revolutionise local radio with its policy of branding its stations with similar phrases, initially today s best mix or the best mix of the 80s, 90s and today. This allowed it to syndicate a number of programmes across its network of radio stations. It currently has four main syndicated programmes: Music Control (previously Core Control, weekdays 7pm to 10pm (and 7-9 on Fridays)), Late Night Love (Sunday to Thursday 10pm to 1am) presented by Graham Torrington, Ministry of Sound (previously Vibe Nation) presented by Howard Ritchie (Friday and Saturday nights) and Sunday Revival (Sunday mornings). The stations are usually the commercial market leader in the areas in which they operate, and GWR enjoyed much financial success as a result.
GWR (and its successor) has been a strong proponent of DAB Digital Radio, and is the major shareholder in the national commercial digital radio multiplex, Digital One. It also operates 14 local digital multiplexes (under the NOWdigital banner and is the largest shareholder in the Digital Radio Group (London) Ltd.
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