106.1 Real Radio XS
Encyclopedia
106.1 Real Radio XS is a radio station based in Salford
, Manchester
broadcasting a variety of peak-time news, rock music
and talk output.
's transmitter and all 3 services share the same broadcast antenna system which is located on the centre transmission tower and is illuminated with red Aircraft warning lights
at night.
The station organised a 'Free one day festival' to promote its launch, this was held at Cathedral Gardens, with headlining bands Bad Company
and Gun
with support acts Salford Jets
, Letz Zep and Mercury.
The performances started at 1:00pm with a countdown to 6:00pm when the station went live. The first voice heard on Rock Radio was the mid-morning presenter Moose.
Due to the mix of output, the original application was made under the name Rock Talk. The license competition included bids by existing licence holders Chrysalis
and Emap
as well as a number by smaller local groups. Chrysalis Radio's managing director expressed his surprise that the talk/rock hybrid won in preference to a dedicated talk or rock station, both of which had been offered by his group.
Following the award, a decision has been made to position the station as a sister to the newly-relaunched Scottish station 96.3 Rock Radio
.
The parent company GMG
owns the local newspaper Manchester Evening News
, a series of local newspapers, a city-wide terrestrial and national satellite TV station Channel M
and the two regional licences for North West - Real Radio (North West) and Smooth Radio.
announced that the Manchester based service would be re-branded as Real Radio XS, while the Glasgow-based 96.3 Rock Radio
would be sold and was released that the new service would 'benefit from the brand and scale of sister station Real Radio
'..
On 29 August 2011, It was announced that the new service would launch on 5 September 2011 and would be extended to be available over a much larger area, replacing Jazz FM (UK) in London, the North West and the West Midlands, as Jazz FM had been launched nationally via the Digital One
DAB platform. The move gave the rock service DAB availability in its 106.1 FM coverage area for the first time.
City of Salford
The City of Salford is a city and metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester, England. It is named after its largest settlement, Salford, but covers a far larger area which includes the towns of Eccles, Swinton-Pendlebury, Walkden and Irlam which apart from Irlam each have a population of over...
, Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
broadcasting a variety of peak-time news, rock music
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
and talk output.
History
The station began test transmissions as 106.1 Rock Radio on FM on 10 April 2008. The transmitter is on top of the City Tower (the former Sunley Building) in Piccadilly in Manchester, the same place as 102 Capital FM and XfmXfm
Xfm is a brand of two commercial radio stations focused on alternative music, primarily indie pop, and owned by Global Radio.-History:Xfm was created in London in 1992 by Sammy Jacob, who later co-founded NME Radio in 2008. Xfm subsequently expanded to a network of four stations; there are...
's transmitter and all 3 services share the same broadcast antenna system which is located on the centre transmission tower and is illuminated with red Aircraft warning lights
Aircraft warning lights
Aircraft warning lights are high-intensity lighting devices that are attached to tall structures and are used as collision avoidance measures. Such devices make structures more visible to passing aircraft and are usually used at night, although they may be used during the day as well...
at night.
The station organised a 'Free one day festival' to promote its launch, this was held at Cathedral Gardens, with headlining bands Bad Company
Bad Company
Bad Company were an English rock supergroup founded in 1973, consisting of two former Free band members — singer Paul Rodgers and drummer Simon Kirke — as well as Mott the Hoople guitarist Mick Ralphs and King Crimson bassist Boz Burrell. Peter Grant, who, in years prior, was a key component of...
and Gun
Gun (band)
Gun are a rock band from Glasgow, Scotland, best known for their cover of Cameo's "Word Up!".-Early career:Originally called Blind Allez then for a short time, 'Phobia', GUN were formed in 1987 by Giuliano Gizzi and Cami Morlotti , with Mark Rankin , Alan Thornton and David Aitken...
with support acts Salford Jets
Salford Jets
Salford Jets was a British rock band, who began life in 1976, and operated in the late 1970s and early 1980s.-Biography:The band originally included Mike Sweeney, later of Piccadilly 1152 and current breakfast DJ at 106.1 Rock Radio. The other band members were Diccon Hubbard , Nev Waring , Dave...
, Letz Zep and Mercury.
The performances started at 1:00pm with a countdown to 6:00pm when the station went live. The first voice heard on Rock Radio was the mid-morning presenter Moose.
Due to the mix of output, the original application was made under the name Rock Talk. The license competition included bids by existing licence holders Chrysalis
Chrysalis Group
Chrysalis Group is a UK media company. It was founded by Chris Wright, who remains chairman and was listed the 1,000th richest person in the UK in The Times Rich List 2009...
and Emap
EMAP Radio
Bauer Radio is a UK-based division of Bauer Media Group.The Bauer network is divisible into two main groups, the Bauer Place and Bauer Passion units, with Place consisting of locally-focused services primarily broadcast on FM/AM and local digital platforms, and Passion consisting of national and...
as well as a number by smaller local groups. Chrysalis Radio's managing director expressed his surprise that the talk/rock hybrid won in preference to a dedicated talk or rock station, both of which had been offered by his group.
Following the award, a decision has been made to position the station as a sister to the newly-relaunched Scottish station 96.3 Rock Radio
96.3 Rock Radio
96.3 Real Radio XS is a Scottish local radio station owned and operated by GMG Radio. It is based at Ballieston to the east of Glasgow and broadcasts to Renfrewshire, West Central Scotland and Central Scotland....
.
The parent company GMG
Guardian Media Group
Guardian Media Group plc is a company of the United Kingdom owning various mass media operations including The Guardian and The Observer. The Group is owned by the Scott Trust. It was founded as the Manchester Guardian Ltd in 1907 when C. P. Scott bought the Manchester Guardian from the estate of...
owns the local newspaper Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
The Manchester Evening News is a regional daily newspaper covering Greater Manchester in the United Kingdom. It is published every day except Sunday and is owned by Trinity Mirror plc following its sale by Guardian Media Group in early 2010. It has an average daily circulation of 90,973 copies...
, a series of local newspapers, a city-wide terrestrial and national satellite TV station Channel M
Channel m
Channel M is a regional television station, based in Manchester, England. It began broadcasting on 14 February 2000 as Manchester Student Television and is owned and operated by the Guardian Media Group.-Coverage:...
and the two regional licences for North West - Real Radio (North West) and Smooth Radio.
Rebrand
On 28 July 2011, GMG RadioGMG Radio
GMG Radio is the radio division of the Guardian Media Group. The group is based in Laser House, Salford Quays in Greater Manchester. The advertising division is in Old Trafford, Manchester. John Myers was the Chief Executive Officer, his deputy replaced him in April 2009...
announced that the Manchester based service would be re-branded as Real Radio XS, while the Glasgow-based 96.3 Rock Radio
96.3 Rock Radio
96.3 Real Radio XS is a Scottish local radio station owned and operated by GMG Radio. It is based at Ballieston to the east of Glasgow and broadcasts to Renfrewshire, West Central Scotland and Central Scotland....
would be sold and was released that the new service would 'benefit from the brand and scale of sister station Real Radio
Real Radio
Real Radio is a network of adult contemporary independent local radio stations in England, Scotland and Wales and is operated by . Each station broadcasts local breakfast through to drive time shows and network programming in the evening and through the night...
'..
On 29 August 2011, It was announced that the new service would launch on 5 September 2011 and would be extended to be available over a much larger area, replacing Jazz FM (UK) in London, the North West and the West Midlands, as Jazz FM had been launched nationally via the Digital One
Digital One
Digital One is a national commercial digital radio multiplex in the United Kingdom, owned by Arqiva. , the multiplex covers more than 90% of the populationfrom a total of 137 transmitters...
DAB platform. The move gave the rock service DAB availability in its 106.1 FM coverage area for the first time.