Capital Life
Encyclopedia
Capital Life, also known as Life, was a digital radio station broadcasting across the UK
on the Digital One
network and streamed online.
, having been launched by Capital Radio PLC before the company merged with the GWR Group PLC. It was one of the first DAB Digital Radio stations to launch in the UK in 1999 on the Digital One multiplex.
The station had two presenters, and to start with and was based in a news studio used by Capital Gold London outside of breakfast hours. Later it moved into a newly created Digital Broadcast studio in Leicester Square, which it in turn shared with Capital Disney
and Century London
Until 2005, Paul Phear presented the breakfast show on weekday mornings, culminating in "The Life Top Ten At Ten - a chart from years gone by - any year from 1975 onwards - the chart was, in fact, not actual historic chart positions but the order chosen by the programme controller to avoid playing certain novelty songs and those that did not reflect the musical style. After the Life Top Ten At Ten, the station was automated all day - news from IRN hourly, but music at all other times. Paul Phear then returned to present a late night love song show from 10 pm.
On Saturday morning, there was a show presented by Phillip Chryssikos. Sunday, it was non-stop music.
Anthony Davis replaced Paul Phear, hosting the breakfast show live, instead of pre-recording, a rare event for a Digital radio station, making Capital Life became one of the very few digital radio stations to have live presentation. (Along with sister station Capital Disney
, which provided mostly live programming).
Unlike other radio stations, there were no travel bulletins (due to the limited number of DAB Radios in households at the time, and the fact the station provided blanket national coverage), commercials or interviews with celebrities and politicians and sports reports - the emphasis was on music and there was a playlist similar to that of Century Digital
.
, and a full presenter line up joined the station, along with a new sung jingle package from Reelworld. These presenters (with subsequent positions/station) included: Susan Spence (now LBC 97.3
& BBC Radio 5 Live
), Nicola Bonn (Classic FM
and Heart Network
), Ali Wheeler (Invicta FM
), Leigh Jones (Red Dragon), Tom Rudolph, Brian O'Neill (GMTV
), Pam Sharpless, Micky Gavin (Real Radio
Scotland), Jonathan Miles
(BBC
Radio Newcastle) Ali Jones (Fox FM
) and Anthony Davis (LBC 97.3
and Jazz FM
)
Upon the merger of Capital Radio PLC and GWR Group PLC, 'Capital Life' was mooted to become the Digital alternative to BBC Radio 2
and preparations were made for Capital Gold
and Capital Life to be merged into one 'super station'. Later, these plans were quietly abandoned by GCap Media, and Capital Gold
rebranded to 'Gold'.
In its final two years, Life had no presenters. Quietly, the weekend presenters were dropped, later followed by all weekday programming aside from the live breakfast show. This too was later dropped, and the station broadcast non-stop music with news bulletins every hour for the remainder of its life. The only other non music items heard were promotions for GCap Media
products such as CD releases associated with its other radio stations, Classic FM
and theJazz
and an afternoon 'showbiz' report, which was produced internally by the GCap News team.
years in charge of the company, who had been a big supporter of Digital Radio, both while in charge of GWR Group PLC and GCap Media
.) It had already been announced in 2007 that Life, along with sister station Core
were to close with all investment in them ceasing . It was only now that there had been any announcement that TheJazz
was to close and that Planet Rock
would be sold. Life continued to broadcast until 31 March, when it went off air at just after 11pm, along with theJazz.
Digital radio in the United Kingdom
In the United Kingdom, the roll-out of digital radio is proceeding since test transmissions were started by the BBC in 1990. The UK currently has the world's biggest digital radio network, with 103 transmitters, two national DAB ensembles and 48 local and regional DAB ensembles...
on 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...
network and streamed online.
About
Capital Life was owned by GCap MediaGCap Media
GCap Media was a British commercial radio company formed from the merger of the Capital Radio Group and GWR Group. The merger was completed in May 2005. It was listed on the London Stock Exchange and was a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index. On 31 March 2008 the company agreed a takeover by...
, having been launched by Capital Radio PLC before the company merged with the GWR Group PLC. It was one of the first DAB Digital Radio stations to launch in the UK in 1999 on the Digital One multiplex.
The station had two presenters, and to start with and was based in a news studio used by Capital Gold London outside of breakfast hours. Later it moved into a newly created Digital Broadcast studio in Leicester Square, which it in turn shared with Capital Disney
Capital Disney
Capital Disney was a British digital radio station aimed at 8 to 16 year olds which used to broadcast across the UK on DAB Digital Radio . It was also broadcast on Sky Digital, Tiscali TV, Virgin Media, and streaming online. The station announced on 14 May 2007 that it would close down on 29 June...
and Century London
Century Digital
-About The Station:Initially there was a DAB digital station in London called Century London an offshoot of the parent Century stations in the North of England...
Until 2005, Paul Phear presented the breakfast show on weekday mornings, culminating in "The Life Top Ten At Ten - a chart from years gone by - any year from 1975 onwards - the chart was, in fact, not actual historic chart positions but the order chosen by the programme controller to avoid playing certain novelty songs and those that did not reflect the musical style. After the Life Top Ten At Ten, the station was automated all day - news from IRN hourly, but music at all other times. Paul Phear then returned to present a late night love song show from 10 pm.
On Saturday morning, there was a show presented by Phillip Chryssikos. Sunday, it was non-stop music.
Anthony Davis replaced Paul Phear, hosting the breakfast show live, instead of pre-recording, a rare event for a Digital radio station, making Capital Life became one of the very few digital radio stations to have live presentation. (Along with sister station Capital Disney
Capital Disney
Capital Disney was a British digital radio station aimed at 8 to 16 year olds which used to broadcast across the UK on DAB Digital Radio . It was also broadcast on Sky Digital, Tiscali TV, Virgin Media, and streaming online. The station announced on 14 May 2007 that it would close down on 29 June...
, which provided mostly live programming).
Unlike other radio stations, there were no travel bulletins (due to the limited number of DAB Radios in households at the time, and the fact the station provided blanket national coverage), commercials or interviews with celebrities and politicians and sports reports - the emphasis was on music and there was a playlist similar to that of Century Digital
Century Digital
-About The Station:Initially there was a DAB digital station in London called Century London an offshoot of the parent Century stations in the North of England...
.
Relaunch and demise
'Life' relaunched as Capital Life in 2005, under Programme Controller Micky Gavin (who left very shortly afterwards to run Hereward FM) and Digital Content Director Kevin PalmerKevin Palmer
Kevin Lee Palmer is the Texas-born lead singer of Amity Lane and TRUSTcompany . He is married to Layla Palmer. Layla plays keyboards in Amity Lane with him....
, and a full presenter line up joined the station, along with a new sung jingle package from Reelworld. These presenters (with subsequent positions/station) included: Susan Spence (now LBC 97.3
LBC 97.3
LBC 97.3 is a London-based talk and phone-in radio station. It is one half of the latest incarnation of LBC, the news and speech service which was Britain's first commercial radio station when it went on air in October 1973...
& BBC Radio 5 Live
BBC Radio 5 Live
BBC Radio 5 Live is the BBC's national radio service that specialises in live BBC News, phone-ins, and sports commentaries...
), Nicola Bonn (Classic FM
Classic FM (UK)
Classic FM, one of the United Kingdom's three Independent National Radio stations, broadcasts classical music in a popular and accessible style.-Overview:...
and Heart Network
Heart Network
Heart is a radio network of 17 adult contemporary independent local radio stations in central & southern England and north Wales. Each station broadcasts local breakfast and drive time shows and simulcasts network programming at all other times...
), Ali Wheeler (Invicta FM
Invicta FM
Heart Kent is an Independent Local Radio Station broadcasting to the county of Kent, England. It was rebranded in June 2009 and is now part of Global Radio's Heart Network....
), Leigh Jones (Red Dragon), Tom Rudolph, Brian O'Neill (GMTV
GMTV
GMTV was the national Channel 3 breakfast television contractor, broadcasting in the United Kingdom from 1 January 1993 to 3 September 2010. It became a wholly owned subsidiary of ITV plc. in November 2009. Shortly after, ITV plc announced the programme would end...
), Pam Sharpless, Micky Gavin (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...
Scotland), Jonathan Miles
Jonathan Miles (radio presenter)
Jonathan Miles is a British radio presenter. He has previously worked for a number of radio stations, including Channel 4 FM in Dubai, Radio Luxembourg, Jazz FM, British Forces Broadcasting Service, Capital Life, Invicta FM and South London Radio....
(BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
Radio Newcastle) Ali Jones (Fox FM
Fox FM
Fox FM may refer to:*Fox FM , a radio station in Melbourne, Australia*Heart Thames Valley, a radio station in the United Kingdom formerly known as Fox FM*Port FM, a radio station in New Zealand...
) and Anthony Davis (LBC 97.3
LBC 97.3
LBC 97.3 is a London-based talk and phone-in radio station. It is one half of the latest incarnation of LBC, the news and speech service which was Britain's first commercial radio station when it went on air in October 1973...
and Jazz FM
Jazz FM
Jazz FM may refer to:*Jazz FM , a digital jazz radio station in the United Kingdom.*102.2 Jazz FM, a defunct radio station based in London, England.*100.4 Jazz FM, a defunct radio station based in Manchester, England....
)
Upon the merger of Capital Radio PLC and GWR Group PLC, 'Capital Life' was mooted to become the Digital alternative to BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2 is one of the BBC's national radio stations and the most popular station in the United Kingdom. Much of its daytime playlist-based programming is best described as Adult Contemporary or AOR, although the station is also noted for its specialist broadcasting of other musical genres...
and preparations were made for Capital Gold
Capital Gold
Gold is a network of oldies radio stations which was formed by the merger of the Capital Gold network and the Classic Gold Network in August 2007...
and Capital Life to be merged into one 'super station'. Later, these plans were quietly abandoned by GCap Media, and Capital Gold
Capital Gold
Gold is a network of oldies radio stations which was formed by the merger of the Capital Gold network and the Classic Gold Network in August 2007...
rebranded to 'Gold'.
In its final two years, Life had no presenters. Quietly, the weekend presenters were dropped, later followed by all weekday programming aside from the live breakfast show. This too was later dropped, and the station broadcast non-stop music with news bulletins every hour for the remainder of its life. The only other non music items heard were promotions for GCap Media
GCap Media
GCap Media was a British commercial radio company formed from the merger of the Capital Radio Group and GWR Group. The merger was completed in May 2005. It was listed on the London Stock Exchange and was a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index. On 31 March 2008 the company agreed a takeover by...
products such as CD releases associated with its other radio stations, Classic FM
Classic FM (UK)
Classic FM, one of the United Kingdom's three Independent National Radio stations, broadcasts classical music in a popular and accessible style.-Overview:...
and theJazz
TheJazz
theJazz was a British commercial jazz digital radio station. The station was run by GCap Media and launched on Christmas Day 2006. originally as a non-stop jazz station on the Digital One DAB ensemble, Sky Digital, Virgin Media and the Internet....
and an afternoon 'showbiz' report, which was produced internally by the GCap News team.
Closure
On 11 January 2008, newly appointed GCap Chief Executive Fru Hazlitt announced a package of measures to save GCap Media from being taken over and prevent the company from slipping further into the red due to bad trading conditions within the radio industry. Under Fru Hazlitt, GCap announced a complete retreat from DAB Digital Radio. (A bold move, after the Ralph BernardRalph Bernard
Ralph Bernard CBE was the chief executive of commercial radio group GCap Media. He started his career as a journalist at Sheffield's Radio Hallam in 1975, before moving to Hereward Radio in Peterborough....
years in charge of the company, who had been a big supporter of Digital Radio, both while in charge of GWR Group PLC and GCap Media
GCap Media
GCap Media was a British commercial radio company formed from the merger of the Capital Radio Group and GWR Group. The merger was completed in May 2005. It was listed on the London Stock Exchange and was a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index. On 31 March 2008 the company agreed a takeover by...
.) It had already been announced in 2007 that Life, along with sister station Core
Core
- Science and Academics :* Core , in mathematics, an object in group theory* Core , in mathematics, a subset of the domain of a closable operator* Core , in mathematics, the homomorphically minimal subgraph of a graph...
were to close with all investment in them ceasing . It was only now that there had been any announcement that TheJazz
TheJazz
theJazz was a British commercial jazz digital radio station. The station was run by GCap Media and launched on Christmas Day 2006. originally as a non-stop jazz station on the Digital One DAB ensemble, Sky Digital, Virgin Media and the Internet....
was to close and that Planet Rock
Planet Rock
Planet Rock may refer to:* "Planet Rock" , a 1982 song by Afrika Bambaataa and the Soulsonic Force* Planet Rock: The Album, a 1986 album containing the song...
would be sold. Life continued to broadcast until 31 March, when it went off air at just after 11pm, along with theJazz.