Choice FM
Encyclopedia
Choice FM, branded on-air as London's Choice, is a brand used by the UK's biggest radio
company, Global Radio
for its network of black music radio stations. It is anchored by an FM operation in London
, and is also broadcast via DAB Digital Radio
, Sky, TalkTalk TV, Virgin Media
and online.
. It was Britain’s first 24 hour black music radio station with a licence, covering South London
. The group won a second licence (see Buzz FM
) in 1995, bringing a local version of their London offering to Birmingham
, on 102.2 FM - in place of Buzz FM
.
The advent of digital radio in the UK saw Choice, which already had an active webstream, joining the new MXR consortium and launching a DAB
service which anchored London output with news inserts produced by the consortium's news service DNN.
The Birmingham licence was sold to Chrysalis Radio in 1999 and became Galaxy Birmingham, but Choice expanded within the capital in May 2000 when a largely independent North London
licence was awarded for Choice 107.1, with the intention of reaching a larger Afro-Caribbean audience outside the limited range of the coverage from Brixton. The station was now broadcasting from Borough High Street, Borough, London.
Having previously been a minority shareholder, Capital Radio Group took full control of the station in February 2004 and moved the station's base from the target service area to the group's central studios in London's Leicester Square
. The move resulted in a community march from the coverage area and their studios.
By 12 October 2004, Capital had received and implemented a merger of their FM licences, operating a service across the capital on the two frequencies and cutting back on the North London-specific music requirements. http://media.guardian.co.uk/radio/story/0,,1325562,00.html
The DAB service also became a simulcast of the London station, with the demise of local drop-ins.
Following their takeover of Choice, Capital Radio Group merged with GWR to form GCap Media
in 2005. Choice was flagged up as one of the key brands of the new larger network, and the station was made available to digital TV viewers via its addition to Sky (and later to Virgin Media
).
GCap were subsequently taken over by Global Radio
, who already owned the Galaxy Network of dance/urban music stations. Despite the separate music format and branding, Choice was marketed to advertisers as part of the Galaxy network for package advertising deals. In 2010 Global Radio announced http://radiotoday.co.uk/news.php?extend.6265 that the Galaxy network stations would be networked with 95.8 Capital FM, leaving Choice as a standalone brand again.
Choice reaches 480,000 listeners in London alone. http://www.mediauk.com/radio/rajar/52/choice
Supporting Global Radio's commitment to a Social Responsibility programme, Choice FM promotes social action campaigns, I Have a Choice and I Have a Choice - Music Potential.
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
company, Global Radio
Global Radio
Global Radio UK Ltd. is a British commercial radio company, the largest in the country following acquisitions of Chrysalis Radio and GCap Media.The company's Chief Executive Officer is Stephen Miron, while the Group Chairman is Charles Allen...
for its network of black music radio stations. It is anchored by an FM operation in 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...
, and is also broadcast via DAB Digital Radio
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....
, Sky, TalkTalk TV, 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...
and online.
History
Choice 96.9 began as an independent company in March 1990, broadcasting from studios in Trinity Gardens, BrixtonBrixton
Brixton is a district in the London Borough of Lambeth in south London, England. It is south south-east of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London....
. It was Britain’s first 24 hour black music radio station with a licence, covering South London
South London
South London is the southern part of London, England, United Kingdom.According to the 2011 official Boundary Commission for England definition, South London includes the London boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Croydon, Greenwich, Kingston, Lambeth, Lewisham, Merton, Southwark, Sutton and...
. The group won a second licence (see Buzz FM
Buzz FM
Buzz FM was a United Kingdom radio station which was on the air between 1990 and 1994. It was broadcast to Birmingham on 102.4 MHz, and was launched as the city's fourth radio station after BBC WM, BRMB and Xtra AM...
) in 1995, bringing a local version of their London offering to Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, on 102.2 FM - in place of Buzz FM
Buzz FM
Buzz FM was a United Kingdom radio station which was on the air between 1990 and 1994. It was broadcast to Birmingham on 102.4 MHz, and was launched as the city's fourth radio station after BBC WM, BRMB and Xtra AM...
.
The advent of digital radio in the UK saw Choice, which already had an active webstream, joining the new MXR consortium and launching a 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....
service which anchored London output with news inserts produced by the consortium's news service DNN.
The Birmingham licence was sold to Chrysalis Radio in 1999 and became Galaxy Birmingham, but Choice expanded within the capital in May 2000 when a largely independent North London
North London
North London is the northern part of London, England. It is an imprecise description and the area it covers is defined differently for a range of purposes. Common to these definitions is that it includes districts located north of the River Thames and is used in comparison with South...
licence was awarded for Choice 107.1, with the intention of reaching a larger Afro-Caribbean audience outside the limited range of the coverage from Brixton. The station was now broadcasting from Borough High Street, Borough, London.
Having previously been a minority shareholder, Capital Radio Group took full control of the station in February 2004 and moved the station's base from the target service area to the group's central studios in London's Leicester Square
Leicester Square
Leicester Square is a pedestrianised square in the West End of London, England. The Square lies within an area bound by Lisle Street, to the north; Charing Cross Road, to the east; Orange Street, to the south; and Whitcomb Street, to the west...
. The move resulted in a community march from the coverage area and their studios.
By 12 October 2004, Capital had received and implemented a merger of their FM licences, operating a service across the capital on the two frequencies and cutting back on the North London-specific music requirements. http://media.guardian.co.uk/radio/story/0,,1325562,00.html
The DAB service also became a simulcast of the London station, with the demise of local drop-ins.
Following their takeover of Choice, Capital Radio Group merged with GWR to form 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...
in 2005. Choice was flagged up as one of the key brands of the new larger network, and the station was made available to digital TV viewers via its addition to Sky (and later to 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...
).
GCap were subsequently taken over by Global Radio
Global Radio
Global Radio UK Ltd. is a British commercial radio company, the largest in the country following acquisitions of Chrysalis Radio and GCap Media.The company's Chief Executive Officer is Stephen Miron, while the Group Chairman is Charles Allen...
, who already owned the Galaxy Network of dance/urban music stations. Despite the separate music format and branding, Choice was marketed to advertisers as part of the Galaxy network for package advertising deals. In 2010 Global Radio announced http://radiotoday.co.uk/news.php?extend.6265 that the Galaxy network stations would be networked with 95.8 Capital FM, leaving Choice as a standalone brand again.
Choice reaches 480,000 listeners in London alone. http://www.mediauk.com/radio/rajar/52/choice
Supporting Global Radio's commitment to a Social Responsibility programme, Choice FM promotes social action campaigns, I Have a Choice and I Have a Choice - Music Potential.
Monday - Friday
- 0300 - 0600 KC
- 0600 - 0900 Kojo & Max
- 0900 - 1200 Jigs
- 1200 - 1600 Pandora
- 1600 - 2000 Abrantee
- 2000 - 0000 E-Plus
- 0000 - 0300 Jenny Francis
Saturday
- 0000 – 0200: Hotsteppa
- 0200 – 0400: DJ Quincy
- 0400 – 0600: Rod Azlan
- 0600 – 0900: Martin Jay
- 0900 – 1300: Eddie KadiEddie KadiEddie Kadi is a UK comedian, presenter, actor and MC.-Early life:A resident of Little Ilford School, West London since 1992, he is a past student of Fulham Primary School, Henry Compton Secondary School, William Morris Academy and Kingston University from which he graduated with BSc Honours in...
- 1300 – 1600: Pandora
- 1600 - 1900: Abrantee
- 1900 - 2200: Firin' Squad with Chris Vee, Sean Slimm & Mista Grill
- 2200 - 0000: DJ 279
Sunday
- 0000 – 0200: Afro Beats with Abrantee
- 0200 – 0400: The Gospel Show with Dave P
- 0400 – 0600: Reloaded with Dave VJ
- 0600 – 0900: Martin Jay
- 0900 – 1300: Ortis DeleyOrtis DeleyOrtis Deley is a British television presenter, radio DJ and actor of Ghanaian/Nigerian descent. He went to Ernest Bevin College in Tooting Bec, London. He is currently one of the presenters of The Gadget Show and presenter of Choice FM on Sunday mornings....
- 1300 – 1600: Jigs
- 1600 - 1900: Max
- 1900 - 2100: Jenny Francis
- 2100 - 2300: Caribbean Affair with Martin Jay
- 2300 - 0100: Reggae Chart with Natty B