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Core (radio station)
Encyclopedia
Core was a digital radio station broadcasting across the UK
on the Digital One
and streamed online. It was aimed at 16- to 24-year-olds with a focus on new music.
. It was launched on the Digital One
multiplex on 15 November 1999 at 1pm (GMT), alongside four other stations, Planet Rock
, Classic FM
, Talk Radio (now TalkSport
) and Virgin Radio (now Absolute Radio), with other stations joining the multiplex in the following months.
The station gradually built up the schedule over the years, to include more DJs and shows. In August 2006, a breakfast show was introduced, presented by Allan Lake
, previously from Capital Disney. However, as of 31 March 2007, the station changed to a jukebox format, known by the station as "Access All Areas." This involves the DJs, apart from Ryan Seacrest, who presents the American Top 40
, being removed from the station, and the only voice appearing on the station will be the listeners. To encourage interaction, the station used their MySpace account, a new MySpace discussion group, Skype, SMS text, online and a phone message machine to take requests and get audio clips to add to the stations output.
The presenter lineup prior to the changes was Allan Lake
, Nicola Bonn, Sophie Bruce, Philippa Collins
, Nick Ludlow, Tim Cocker, Ben Moss, Val Mellon, Sally Hudson, Ben Glover and Kevin Hughes. The syndicated American Top 40
with Ryan Seacrest
was broadcast as part of the weekend line-up.
and Virgin Media
on 3 July 2007, with other GCap stations Capital Disney
, Chill (radio station)
and Classic Gold Digital Network
. This speculated as a reference to GCap Media ceasing to invest in the brand, and cutting costs.
In January 2008, it was announced on the website and in email to listeners, that the station was to close on 11 January 2008.
The station closed at 23:59 on 11 January 2008. The final song to play on the station was "So Long & Thanks For All The Fish" by Hilary Summers
, Kemi Omniyi & The R'svp Voices. The online stream continued to play until 01:07am where the final song was Hey There Delilah by The Plain White T's. The DAB station was replaced with BFBS.
. The station relaunched its website in late 2006 with extra content, a music download service and information on currently playing and upcoming tracks. This aspects will be the basis of the station after the presenters are removed.
The station won three awards for its interactivity :
The ten competed in a variety of tasks to demonstrate their presenting skills, whilst gathering friends on MySpace
. Each week, the two contestants with the least friends went head-to-head in a challenge to keep their place. Core's Programme Manager, Bern Leckie, decided who stayed in the competition based on their performance.
The two finalists were Will Goodhand and Matt Treacy. They each broadcast a two hour show, appealing for listener votes to decide the winner.
Will, a contestant in the UK series of Beauty and the Geek (UK TV series)
and a market research account manager, won. In January 2007 he began presenting a short-lived Monday night show, which was removed in March due the axing of presenters.
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...
and streamed online. It was aimed at 16- to 24-year-olds with a focus on new music.
Station history
Core was originally owned by GWR Group, now 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...
. It was launched 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...
multiplex on 15 November 1999 at 1pm (GMT), alongside four other stations, 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...
, 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:...
, Talk Radio (now TalkSport
TalkSPORT
Talksport , owned by UTV radio, is one of the United Kingdom's three terrestrial analogue Independent National Radio broadcasters, offering a sports and talk radio service broadcast from London to the United Kingdom....
) and Virgin Radio (now Absolute Radio), with other stations joining the multiplex in the following months.
The station gradually built up the schedule over the years, to include more DJs and shows. In August 2006, a breakfast show was introduced, presented by Allan Lake
Allan Lake
Allan Lake is a British disc jockey.-Career:Lake has been doing radio for the last 10 years. He started his radio career at Isle of Wight Radio, working as the teaboy on the Saturday sports show and as producer for the station's veteran phone-in presenter Alex Dyke...
, previously from Capital Disney. However, as of 31 March 2007, the station changed to a jukebox format, known by the station as "Access All Areas." This involves the DJs, apart from Ryan Seacrest, who presents the American Top 40
American Top 40
American Top 40 is an internationally syndicated, independent radio program created by Casey Kasem, Don Bustany, Tom Rounds and Ron Jacobs. Originally a production of Watermark Inc...
, being removed from the station, and the only voice appearing on the station will be the listeners. To encourage interaction, the station used their MySpace account, a new MySpace discussion group, Skype, SMS text, online and a phone message machine to take requests and get audio clips to add to the stations output.
The presenter lineup prior to the changes was Allan Lake
Allan Lake
Allan Lake is a British disc jockey.-Career:Lake has been doing radio for the last 10 years. He started his radio career at Isle of Wight Radio, working as the teaboy on the Saturday sports show and as producer for the station's veteran phone-in presenter Alex Dyke...
, Nicola Bonn, Sophie Bruce, Philippa Collins
Philippa Collins
Philippa Collins is a British DJ and voice-over artist-History:Philippa's first full-time presenting job was in 2002, where she hosted evenings at 96.4 The Eagle. Less than a year later, she moved to 97.6 Chiltern FM in Dunstable to present mid mornings...
, Nick Ludlow, Tim Cocker, Ben Moss, Val Mellon, Sally Hudson, Ben Glover and Kevin Hughes. The syndicated American Top 40
American Top 40
American Top 40 is an internationally syndicated, independent radio program created by Casey Kasem, Don Bustany, Tom Rounds and Ron Jacobs. Originally a production of Watermark Inc...
with Ryan Seacrest
Ryan Seacrest
Ryan John Seacrest is an American radio personality, television host, network producer and voice actor. He is the host of On Air with Ryan Seacrest, a nationally syndicated Top 40 radio show that airs on KIIS-FM in Los Angeles and throughout the United States and Canada on Premiere Radio Networks,...
was broadcast as part of the weekend line-up.
Closure
The station left Sky DigitalSky Digital (UK & Ireland)
Sky is the brand name for British Sky Broadcasting's digital satellite television and radio service, transmitted from SES Astra satellites located at 28.2° east and Eutelsat's Eurobird 1 satellite at 28.5°E. The service was originally launched as Sky Digital, distinguishing it from the original...
and 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...
on 3 July 2007, with other GCap stations 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...
, Chill (radio station)
Chill (radio station)
Chill is a British digital radio station dedicated to chill out, ambient and trip-hop music.-The station:Chill is broadcast on DAB in London and Birmingham, across the UK on Sky channel 0177 and also online. The station's aim is to help listeners relax. It is owned by Global Radio...
and Classic Gold Digital Network
Classic Gold Digital Network
Classic Gold Digital Network was one of the biggest 'gold' formatted radio networks in the United Kingdom, with a potential audience of 47 million. Classic Gold was broadcast on analogue and DAB digital platforms, as well as Sky channel 0189.-History:...
. This speculated as a reference to GCap Media ceasing to invest in the brand, and cutting costs.
In January 2008, it was announced on the website and in email to listeners, that the station was to close on 11 January 2008.
The station closed at 23:59 on 11 January 2008. The final song to play on the station was "So Long & Thanks For All The Fish" by Hilary Summers
Hilary Summers
Hilary Summers is a Welsh contralto. She was trained at Reading University, the Royal Academy of Music, and the National Opera Studio in London. She has performed on soundtracks such as The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, The Libertine, and The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy...
, Kemi Omniyi & The R'svp Voices. The online stream continued to play until 01:07am where the final song was Hey There Delilah by The Plain White T's. The DAB station was replaced with BFBS.
Interactivity
The station had been seen as highly interactive and listener-led with the website, SMS and phone calls all used for requests. This helped to create the CoreControl Chart which was made up from the most requested songs each day. Core was one of the UK's first radio stations with a presence on MySpaceMySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
. The station relaunched its website in late 2006 with extra content, a music download service and information on currently playing and upcoming tracks. This aspects will be the basis of the station after the presenters are removed.
The station won three awards for its interactivity :
| Date | Award |
|---|---|
| June 2001 | The ntl New Media Award |
| June 2003 | The ntl Commercial Radio Technical Innovation Award |
| July 2004 | The ntl Commercial Radio Award for Technical Innovation (Creation New Platforms) |
A Face For Radio
"A Face For Radio" was launched in spring 2006 with the aim to find a new presenter for the station. Friends of possible candidates made nominations, which were then reduced to a final ten.The ten competed in a variety of tasks to demonstrate their presenting skills, whilst gathering friends on MySpace
MySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
. Each week, the two contestants with the least friends went head-to-head in a challenge to keep their place. Core's Programme Manager, Bern Leckie, decided who stayed in the competition based on their performance.
The two finalists were Will Goodhand and Matt Treacy. They each broadcast a two hour show, appealing for listener votes to decide the winner.
Will, a contestant in the UK series of Beauty and the Geek (UK TV series)
Beauty and the Geek (UK TV series)
Beauty and the Geek is a reality television show, first aired in the United Kingdom on E4 on February 7, 2006, following the success of the format in the United States, and was advertised similarly as "the Ultimate Social Experiment". The first series ended on 14 March, and was repeated on...
and a market research account manager, won. In January 2007 he began presenting a short-lived Monday night show, which was removed in March due the axing of presenters.