Red Dragon FM
Encyclopedia
Capital South Wales is a British
independent local radio
station broadcasting from Cardiff Bay
. The station serves Cardiff
, Newport
and the surrounding areas, broadcasting to a potential audience of around 1 million people. The station is owned by Global Radio
and is part of the nine-station Capital radio network.
On 3 January 2011 the station was rebranded from Red Dragon to 97.4 & 103.2 Capital as part of a merger of owners Global Radio
's Hit Music
and Galaxy
networks to form Capital. Local programming is now restricted to breakfast & drivetime on weekdays and weekend mid-mornings.
Capital South Wales is the current media partner for Sparks in the Park
, an annual Guy Fawkes Night
firework display, arranged each year by Cardiff's local Round Table
.
The 103.2FM signal, which is the strongest of the two frequencies, comes from the transmitter at Wenallt
near Cardiff, with the 97.4FM signal transmitting from Christchurch in Newport. The signals reach as far out as the South Wales Valleys
to the north and Bridgend
and Swansea
(although only very faintly and on higher ground in the latter location) to the west, as well as unofficially covering a significant area of the West of England
to the south and east.
Simulcasting on 1305 & 1359khz AM ended in 1990 with the launch of Touch AM. The frequencies are now part of the Gold network.
Capital South Wales also broadcasts on the NOW Cardiff & Newport DAB
multiplex. The station can also be heard live via its website or on its iPhone/Android application. Other stations owned by Global Radio can also be streamed. Both require a WiFi, 3G, EDGE or GPRS connection.
, London
. The station syndicates the networked UK chart show, The Vodafone Big Top 40 each Sunday, produced by Global Radio
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
independent local radio
Independent Local Radio
Independent Local Radio is the collective name given to commercial radio stations in the United Kingdom. The same name is used for Independent Local Radio in Ireland.-Development of ILR:...
station broadcasting from Cardiff Bay
Cardiff Bay
Cardiff Bay is the area created by the Cardiff Barrage in South Cardiff, the capital of Wales. The regeneration of Cardiff Bay is now widely regarded as one of the most successful regeneration projects in the United Kingdom. The Bay is supplied by two rivers to form a freshwater lake round the...
. The station serves Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
, Newport
Newport
Newport is a city and unitary authority area in Wales. Standing on the banks of the River Usk, it is located about east of Cardiff and is the largest urban area within the historic county boundaries of Monmouthshire and the preserved county of Gwent...
and the surrounding areas, broadcasting to a potential audience of around 1 million people. The station is owned 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...
and is part of the nine-station Capital radio network.
History
The station originally took to the air in Cardiff only. Known as CBC (Cardiff Broadcasting Company), the station launched in April 1980 on 221 metres medium wave (1359 kHz AM) and 96.0 VHF. Following the closure of neighbouring Gwent Broadcasting (GB Radio) in April 1985 CBC began relaying its service as a temporary measure to southern Gwent on 104 VHF and 230 metres medium wave (1305khz). This became permanent when CBC re-launched as Red Dragon Radio in October 1985. Initially there were separate drivetime shows for Glamorgan and Gwent but these were dropped for a single service by the early nineties.On 3 January 2011 the station was rebranded from Red Dragon to 97.4 & 103.2 Capital as part of a merger of owners 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...
's Hit Music
The Hit Music Network
The Hit Music Network was a collection of five Independent Local Radio stations operating in the United Kingdom and owned by Global Radio. Created in September 2008, the stations were formerly owned by GCap Media prior to its takeover by Global and, with the exception of 95.8 Capital FM, were all...
and Galaxy
The Galaxy Network
The Galaxy Network was a radio station brand owned by Global Radio and broadcast across the British Isles on FM in regional areas of England and Scotland, through the digital platform with Sky and DAB and online respectively. The Galaxy Network included stations: Galaxy Birmingham, Galaxy...
networks to form Capital. Local programming is now restricted to breakfast & drivetime on weekdays and weekend mid-mornings.
Capital South Wales is the current media partner for Sparks in the Park
Sparks in the Park
Sparks in the Park is an annual fireworks display held each year on or around Guy Fawkes Night in Cardiff, Wales.The event takes place in Cooper's Field in Bute Park, behind Cardiff Castle...
, an annual Guy Fawkes Night
Guy Fawkes Night
Guy Fawkes Night, also known as Guy Fawkes Day, Bonfire Night and Firework Night, is an annual commemoration observed on 5 November, primarily in England. Its history begins with the events of 5 November 1605, when Guy Fawkes, a member of the Gunpowder Plot, was arrested while guarding...
firework display, arranged each year by Cardiff's local Round Table
Round Table (club)
Round Table is a social networking and charitable organisation for men in their 20s, 30s and early 40s, founded in Norwich, England, in 1927. It is open to all men aged between 18 and 45...
.
Coverage area
Initially, CBC broadcast to Cardiff on 96.0FM and Newport on 104.0FM. These switched to 103.2FM and 97.4FM respectively in 1987 following a national reorganisation of UK FM frequencies.The 103.2FM signal, which is the strongest of the two frequencies, comes from the transmitter at Wenallt
Wenallt Hill
Wenallt Hill is a hill located in Cardiff, Wales.The residents of Cardiff refer to it as a mountain, though its height restricts it from being declared a mountain...
near Cardiff, with the 97.4FM signal transmitting from Christchurch in Newport. The signals reach as far out as the South Wales Valleys
South Wales Valleys
The South Wales Valleys are a number of industrialised valleys in South Wales, stretching from eastern Carmarthenshire in the west to western Monmouthshire in the east and from the Heads of the Valleys in the north to the lower-lying, pastoral country of the Vale of Glamorgan and the coastal plain...
to the north and Bridgend
Bridgend
Bridgend is a town in the Bridgend County Borough in Wales, west of the capital, Cardiff. The river crossed by the original bridge, which gave the town its name, is the River Ogmore but the River Ewenny also passes to the south of the town...
and Swansea
Swansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
(although only very faintly and on higher ground in the latter location) to the west, as well as unofficially covering a significant area of the West of England
West of England
The West of England is a loose and locationally unspecific term sometimes given to the area surrounding the city and county of Bristol, England, and also sometimes applied more widely and in other parts of South West England.-Use in the Bristol area:...
to the south and east.
Simulcasting on 1305 & 1359khz AM ended in 1990 with the launch of Touch AM. The frequencies are now part of the Gold network.
Capital South Wales also broadcasts on the NOW Cardiff & Newport 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....
multiplex. The station can also be heard live via its website or on its iPhone/Android application. Other stations owned by Global Radio can also be streamed. Both require a WiFi, 3G, EDGE or GPRS connection.
Music policy
Capital South Wales plays current chart and contemporary popular hits. As well as carrying networked programming from Capital studios in Leicester SquareLeicester 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...
, 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...
. The station syndicates the networked UK chart show, The Vodafone Big Top 40 each Sunday, produced 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...
.
Monday–Friday
| Time | Main presenter(s) | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 0300 – 0600 | Will Cozens Will Cozens Will Cozens is a British radio presenter and DJ currently employed by Global Radio as a presenter on The Capital FM Network.Cozens was spotted by the Bauer Radio owned Kiss 100 in 2005, after featuring on Channel 4's Soundclash, originally he presented early breakfast but was later moved to... |
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... , 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... |
| 0600 – 1000 | Capital Breakfast: Sally Bailey & Kam Kelly | Cardiff Bay Cardiff Bay Cardiff Bay is the area created by the Cardiff Barrage in South Cardiff, the capital of Wales. The regeneration of Cardiff Bay is now widely regarded as one of the most successful regeneration projects in the United Kingdom. The Bay is supplied by two rivers to form a freshwater lake round the... |
| 1000 – 1300 | Roberto/Neil Williams | 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... , 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... |
| 1300 – 1600 | The Bassman/James Bassam | |
| 1600 – 1900 | Leigh Jones | Cardiff Bay Cardiff Bay Cardiff Bay is the area created by the Cardiff Barrage in South Cardiff, the capital of Wales. The regeneration of Cardiff Bay is now widely regarded as one of the most successful regeneration projects in the United Kingdom. The Bay is supplied by two rivers to form a freshwater lake round the... |
| 1900 – 2300 | Rich Clarke Richard Clarke (radio personality) Richard "Rich" Clarke is a British radio presenter and DJ from Worcester, England currently employed by Global Radio as a presenter on Capital FM and The Vodafone Big Top 40.-Student radio:... |
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... , 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... |
| 2300 – 0300 | James Barr | |
Friday variation
| Time | Main presenter(s) | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 2300 – 0200 | Andi Durrant Andi Durrant Andrew "Andi" Richard Durrant is a radio presenter, DJ and music producer from the UK and one half of Riley & Durrant team.... |
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... , 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... |
Saturday
| Time | Main presenter(s) | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 0200 – 0500 | Mash/Martyn Henderson | Glasgow Glasgow Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands... |
| 0500 – 0800 | Margherita Taylor Margherita Taylor Margherita Taylor is a British broadcaster, TV and radio presenter.Taylor studied media and communications at the University of Central England, majoring in video production for her degree. She found fame in 1993 when Birmingham based radio station BRMB offered her a slot as a DJ as part of a... |
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... , 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... |
| 0800 – 1200 | Leigh Jones | Cardiff Bay Cardiff Bay Cardiff Bay is the area created by the Cardiff Barrage in South Cardiff, the capital of Wales. The regeneration of Cardiff Bay is now widely regarded as one of the most successful regeneration projects in the United Kingdom. The Bay is supplied by two rivers to form a freshwater lake round the... |
| 1200 – 1600 | The Bassman/James Bassam | 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... , 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... |
| 1600 – 1900 | Luke Smith | |
| 1900 – 2300 | James Barr | |
| 2300 – 0200 | Andi Durrant Andi Durrant Andrew "Andi" Richard Durrant is a radio presenter, DJ and music producer from the UK and one half of Riley & Durrant team.... |
|
Sunday
| Time | Main presenter(s) | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 0200 – 0500 | Sacha Brooks Sacha Brooks Sacha Brooks is a British radio presenter and DJ from Nottingham, England. She is currently employed by Global Radio.Sacha's radio career started on the pirate radio station Globe 107.7fm in Nottingham, she went on to launch Choice 102.2 in Birmingham. She relocated to Japan where she spent three... |
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... |
| 0500 – 0800 | Margherita Taylor Margherita Taylor Margherita Taylor is a British broadcaster, TV and radio presenter.Taylor studied media and communications at the University of Central England, majoring in video production for her degree. She found fame in 1993 when Birmingham based radio station BRMB offered her a slot as a DJ as part of a... |
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... , 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... |
| 0800 – 1200 | Matt Lissack | Cardiff Bay Cardiff Bay Cardiff Bay is the area created by the Cardiff Barrage in South Cardiff, the capital of Wales. The regeneration of Cardiff Bay is now widely regarded as one of the most successful regeneration projects in the United Kingdom. The Bay is supplied by two rivers to form a freshwater lake round the... |
| 1200 – 1600 | Will Cozens Will Cozens Will Cozens is a British radio presenter and DJ currently employed by Global Radio as a presenter on The Capital FM Network.Cozens was spotted by the Bauer Radio owned Kiss 100 in 2005, after featuring on Channel 4's Soundclash, originally he presented early breakfast but was later moved to... |
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... , 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... |
| 1600 – 1900 | The Vodafone Big Top 40: Rich Clarke Richard Clarke (radio personality) Richard "Rich" Clarke is a British radio presenter and DJ from Worcester, England currently employed by Global Radio as a presenter on Capital FM and The Vodafone Big Top 40.-Student radio:... & Kat Shoob Kat Shoob Katherine 'Kat' Shoob is a British radio presenter on The Vodafone Big Top 40.Shoob modelled for Maxim in September 2006.Shoob presented The Mint, a phone-in quiz that was shown on ITV1 and ITV2... |
|
| 1900 – 2300 | Luke Smith | |
| 2300 – 0300 | James Barr | |
Capital Report news team
- Steve Francis
- Elliw Hughes (also broadcast journalist for Heart Cymru)
- Tim John (Head of News)
Past presenters
- Scott Hughes (credited Scott London)
- Bill Everatt - 1986 to 1988 (now with Celtica RadioCeltica RadioCeltica Radio International is an independent commercial radio station which uses the Internet as its transmission platform broadcasting in both MP3 and Real Media formats. The station has its head office based in Bridgend, Wales, and provides a broad mix of programming available worldwide in...
) - Darren Lee - (now with BRMBBrmbbrmb is a local radio station based in Birmingham, UK, owned and operated by Orion Media. The station broadcasts on 96.4 FM, DAB Digital Radio in the West Midlands and online...
) - Tony Scott
- Chris Blumer
- Chris Moore
- Dave Brookes
- Warren Moore
- Charlie Power
- Jason Harrold (now with Real Radio Wales)
- Matthew Rosser
- Mark Powell
- Niall Foster
- Kevin Hughes
- Mark Collins