Capital Disney
Encyclopedia
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 (in selected areas). 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 2007.
PLC (previously Capital Radio
PLC before the company merged with GWR Group PLC) and was based at GCap Media's London offices in Leicester Square
.
The station broadcast twenty four hours a day with a series of presenter and music led programming. It was originally launched as Cube, but Capital Radio and the Walt Disney Company struck a deal in February 2002 which allowed Capital Radio
to manage a British Radio service under the Disney Brand, similar to Radio Disney
in the United States. The station launched on Digital Radio and Online, with DTV following later (directly replacing Cube). The station launched officially on 12 October 2002, having soft launched the month before on 16 September 2002.
format to provide a radio station specifically aimed at children and teenagers.
In 1998 the Capital Radio Group announced plans to launch a kids-only format radio station, bidding for the North East England FM licence (which was won by Galaxy 105-106). Called Fun Radio it was to be a pop station aimed at 8-16 year olds. Despite this failure Capital still had hopes of launching this station, at the time a brand new format for an underserved audience.
The station aired in 2001 under the name of Cube (the name originally chosen for Century London
) in several regional areas of England
and Wales
with a purely new pop music format aimed at young teens. It was seen as a competitor to GWR Group's
Core (radio station)
, which launched two years earlier. Because Cube was on DAB, at the time very few people listened to the service. Cube was noted for its high tempo music-driven formula, coupled with live DJs (A rarity for digital radio- most were voicetracked) and humorous and informative short clips in between the music (Such as 'How Does a Piano Work?') designed to create a learning environment, possibly to curb outside criticism that Cube was just a mindless music station. It shared studio space with Life
and Century London
and shared Kevin Palmer
as the senior manager.
Cube closed down in 2001, only to re-launch as Capital Disney, events included a day of broadcasting from Birmingham and also the start of broadcasting via Free to Air satellite, taking an EPG slot on Sky Digital. The name was chosen as it is a station operated by Capital Radio
and co-owned with Disney
UK. This co-operation revealed itself on-air with promotions such as Disney on Ice
and promotions for the Disney Channel
on television. The jingles at the time of re-launch simply sang the new station's name before changing in 2004, adding the new slogan which stayed with the station to its final days Your Music, Your Way!.
Overnight, Capital Disney played non-stop hits, however previously to this overnight was the home of non-stop chillout music. This ceased in 2003 and now this type of music can be heard on sister station Chill
.
, Andrew Rendle, known as Radio Rendle, Adam O'Neill, Saffron Oddy and Sophie Bruce. Previous presenters on the station have included Allan Lake
, Tim Lichfield, known as Tiger Tim, Korry Denison, Andy Kench, Dan Marsh, Kelli Nelson, Will Chambers, Carl Carter and Gema Ensenat.
Digital Radio station of the year award.
In 2005, the station was nominated for and won the Sony
Radio Academy award 'Digital Terrestrial Radio Station' of the year, against BBC
6 Music and BBC 7. The judges noted that,
"Capital Disney gave every appearance of filling a genuine gap in the market with a professional and entertaining service directly meeting the needs of an under-served audience."
In 2006, Capital Disney was nominated for the Sony
Radio Academy 'Digital Terrestrial Radio Station Of The Year' award. Planet Rock, another GCap Media
station, was presented with the award. The judges noted that, "Capital Disney continues to be warm, funny and inventive without ever patronising its target audience. It was a station of great charm."
A number of petitions were started by fans of the station arguing against its closure but these were ultimately unsuccessful.
The station started to leave DAB multiplexes across the UK on 28 June, in most areas being replaced with Traffic Radio
or XFM
. The last DAB MUX to lose Capital Disney was London CE Digital, with the station being switched off shortly after 1pm on 29 June. In an unintentional move, the final song played by Capital Disney on this DAB MUX was McFly (one of the core Capital Disney artists) singing 'Don't Stop Me Now'.
Due to an operational freeze at Sky
, the station remained on air until 3 July, however, with the original name of 'Cube', as the Walt Disney Company had agreed with GCap Media to only contract their name until 29 June.
The website remained for a short time after presenters were taken off air, but this too was closed on 29 June 2007, replaced by a message and redirect to London's Capital Radio website.
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...
radio station
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
aimed at 8 to 16 year olds which used to broadcast across the UK on DAB Digital Radio (in selected areas). It was also broadcast on Sky Digital
Sky 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...
, Tiscali 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 streaming online. The station announced on 14 May 2007 that it would close down on 29 June 2007.
About Capital Disney
Capital Disney 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...
PLC (previously Capital Radio
Capital Radio
Capital London is a London based radio station which launched on 16 October 1973 and is owned by Global Radio. On 3 January 2011 it formed part of the nine station Capital radio network.- Pre-launch :...
PLC before the company merged with GWR Group PLC) and was based at GCap Media's London offices in 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 station broadcast twenty four hours a day with a series of presenter and music led programming. It was originally launched as Cube, but Capital Radio and the Walt Disney Company struck a deal in February 2002 which allowed Capital Radio
Capital Radio
Capital London is a London based radio station which launched on 16 October 1973 and is owned by Global Radio. On 3 January 2011 it formed part of the nine station Capital radio network.- Pre-launch :...
to manage a British Radio service under the Disney Brand, similar to Radio Disney
Radio Disney
Radio Disney is a radio network based in Burbank, California and headquartered out of the Disney Channel headquarters on West Alameda Ave., from where it has been based since November 2008. Prior to that, the network was based in Dallas, Texas...
in the United States. The station launched on Digital Radio and Online, with DTV following later (directly replacing Cube). The station launched officially on 12 October 2002, having soft launched the month before on 16 September 2002.
The Concept
Capital Disney was one of the first radio stations in the country to use the newly developed Digital radio (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....
format to provide a radio station specifically aimed at children and teenagers.
In 1998 the Capital Radio Group announced plans to launch a kids-only format radio station, bidding for the North East England FM licence (which was won by Galaxy 105-106). Called Fun Radio it was to be a pop station aimed at 8-16 year olds. Despite this failure Capital still had hopes of launching this station, at the time a brand new format for an underserved audience.
The station aired in 2001 under the name of Cube (the name originally chosen for 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...
) in several regional areas of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
with a purely new pop music format aimed at young teens. It was seen as a competitor to GWR Group's
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...
Core (radio station)
Core (radio station)
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.-Station history:Core was originally owned by GWR Group, now GCap Media...
, which launched two years earlier. Because Cube was on DAB, at the time very few people listened to the service. Cube was noted for its high tempo music-driven formula, coupled with live DJs (A rarity for digital radio- most were voicetracked) and humorous and informative short clips in between the music (Such as 'How Does a Piano Work?') designed to create a learning environment, possibly to curb outside criticism that Cube was just a mindless music station. It shared studio space with Life
Capital Life
Capital Life, also known as Life, was a digital radio station broadcasting across the UK on the Digital One network and streamed online.-About:...
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...
and shared Kevin Palmer
Kevin 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....
as the senior manager.
Cube closed down in 2001, only to re-launch as Capital Disney, events included a day of broadcasting from Birmingham and also the start of broadcasting via Free to Air satellite, taking an EPG slot on Sky Digital. The name was chosen as it is a station operated by Capital Radio
Capital Radio
Capital London is a London based radio station which launched on 16 October 1973 and is owned by Global Radio. On 3 January 2011 it formed part of the nine station Capital radio network.- Pre-launch :...
and co-owned with Disney
The Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company is the largest media conglomerate in the world in terms of revenue. Founded on October 16, 1923, by Walt and Roy Disney as the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio, Walt Disney Productions established itself as a leader in the American animation industry before diversifying into...
UK. This co-operation revealed itself on-air with promotions such as Disney on Ice
Disney on Ice
Disney On Ice is a touring ice show produced by Feld Entertainment under agreement with The Walt Disney Company. Aimed primarily at children, the shows feature figure skaters dressed as Disney cartoon characters in performances that each derive their music and plot from elements collected from...
and promotions for the Disney Channel
Disney Channel (UK)
Disney Channel is a children's entertainment channel available in the United Kingdom and Ireland since 1 October 1995. A one hour timeshift service called Disney Channel +1 is available on Sky and Virgin Media...
on television. The jingles at the time of re-launch simply sang the new station's name before changing in 2004, adding the new slogan which stayed with the station to its final days Your Music, Your Way!.
The Playlist
Capital Disney played a range of chart music and new acts. Originally, talking story books could be heard often during school hours, but were replaced by non-stop music from 9am until 1pm and then a DJ, James Beckingham, from 1-4pm, under the name of "Daytime". They also played artists that didn't get any airplay on mainstream radio such as The Lovebites and album tracks from artists that appear on the playlist.Overnight, Capital Disney played non-stop hits, however previously to this overnight was the home of non-stop chillout music. This ceased in 2003 and now this type of music can be heard on sister station Chill
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...
.
Presenters
The final line up of presenters at closure was Adam Morris, known on air as The General, James Beckingham, Matt James, Val Mellon, Leigh Purves, Nigel MitchellNigel Mitchell
Nigel Mitchell is a British television presenter. Nigel is also known for his radio presenting and voiceover work. Nigel is represented by Wise Buddah Talent Management.-Nickelodeon:...
, Andrew Rendle, known as Radio Rendle, Adam O'Neill, Saffron Oddy and Sophie Bruce. Previous presenters on the station have included 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...
, Tim Lichfield, known as Tiger Tim, Korry Denison, Andy Kench, Dan Marsh, Kelli Nelson, Will Chambers, Carl Carter and Gema Ensenat.
Awards
In 2004, the station won the NTLNTL Ireland
NTL Communications Limited was a cable television and Multichannel Multipoint Distribution Service company in the Republic of Ireland. As of 2005 it was owned by Liberty Global Europe , having been divested by NTL...
Digital Radio station of the year award.
In 2005, the station was nominated for and won the Sony
Sony
, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....
Radio Academy award 'Digital Terrestrial Radio Station' of the year, against 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...
6 Music and BBC 7. The judges noted that,
"Capital Disney gave every appearance of filling a genuine gap in the market with a professional and entertaining service directly meeting the needs of an under-served audience."
In 2006, Capital Disney was nominated for the Sony
Sony
, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....
Radio Academy 'Digital Terrestrial Radio Station Of The Year' award. Planet Rock, another 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...
station, was presented with the award. The judges noted that, "Capital Disney continues to be warm, funny and inventive without ever patronising its target audience. It was a station of great charm."
Closure
It was announced on air on 14 May 2007 that Capital Disney would close down on 29 June 2007. The last presenter led show was broadcast on 1 June. For the remainder of the 28 days of Capital Disney, the station played continuous music. A statement on the Capital Disney website told that 'both parties (GCap Media and The Walt Disney Company) had agreed to pursue their interests individually.'A number of petitions were started by fans of the station arguing against its closure but these were ultimately unsuccessful.
The station started to leave DAB multiplexes across the UK on 28 June, in most areas being replaced with Traffic Radio
Traffic Radio
Traffic Radio was a digital radio station based in England.It was a 24 hour rolling traffic and travel service for motorways and major roads in England, run for the Highways Agency by Global Traffic Network....
or XFM
Xfm
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...
. The last DAB MUX to lose Capital Disney was London CE Digital, with the station being switched off shortly after 1pm on 29 June. In an unintentional move, the final song played by Capital Disney on this DAB MUX was McFly (one of the core Capital Disney artists) singing 'Don't Stop Me Now'.
Due to an operational freeze at Sky
Sky
The sky is the part of the atmosphere or outer space visible from the surface of any astronomical object. It is difficult to define precisely for several reasons. During daylight, the sky of Earth has the appearance of a pale blue surface because the air scatters the sunlight. The sky is sometimes...
, the station remained on air until 3 July, however, with the original name of 'Cube', as the Walt Disney Company had agreed with GCap Media to only contract their name until 29 June.
The website remained for a short time after presenters were taken off air, but this too was closed on 29 June 2007, replaced by a message and redirect to London's Capital Radio website.