Galaxy Digital
Encyclopedia
Galaxy Digital was a radio
station broadcasting through the digital platform across the United Kingdom and was owned by Global Radio
. It primarily broadcast in areas where Galaxy was not represented on FM, such as London
, Leicester
, Nottingham
, and Derbyshire
. It also formerly broadcast in Central Scotland, until the relaunch of Xfm Scotland as Galaxy Scotland
, at which point Galaxy Digital on DAB was replaced with a relay of Xfm London
.
The digital station was a 'sister' radio station to the local Galaxy Network services in various areas. The digital service was broadcast largely from the Galaxy Yorkshire
studios, and much of the content networked across the group came from this location.
Since Monday 21 January 2008, Galaxy Digital was changed from its own dedicated service (albeit with mostly network content) to broadcast almost entirely as a direct relay of Galaxy Yorkshire, though the 'Across Yorkshire' on-air tagline was replaced by 'Across the UK' on the digital service. (Online listeners to the Galaxy Digital site got a direct feed of the Yorkshire service, with the Yorkshire tagline). Since Friday 21 March 2008, the radio station changed their 'Passion for Music, Passion for Life' strap-line slogan to 'Love Music' ; the tagline changed again in 2010 to "The UK's Number One Hit Music Station" in preparation for the impending Capital relaunch (see below).
Galaxy Digital, as with the other Galaxy stations, specialised in Mainstream pop/dance/urban music with shows such as 'Hirsty's Daily Dose' in the mornings and James Barr in the evenings. Galaxy Digital often played cut-down versions of songs (usually recurrents) to fill in for all or part of the commercial break whilst the other Galaxy Stations played regional adverts.
In January 2011, Galaxy Digital ceased to operate, due to the merger of Galaxy stations into The Capital FM Network
by Global Radio.
regional DAB multiplex for Central Scotland, and on one of the London
multiplexes, whilst in the East Midlands, where no regional multiplex is available, it broadcast on the two local multiplexes for Nottingham and Leicester (Derbyshire having yet to switch on a local multiplex).
Galaxy Digital was rolled out to a number of other DAB areas in 2009, following the removal of sister station Chill. In some areas of the South of England, a relay of Galaxy South Coast was added rather than Galaxy Digital.
Galaxy Digital carriage in Central Scotland ended following the relaunch of Xfm Scotland as Galaxy Scotland
, at which point Galaxy Digital on DAB was replaced with a relay of Xfm London
.
In 2009, Galaxy Digital and Xfm London were added to the South Wales regional DAB multiplex; Galaxy took the place of sister station Choice, which moved to Xfm's previous location on the local Cardiff and Bristol multiplexes. Whereas the other MXR regional multiplexes carried Galaxy (usually the nearest local variant), Galaxy had not been available on the Severn regional multiplex, as local service Kiss 101
(ironically, formerly Galaxy 101) had been provided as the "dance" station instead.
, LBC
and Heart
, were to be sold for £170 million to Global Radio
by owners Chrysalis Group
.
Chrysalis Radio became wholly owned by Global Radio on Monday July 30, 2007 when the transaction was completed; at this point the Chrysalis name ceased to be used.
Global Radio subsequently merged with GCap Media
, owner of 95.8 Capital FM, Choice FM
, XFM
and others.
to form the new multi-station "Capital FM Network
". Galaxy Digital was replaced by Capital in most areas, except where Capital already broadcast alongside Galaxy (in London on DAB and nationally on digital TV platforms).
In November 2010, Galaxy was removed from the Sky Digital platform; its slot on channel 0112 was taken by moving LBC 97.3
from 0124 to 0112, and adding LBC News 1152
on 0124. Shortly afterward, Galaxy was removed from Virgin Media and replaced with LBC News 1152.
On DAB, Galaxy Digital was replaced with The Arrow
on DAB in London in November 2010. In January 2011, Galaxy Digital on DAB in Leicester and Nottingham was replaced by Heart Digital
(a relay of Heart 106.2 from London) - this was as a result of the rebranding of Heart East Midlands as Gem 106. Currently, DAB listeners in South Wales can receive two versions of Capital - on the MXR regional multiplex, 95.8 Capital FM (from London) has replaced Galaxy Digital, whilst the Cardiff local multiplex carries the local Capital (the former Red Dragon).
In all other areas, where there was no overlap, a Capital station (usually the London service) has
replaced Galaxy on DAB. All carriage of Galaxy as a service has ceased.
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...
station broadcasting through the digital platform across the United Kingdom and was 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...
. It primarily broadcast in areas where Galaxy was not represented on FM, such as 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...
, Leicester
Leicester
Leicester is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England, and the county town of Leicestershire. The city lies on the River Soar and at the edge of the National Forest...
, Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
, and Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
. It also formerly broadcast in Central Scotland, until the relaunch of Xfm Scotland as Galaxy Scotland
Galaxy Scotland
105-106 Capital is a regional radio station broadcasting to Scotland's Central Belt, an area surrounding the two cities of Glasgow and Edinburgh, and the kingdom of Fife...
, at which point Galaxy Digital on DAB was replaced with a relay of Xfm London
Xfm London
Xfm London is a commercial radio station in the United Kingdom owned by Global Radio and broadcasts on 104.9 FM in London, on digital radio via 30 DAB multiplexes across the country, Sky, TalkTalk TV and Virgin Media....
.
The digital station was a 'sister' radio station to the local Galaxy Network services in various areas. The digital service was broadcast largely from the Galaxy Yorkshire
Galaxy Yorkshire
Capital Yorkshire is an Independent Local Radio station owned by Global Radio as part of the nine-station Capital radio network which specialises in mainstream music...
studios, and much of the content networked across the group came from this location.
Since Monday 21 January 2008, Galaxy Digital was changed from its own dedicated service (albeit with mostly network content) to broadcast almost entirely as a direct relay of Galaxy Yorkshire, though the 'Across Yorkshire' on-air tagline was replaced by 'Across the UK' on the digital service. (Online listeners to the Galaxy Digital site got a direct feed of the Yorkshire service, with the Yorkshire tagline). Since Friday 21 March 2008, the radio station changed their 'Passion for Music, Passion for Life' strap-line slogan to 'Love Music' ; the tagline changed again in 2010 to "The UK's Number One Hit Music Station" in preparation for the impending Capital relaunch (see below).
Galaxy Digital, as with the other Galaxy stations, specialised in Mainstream pop/dance/urban music with shows such as 'Hirsty's Daily Dose' in the mornings and James Barr in the evenings. Galaxy Digital often played cut-down versions of songs (usually recurrents) to fill in for all or part of the commercial break whilst the other Galaxy Stations played regional adverts.
In January 2011, Galaxy Digital ceased to operate, due to the merger of Galaxy stations into The Capital FM Network
The Capital FM Network
Capital is a radio network of nine Independent Local Radio stations in the United Kingdom which are owned and operated by Global Radio, launching on 3 January 2011. Capital was previously known as Mix, One, Galaxy and Hit Music at various times...
by Global Radio.
Broadcast areas
Galaxy Digital was initially created by then-owner Chrysalis to broadcast in areas where Galaxy was not available on FM. As such it was provided on the Switch ScotlandSwitch Scotland
Switch Scotland is a DAB digital radio multiplex broadcasting across Scotland's Central Belt, with its coverage area encompassing major population centres such as Edinburgh and Glasgow and the surrounding area...
regional DAB multiplex for Central Scotland, and on one of the 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...
multiplexes, whilst in the East Midlands, where no regional multiplex is available, it broadcast on the two local multiplexes for Nottingham and Leicester (Derbyshire having yet to switch on a local multiplex).
Galaxy Digital was rolled out to a number of other DAB areas in 2009, following the removal of sister station Chill. In some areas of the South of England, a relay of Galaxy South Coast was added rather than Galaxy Digital.
Galaxy Digital carriage in Central Scotland ended following the relaunch of Xfm Scotland as Galaxy Scotland
Galaxy Scotland
105-106 Capital is a regional radio station broadcasting to Scotland's Central Belt, an area surrounding the two cities of Glasgow and Edinburgh, and the kingdom of Fife...
, at which point Galaxy Digital on DAB was replaced with a relay of Xfm London
Xfm London
Xfm London is a commercial radio station in the United Kingdom owned by Global Radio and broadcasts on 104.9 FM in London, on digital radio via 30 DAB multiplexes across the country, Sky, TalkTalk TV and Virgin Media....
.
In 2009, Galaxy Digital and Xfm London were added to the South Wales regional DAB multiplex; Galaxy took the place of sister station Choice, which moved to Xfm's previous location on the local Cardiff and Bristol multiplexes. Whereas the other MXR regional multiplexes carried Galaxy (usually the nearest local variant), Galaxy had not been available on the Severn regional multiplex, as local service Kiss 101
Kiss 101
Kiss 101 was a radio station in Bristol broadcasting out to South Wales and South West England playing Hip Hop, dance music and R&B. It now forms part of a national Kiss station, which also includes Kiss 105-108 and Kiss 100 and is owned by Bauer Radio.-History:The station originally started...
(ironically, formerly Galaxy 101) had been provided as the "dance" station instead.
Ownership
The Galaxy services were owned by Chrysalis Radio. On Monday 25 June 2007, it was announced that Chrysalis Radio, including the Galaxy Network, along with its sister stations The ArrowThe Arrow (radio)
The Arrow is a British digital radio station playing pop and the softer end of rock music. It broadcasts on DAB Digital Radio . It is also broadcast on TalkTalk TV and streamed online...
, LBC
LBC
LBC Radio operates two London-based radio stations, with news and talk formats. LBC was Britain's first legal commercial Independent Local Radio station, providing a service of news and information to London. It began broadcasting on 8 October 1973, a week ahead of Capital Radio...
and Heart
Heart Digital
Heart Digital was a digital radio network of stations that broadcast on DAB Digital Radio in the North East of England , the North West of England , Yorkshire , South Wales and the West of England and in Central Scotland , as part of the Heart Network...
, were to be sold for £170 million to 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...
by owners Chrysalis Group
Chrysalis Group
Chrysalis Group is a UK media company. It was founded by Chris Wright, who remains chairman and was listed the 1,000th richest person in the UK in The Times Rich List 2009...
.
Chrysalis Radio became wholly owned by Global Radio on Monday July 30, 2007 when the transaction was completed; at this point the Chrysalis name ceased to be used.
Global Radio subsequently merged with 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...
, owner of 95.8 Capital FM, Choice FM
Choice FM
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...
, 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...
and others.
Capital rebrand
In January 2011, as part of a brand relaunch, Galaxy stations across the UK were combined with London's 95.8 Capital FM and the stations of the Hit Music NetworkThe 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...
to form the new multi-station "Capital FM Network
The Capital FM Network
Capital is a radio network of nine Independent Local Radio stations in the United Kingdom which are owned and operated by Global Radio, launching on 3 January 2011. Capital was previously known as Mix, One, Galaxy and Hit Music at various times...
". Galaxy Digital was replaced by Capital in most areas, except where Capital already broadcast alongside Galaxy (in London on DAB and nationally on digital TV platforms).
Removal of Capital/Galaxy overlap
The rebrand of Galaxy and Hit Music stations as a single network lead to overlaps in those areas where Galaxy Digital was available alongside 95.8 Capital FM or a local HMN station. The areas affected were London, Nottingham, Leicester and South Wales on DAB, and on digital TV platforms. (In South Wales, Galaxy Digital is on the regional multiplex with Red Dragon - to become Capital South Wales - on the local Cardiff multiplex).In November 2010, Galaxy was removed from the Sky Digital platform; its slot on channel 0112 was taken by moving 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...
from 0124 to 0112, and adding LBC News 1152
LBC News 1152
LBC News 1152 is London's only rolling news radio station broadcasting in Greater London on AM, DAB, Sky, Virgin Media and online. The station's aim is to provide more in depth coverage of the day's news stories...
on 0124. Shortly afterward, Galaxy was removed from Virgin Media and replaced with LBC News 1152.
On DAB, Galaxy Digital was replaced with The Arrow
The Arrow (radio)
The Arrow is a British digital radio station playing pop and the softer end of rock music. It broadcasts on DAB Digital Radio . It is also broadcast on TalkTalk TV and streamed online...
on DAB in London in November 2010. In January 2011, Galaxy Digital on DAB in Leicester and Nottingham was replaced by Heart Digital
Heart Digital
Heart Digital was a digital radio network of stations that broadcast on DAB Digital Radio in the North East of England , the North West of England , Yorkshire , South Wales and the West of England and in Central Scotland , as part of the Heart Network...
(a relay of Heart 106.2 from London) - this was as a result of the rebranding of Heart East Midlands as Gem 106. Currently, DAB listeners in South Wales can receive two versions of Capital - on the MXR regional multiplex, 95.8 Capital FM (from London) has replaced Galaxy Digital, whilst the Cardiff local multiplex carries the local Capital (the former Red Dragon).
In all other areas, where there was no overlap, a Capital station (usually the London service) has
replaced Galaxy on DAB. All carriage of Galaxy as a service has ceased.
Former Galaxy Radio Stations
| Broadcast area | Pre-Capital FM branding | Post-Capital FM branding | Slogan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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... and the West Midlands West Midlands (county) The West Midlands is a metropolitan county in western central England with a 2009 estimated population of 2,638,700. It came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972, formed from parts of Staffordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire. The... |
Galaxy Birmingham | 102.2 Capital FM | Birmingham's No.1 Hit Music Station |
| Greater Manchester Greater Manchester Greater Manchester is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 2.6 million. It encompasses one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United Kingdom and comprises ten metropolitan boroughs: Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan, and the... |
Galaxy Manchester | 102 Capital FM | Manchester's No.1 Hit Music Station |
| Teesside Teesside Teesside is the name given to the conurbation in the north east of England made up of the towns of Middlesbrough, Stockton-on-Tees, Redcar, Billingham and surrounding settlements near the River Tees. It was also the name of a local government district between 1968 and 1974—the County Borough of... / Tyne and Wear Tyne and Wear Tyne and Wear is a metropolitan county in north east England around the mouths of the Rivers Tyne and Wear. It came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972... |
Galaxy North East | 105-106 Capital FM | The North East's No.1 Hit Music Station |
| Central Scotland Central Scotland Central Scotland may refer to:* Central Belt, the area of highest population density in Scotland, also known as the "Midlands" or "Scottish Midlands"* Central Lowlands, a geologically-defined area of relatively low-lying land in southern Scotland... (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... / Edinburgh Edinburgh Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area... ) |
Beat 106 / Xfm Scotland / Galaxy Scotland | 105-106 Capital FM | Scotland's No.1 Hit Music Station |
| South Coast | Power FM / Galaxy South Coast | 103.2 Capital FM | The South Coast's No.1 Hit Music Station |
| Yorkshire Yorkshire Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform... |
Galaxy Yorkshire | 105 Capital FM | Yorkshire's No.1 Hit Music Station |