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The new Virgin Radio UK
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tt1986
04-04-2015
I'm excited that Virgin Radio is set to return to the UK. The target audience is apparently 24-49 year olds with a slight male-skew, which sounds pretty ideal for all those lost souls in the Radio 1 - Radio 2 crossover period like myself...

I haven't heard any of Virgin Radio's output, but does anyone have any fond memories?

I've also heard that Virgin are trying to woo Chris Moyles back on to Radio to present the breakfast show.. Though I've only seen a report on this from the Daily Star, so not exactly the most reliable of sources. Anyone else heard anything?
DiandalScotland
04-04-2015
The Virgin radio brand is exactly that, A brand licenced out and all this new uk Virgin will be is another same old story of a pop/rock station which we have many of already.

Ive had dab since nearly day one when we had more choice of type of music.
Im dissapointed that Listen2Digital didnt win as they had more choice.
Do we really need Virgin Radio, another pop/rock station ? Just because of the name ?

We need more choice, like Reggae, Country, Techno, News, Not yet another sameo.

I used to stick up for dab but now i mostly listen to internet radio at home and in car with my unlimited internet from giffgaff. Decades Radio and Scotland69am mostly.
Charlie
04-04-2015
Originally Posted by tt1986:
“
I've also heard that Virgin are trying to woo Chris Moyles back on to Radio to present the breakfast show.. Though I've only seen a report on this from the Daily Star, so not exactly the most reliable of sources. Anyone else heard anything?”

I really hope not, for me personally, that would be as bad as COC on Absolute.
omnidirectional
04-04-2015
If the new Virgin has a similar playlist to Absolute, but doesn't have relentless breakfast show promos and annoying voiceovers, they might be on to a winner.
swb1964
04-04-2015
It will be interesting to see if this succeeds. AFAIK Absolute isn't particularly profitable so they would be pretty silly to compete head on with them.

There might be a niche in the market for a male version of Heart though. Playing pop and urban as well as guitar music. Blokey presenters and a bit of football and car related chit chat?
FM Lover
04-04-2015
Johnny Vaughan would be a good choice for a presenter if this takes off.
suffolkblue
04-04-2015
Never liked the original Virgin as it was to Male orientated. But if this is a mix of pop and rock with no R&B rubbish i might give it a try. When is it due to launch.
Colin_London
04-04-2015
Originally Posted by suffolkblue:
“Never liked the original Virgin as it was to Male orientated. But if this is a mix of pop and rock with no R&B rubbish i might give it a try. When is it due to launch.”

Some date yet TBA between October and March.
connor the judg
04-04-2015
Originally Posted by tt1986:
“I'm excited that Virgin Radio is set to return to the UK. The target audience is apparently 24-49 year olds with a slight male-skew, which sounds pretty ideal for all those lost souls in the Radio 1 - Radio 2 crossover period like myself...

I haven't heard any of Virgin Radio's output, but does anyone have any fond memories?

I've also heard that Virgin are trying to woo Chris Moyles back on to Radio to present the breakfast show.. Though I've only seen a report on this from the Daily Star, so not exactly the most reliable of sources. Anyone else heard anything?”

Nick Abbot and Chris Moyles from Virgin Radio in 1994

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7E5Lz6j-yM
Radiogram
04-04-2015
Originally Posted by suffolkblue:
“Never liked the original Virgin as it was to Male orientated. But if this is a mix of pop and rock with no R&B rubbish i might give it a try. When is it due to launch.”


Seeing as you are a bloke wouldn't that have been a good thing?
gardensleeper
04-04-2015
Originally Posted by swb1964:
“There might be a niche in the market for a male version of Heart though. Playing pop and urban as well as guitar music. Blokey presenters and a bit of football and car related chit chat?”

Sounds like XFM to me.

As an earlier poster has said, what's really disappointing is the lack of genuine choice on DAB.
swb1964
05-04-2015
Originally Posted by gardensleeper:
“Sounds like XFM to me.

As an earlier poster has said, what's really disappointing is the lack of genuine choice on DAB.”

Hmmmm do XFM play much pop and urban? They aren't even on DAB where I live so I haven't really listened to them that much....
Passengers
05-04-2015
The original Virgin was great. Not sure it was commercially viable though. As a DAB only channel I don't think you should expect big names.
tt1986
05-04-2015
Originally Posted by Passengers:
“The original Virgin was great. Not sure it was commercially viable though. As a DAB only channel I don't think you should expect big names.”

I don't think Chris Moyles can be called a big name these days..
suffolkblue
05-04-2015
Originally Posted by Radiogram:
“Seeing as you are a bloke wouldn't that have been a good thing?”

It would have bern yes. But unfortunately i cant stand rock music and it was all they played. Not all men like guitar based music i enjoy lots of pop music too.
Dancc
05-04-2015
Originally Posted by tt1986:
“I don't think Chris Moyles can be called a big name these days..”

Whatever you think of Moyles I can assure you him signing anywhere would generate a fair bit of interest in the media etc and that could only be a good thing for a "new" station like Virgin.
tt1986
05-04-2015
Originally Posted by Dancc:
“Whatever you think of Moyles I can assure you him signing anywhere would generate a fair bit of interest in the media etc and that could only be a good thing for a "new" station like Virgin.”

I know, I love Moyles. But he's hardly an a-class celebrity these days is what I meant.
Radio_Geek
05-04-2015
Does anyone think that any of the existing UTV stations would rebrand to Virgin (if nobody picks them up)?
Magic_FM
05-04-2015
From UTV announce:
Virgin Radio – Rock and pop music for 25-44 year olds with a slight male bias
omnidirectional
05-04-2015
Originally Posted by Magic_FM:
“From UTV announce:
Virgin Radio – Rock and pop music for 25-44 year olds with a slight male bias”

That's virtually the same as the 'old' Virgin/current Absolute which has always been rock-biased with only a small amount of credible pop.
mfr
05-04-2015
Originally Posted by omnidirectional:
“That's virtually the same as the 'old' Virgin/current Absolute which has always been rock-biased with only a small amount of credible pop.”

I wonder if it will be more like Absolute 00s which plays quite a bit of credible pop and (obviously) more up to date music than the main station.
ohglobbits
05-04-2015
Originally Posted by mfr:
“I wonder if it will be more like Absolute 00s which plays quite a bit of credible pop and (obviously) more up to date music than the main station.”

My guess is it will be closer to KISS or as their music selection is called in France 'Pop Rock Electro'.
Mark_OReilly1
07-04-2015
I can't wait to hear the sound of the new Virgin. Shame it won't be on FM as it could compete with kiss and Capital if they get the right format. If you listen to some of the Virgin stations in America it sounds like it maybe that kinda idea they do over there.
ney
07-04-2015
The old Virgin radio when it first started was an ok station but I would not say it was that great.
It was better than Planet Rock for Planet Rock may be a good station to some but the right hard rock music is no really my thing. Im more in to soft rock and power ballads. Like Bon Jovi, Bryan Adams, Heart and others plus some other types of music.

Darren
russellelly
07-04-2015
Originally Posted by Magic_FM:
“From UTV announce:
Virgin Radio – Rock and pop music for 25-44 year olds with a slight male bias”

I could imagine this turning out a bit like Jack FM. I'd suggest a big name for breakfast will be important - Moyles is a decent shout, wasn't Jonathan Ross rumoured to be part of a consortium buying Absolute at some point?

The question is, with digital only coverage, would anyone in that league be financially viable? Maybe have a big name for Saturday or Sunday breakfast if not?
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