Does anybody know if they will be playing any songs on the test transmissions before they go live on the 30th March or just the same advert we are getting now for Virgin/Talk Radio/Talksport 2? Ive tweeted them but no reply.

Doesn't seem likely.

Thanks

Who can remember the original Virgin Radio pilot programmes prior to launch?

Well it's possible. I figured broadcasting content before the launch might require coordination between the operator and the station, and as not many people would be listening before the official launch, maybe they wouldn't go to the hassle.

The original Virgin launch was probably more of a big deal, and there would have been more incentive to tease the audience running up to the launch perhaps.

Presumably the test stream does not play out from Virgin's studios at the moment, and the mux operator plays out the stream? I guess if they did want to have prelaunch content, they'd have to send Sound Digital new test streams or switch on the link before the official date?

I think I heard Tommy Vance do an unannounced show during Virgin's test transmissions, whilst he was still at Radio 1.

Russ Williams certainly did a few shows during the test phase.

Here are a few shows from the former Virgin including a couple of test tx from 3rd April 1993. Feel free to download and have a listen from my mediafire folder below:

https://www.mediafire.com/folder/s1y2ohylscabc//Virgin

I can remember the free advertisements given to various charities at the time, which seemed like an excellent idea.

I am sure Richard Skinner presented the Virgin Album Chart countdown before the launch back in 1993.

Nick Abbot also did a test phone in show before the launch in 93..

I live just outside of a D2 reception area and even with my rooftop aerial frustrating can not pick up the multiplex in my home so today I got proactive and did my own test transmissions!
I set up a mini FM transmitter with my computer and played some MP3 files which were picked up perfectly throughout my house on 97.7 FM and as I listened it dawned on me that I will be one of few people listening to the new Virgin station on a radio in stereo.

Except perhaps those listening on a WiFi Internet Radio?

Good point
I should have said a conventional radio.

Interesting that Jon Holmes has been confirmed in the afternoon show on Talk Radio. He's not going to be continuing his weekend shows on Radio X. Maybe a weekend show on Virgin could be a possibility. Think we'll hear more announcements regarding the weekends sometime this week.

well, Talk Radio confirmed the rest of their schedule 2 weeks before launch, so something next Monday or Tuesday would be my guess. I remember John Holms on the old Virgin Radio, its where I first heard him. I used to love his (very short lived) show-- think I'm right in saying he brought in Virgin's biggest ever fine from Ofcom for 'Swearing Radio Hangman for the under 12s'. It was totally childish radio... but I absolutely loved it.

Reminds me of when Mark and Lard did a Countdown sketch

You're assuming the webstream will be stereo... don't bank on it though. The other stations in UTV Radio (or Wireless Group, whatever) have fairly nasty webstreams, I would expect Virgin Radio to be the same (though I would hope they'll give it more priority and make it a better stream).

Looks like UTV/TWG have just been using mp3 perhaps for compatibility with older internet radio sets, but expect it won't be long before Virgin will use the more efficient AAC encoders perhaps with MPEG DASH which will work better with 4G phones.

It's my understanding that the stream will be at 96k mono initially.

Mono? Seriously? 😦

Are they using a spare Talksport studio only engineered for mono or something?

Seems to be their way - disappointing though

Will Virgin and Talkradio do any pre launch web stream tests?

They will.
They should be up on www.radiofeeds.co.uk a week before their respective launches.

Thanks,will keep a watch for them!