DS Forums

 
 

The new Virgin Radio UK


Reply
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old 01-08-2016, 14:38
hanssolo
Forum Member
 
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 13,572
Although, yes officially he didn't pull out, I got the impression from what was said at the time of the sale he wasn't that keen on Times of India owning the Virgin name, considering they paid £53 million for it, I think they really wanted the name (Branson alluded to this on his TalkRADIO interview before the new Virgin radio launched).
I really can't see this Virgin radio lasting long under Newscorp when it goes through.
Thats also what this site from 2008 says as another Indian radio group had franchised Virgin for India (and presumably TIML wanted to use the Virgin brand in India) but confusing there as an option for TIML to keep Virgin for the UK at extra cost which TIML did not take up.
https://gigaom.com/2008/06/01/419-vi...r-106-million/
hanssolo is online now   Reply With Quote
Please sign in or register to remove this advertisement.
Old 04-08-2016, 15:17
seansnotmyname@
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: exeter
Posts: 14,621
Does anyone actually listen to this? I have tried but find the music mix very strange and presentation very off the wall. Who is programming this? I cant imagine Mr Branson being so proud of his brand is pleased with it!
Hr seems to be bearing up....
seansnotmyname@ is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-08-2016, 15:33
KDH
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 563

TWG have said they are hoping for 300k reach for the new Virgin when the RAJARs come out on Thursday.

..........and they got 409,000 and seem very pleased with the result
KDH is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-08-2016, 16:53
botson_is_whack
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 133
This is a really good result for Virgin, particularly given the audio issues.

I wonder, though, how much of this is misattribution due to brand recognition? Not a bad problem to have, in any case.
botson_is_whack is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-08-2016, 18:34
MorningDJ
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 62
This is a really good result for Virgin, particularly given the audio issues.

I wonder, though, how much of this is misattribution due to brand recognition? Not a bad problem to have, in any case.
I would say the brand recognition has helped but a lot of it has to do with better marketing than TalkRADIO (hence the big difference in figures), the Virgin group were using social media before the launch to inform people of the re-launch, which has worked, TalkSPORT has only recently started advertising it's digital stations on air.
MorningDJ is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-08-2016, 16:03
Radiogram
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 2,919
Anyone else listening to Virgin (and/or talkRadio and talkSport2) on the Aberdeen mux?

For at least the last 12 days the sound on all 3 stations has been pausing for 3-4 seconds around once every 2 minutes. The sound then continues from where it paused then a few seconds later the it catches back up to real time. It has been making all the stations unlistenable here. I would assume it is a fault between wherever the stations are being fed from and the tx site.

I have emailed The Wireless Group about it but not had a response. I assume the stations are fine on the SDL transmitters?
Radiogram is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 16-08-2016, 11:13
ChickenChops909
Inactive Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Yorkshire Dales
Posts: 44
Goes to show you don't need big well known presenters for the station to become successful.
ChickenChops909 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 16-08-2016, 11:26
Scotty_B
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 713
Goes to show you don't need big names in radio for a station to become successful.
Quite, a huge brand name will help. Oh wait thats still a name.
Scotty_B is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 16-08-2016, 11:49
botson_is_whack
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 133
Yep, there's almost certain to be people ticking the box next to Virgin Radio having never listened to it.

What's more, while 400k listeners nationally is a good start, I'm not sure you'd call it a "success" yet.
botson_is_whack is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 16-08-2016, 12:27
Mark M
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 315
Yep, there's almost certain to be people ticking the box next to Virgin Radio having never listened to it.
Absolute Radio has increased its reach both quarter-on-quarter and year-on-year, so that would suggest it's not simply a case of mistaken identity.

Also, I understand that the people who deliver the RAJAR diaries have a chat with you first to discuss which stations you listen to - so I'd imagine that process would iron out any such issues.
Mark M is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-09-2016, 18:00
kev
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: South Notts (Waltham TV TX)
Posts: 20,200
In the last 10 minutes or so the volume has just jumped up - with any luck this means I'll be able to listen to it in the shower again - the extractor fan and shower have been drowning it out for the last few weeks - Magic Chilled, Kisstory etc have been fine.
kev is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-09-2016, 19:33
botson_is_whack
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 133
Absolute Radio has increased its reach both quarter-on-quarter and year-on-year, so that would suggest it's not simply a case of mistaken identity.

Also, I understand that the people who deliver the RAJAR diaries have a chat with you first to discuss which stations you listen to - so I'd imagine that process would iron out any such issues.
I didn't say anything about mistaken identity. Absolutely (no pun intended) no one will be ticking Virgin Radio thinking it's Absolute. But plenty of people will put an x in the box because they've heard of Virgin as a holistic brand.
botson_is_whack is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-09-2016, 19:43
seansnotmyname@
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: exeter
Posts: 14,621
I didn't say anything about mistaken identity. Absolutely (no pun intended) no one will be ticking Virgin Radio thinking it's Absolute. But plenty of people will put an x in the box because they've heard of Virgin as a holistic brand.
Just unfounded silliness TBH. Just no logic to believe anyone would do this.
seansnotmyname@ is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-09-2016, 20:22
russellelly
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Scotland
Posts: 10,719
In the last 10 minutes or so the volume has just jumped up - with any luck this means I'll be able to listen to it in the shower again - the extractor fan and shower have been drowning it out for the last few weeks - Magic Chilled, Kisstory etc have been fine.
That's good - it was so low on DAB until now (and the sound seemed poor, even in comparison to other 80kbps stations).

It's interesting to read the Chris Moyles Radio X thread - lots of people who apparently want a station with music from 00s as well as newer music, not exclusively indie. Virgin should be perfect for that late-20 to mid-30s audience that the BBC aren't really catering for.
russellelly is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-09-2016, 07:50
hanssolo
Forum Member
 
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 13,572
I would say the brand recognition has helped but a lot of it has to do with better marketing than TalkRADIO (hence the big difference in figures), the Virgin group were using social media before the launch to inform people of the re-launch, which has worked, TalkSPORT has only recently started advertising it's digital stations on air.
..........and they got 409,000 and seem very pleased with the result
Branson's Virgin team are masters of promotion with the launch on the train and posters etc, and why TWG have paid for the franchise.
Will be interesting to see what News Corp do, they have music radio interests in Australia, so might probably keep investment and use the Sun and Times to crosspromote the station, along with Talksport, to further boost listening figures?

The downside is Virgin are also franchised with the Liberty media corporation for cable TV promotion which clashes with News Corps Sky shareholding. But if Virgin Radio starts to be profitable for News Corp, then the cable TV link may not be too important.
hanssolo is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 03-09-2016, 11:33
peter_sharp1uk
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Nottingham
Posts: 503
Volume seems even lower than normal, not sure about higher.
peter_sharp1uk is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-09-2016, 19:51
Orangy
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: West Sussex / Surrey, UK.
Posts: 861
Volume seems even lower than normal, not sure about higher.
Indeed. Switching between Virgin and ANY other station is several db difference. Have to remember to turn the radio down considerably before changing presets. Sort it out TWG!
Orangy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-09-2016, 19:24
stesul63
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 135
Tried in the car, Virgin's volume is notably lower than the other stations on D2. Has anything official been said about the issue?
stesul63 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-09-2016, 05:52
kev
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: South Notts (Waltham TV TX)
Posts: 20,200
Volume seems even lower than normal, not sure about higher.
Yeah, after that temporary boost is gone even quieter, can't hear it in the kitchen now
kev is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-10-2016, 11:02
decafcappuccino
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 232
Anyone still listening to virgin i gave up after giving it a good chance its ok but i just felt the music could be a bit random sometimes, playing stuff like Pink and Justin Timberlake if there going to play those why ignore artists like Sam Smith and Ellie Goulding.

Also lots of rock and indie artists missing.

I think Kate Lawler and Matt Richardson should co host a show I think they need someone to bounce off, of and bring in Ben Jones weekdays.
decafcappuccino is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-10-2016, 11:36
LaurelandHardy
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Shropshire
Posts: 1,477
Volume seems even lower than normal, not sure about higher.
Perhaps that's what they mean by their slogan "Music you'll want to turn up?" As in you have to turn up the volume higher than any other station to be able to hear it!
LaurelandHardy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-10-2016, 12:33
kev
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: South Notts (Waltham TV TX)
Posts: 20,200
They seem to have fixed the volume now - kinda hard to pull me back from Union Jack mind - I like the latters uncluttered approach! Back on in the kitchen mind, some good tunes too - hard to get back into the habit of tuning in though.
kev is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-10-2016, 13:48
Timanfaya
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Selby
Posts: 484
They seem to have fixed the volume now - kinda hard to pull me back from Union Jack mind - I like the latters uncluttered approach! Back on in the kitchen mind, some good tunes too - hard to get back into the habit of tuning in though.
Agreed. I would say I am right in Virgins target audience.
I think I wanted to like this station far more than I actually did like the station.

Music policy isn't quite right and the air staff are possibly a bit bland. I still think it has potential though with a few tweaks.

Tuned in on the commute home one day last week. This time though it was switched off not because of the music and the presenters - it was the low volume that I couldn't turn up enough without distortion setting in on the car radio. Shame.
Timanfaya is offline Follow this poster on Twitter   Reply With Quote
Old 23-12-2016, 11:10
decafcappuccino
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 232
Why do they never bother to update there schedule page like today it still says Jamie East but he is off. They never bother to say who the guest is either on the virgin take over show on Sundays ?

decafcappuccino is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 23-12-2016, 14:17
Sophie_Greene
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 336
Why do they never bother to update there schedule page like today it still says Jamie East but he is off. They never bother to say who the guest is either on the virgin take over show on Sundays ?

Because they have no listeners!
Sophie_Greene is offline   Reply With Quote
 
Reply




 
Forum Jump


All times are GMT. The time now is 23:37.