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Classic Gold is one of the biggest 'gold' formatted radio networks in the United Kingdom, with a potential audience of 47 million. Classic Gold is broadcast on both analogue and DAB digital platforms.
Most stations were originally the medium wave services of Independent Local Radio stations. For example, Classic Gold 1359 in Coventry was originally part of Mercia Sound and was a full local service.
In the 1980s, FM/AM stations split (in this case to Mercia FM and Xtra AM), before the station was bought by GWR radio, and the AM station rebranded to Classic Gold. Mercia FM is still on air today.
The format is now owned and operated by UBC, and most stations in the network carry the same programming, except for a local 4-hour afternoon programme from 3pm to 7pm. The stations were previously part of the GWR network, but were sold off as competition rules limited the number of stations a company could own.
Additionally the AM service operated by UTV Radio in West Yorkshire carries programming supplied by the Classic Gold network (with additional localisation and programmes), although it is not owned by UBC.
Programmes
- Classic Gold Drivetime (local programme)
- Classic Gold Late Night
- Non Stop Classic Hits
Presenters
- Paul Baker
- Tony Blackburn
- Paul Burnett
- Matthew Hardy
- Erika North
- Graham Rogers
- Sandy Warr
Regional stations
There are 20 stations in the UBC Classic Gold Network:
- Classic Gold Plymouth, Plymouth
- Classic Gold 1260, Bristol and Bath
- Classic Gold 1332, Peterborough and digitally in Cambridge
- Classic Gold 1359, Coventry and Warwickshire
- Classic Gold 1431/1485, Reading, Basingstoke and Andover
- Classic Gold 1521, Reigate and Crawley
- Classic Gold 1557, Northampton
- Classic Gold 666/954, Exeter and Torbay
- Classic Gold 774, Gloucester and Cheltenham
- Classic Gold 828, Bournemouth
- Classic Gold 828/792, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Cambridgeshire
- Classic Gold 936/1161, Swindon and West Wiltshire
- Classic Gold Amber, Norfolk
- Classic Gold Amber, Ipswich and Bury St Edmunds
- Classic Gold Breeze, Southend and Chelmsford
- Classic Gold Digital, London and various regions
- Classic Gold GEM, Nottingham and Derby and digitally in Leicester
- Classic Gold Marcher, Wrexham and Chester
- Classic Gold WABC, Wolverhampton, Shrewsbury and Telford
In addition, the UTV Radio-owned Pulse Classic Gold in West Yorkshire broadcasts programming supplied by the network, with additional localisation and programmes specific to West Yorkshire.
External links
"Classic Gold"