Red Dragon FM

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Red Dragon FM
Broadcast area Cardiff and Newport
First air date April 11, 1980
Frequency 103.2 MHz and 97.4 MHz
Format Contemporary
Owner GCap Media

Red Dragon FM is the main commercial radio station serving the Cardiff and Newport areas in South Wales. Originally independent, it is currently owned by GCap Media PLC. The studios are located in the Red Dragon Centre in Cardiff Bay.

The station originally took to the air in Cardiff only as CBC - Cardiff Broadcasting Company in April 1980 on 221 metres medium wave (1359 kHz AM) and 96.0 VHF. Following the financial collapse of the original ILR contractor for the Newport and Gwent area in 1984, CBC acquired the Newport license and on the 14th October 1985 the station re-launched as Red Dragon Radio to reflect its new enlarged transmission area. The Newport service was originally broadcast on 230 metres medium wave (1305 kHz AM) and 104.0 VHF.

The original broadcaster for the Newport and Gwent area was Gwent Broadcasting or "GB Radio", which broadcasted from a building in Maindee, Newport.

Jason Harrold and Mel Knight host the Full Welsh Breakfast Show from 6 - 9am. Other presenters include Matt Lissack, Clare Lloyd, Leigh Jones & James Barr.

The 103.2FM signal, which is by far the strongest, comes from Wenallt, near Cardiff and 97.4FM comes from Christchurch in Newport. Red Dragon FM also broadcasts the 103.2FM signal on the Capital South Wales DAB Multiplex. The signal reaches as far out as the Valleys to the north and Swansea to the west.

Since the integration of GWR and Capital Radio, Red Dragon FM is starting to increase its syndicated content, programs such as "Late Night Love" that initially started in the GWR Music Radio Stations, have now appeared on Red Dragon FM. At certain times of the day identical playlists appear to be played across the GCap network, a listener from Neighbouring GWR Bristol can also hear almost at the same time the identical music played on Red Dragon FM.

On Friday 4th August Bobby McVay (ex SweetDreams band member) presented his very last show on Red Dragon after 13 years at the station.

[edit] External links

GCap Media

Corporate Directors: Ralph Bernard (Chairman)

National FM radio station: Classic FM
The One Network: 2CR FM | 2-Ten FM | 96 Trent FM | 96.9 Chiltern FM | 97.6 Chiltern FM | BRMB | Beacon Radio | Buzz 97.1 | Champion FM 103 | Coast 96.3 | Essex FM | FM 103 Horizon | Fox FM | Bath's GWR FM | Bristol's GWR FM | Wiltshire's GWR FM | Gemini FM | Hereward FM | Invicta FM | Lantern FM | Leicester Sound | Marcher Sound |Mercia FM | Northants 96 | Orchard FM | Plymouth Sound FM | Power FM | Q103 Cambridge | Radio Broadland | RAM FM | Red Dragon FM | SGR Colchester | SGR-FM | Severn Sound | Southern FM | Ten 17 | Wyvern FM
Other Local FM Stations: Capital Radio | South Hams Radio | Ocean FM
Local AM Stations: Capital Gold Network | Classic Gold Network (minority interest)
Choice FM: Choice FM London | Choice 107.1 FM
Xfm Network: Xfm London | Xfm Manchester | Xfm Scotland
Digital-only stations: Capital Disney | Chill | Core | Fun Radio | Planet Rock | theJazz | The Storm
TV Station: Classic FM TV

Website: www.gcapmedia.com