Hit40uk

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The correct title of this article is hit40uk. The initial letter is shown capitalized due to technical restrictions.

hit40uk is a networked music singles chart broadcast on a number of UK commercial radio stations every Sunday from 4pm to 7pm. The radio show counts down the top 40 songs in the chart. Unlike the official sales-based chart broadcast at the same time by BBC Radio 1, the hit40uk chart includes radio airplay. The show has enjoyed higher audience figures than Radio 1's Official Chart Show since 1993, except for a brief period of 2006 when a weak commercial radio sector caused hit40uk's share to fall below that of its rival.

hit40uk descends from the Network Chart, which was hosted by David Jensen on the commercial radio network from September 30, 1984 to July 25, 1993, sponsored from 1985 onwards by Nescafe. On August 1, 1993, Pepsi began their sponsorship of the show and Neil Fox became its host; it was known as the Pepsi Network Chart before becoming the Pepsi Chart around 1996. Pepsi ended their sponsorship of the show on December 29, 2002, and the hit40uk name was adopted on January 5, 2003, but Fox remained the host until May 30, 2004. On June 6, 2004 Simon Hirst and Katy Hill became co-hosts of hit40uk; Hirst later hosted the show on his own.

In March 2006, hit40uk began broadcasting worldwide on the U-Pop satellite channel. The international version of the show is hosted by Mark Daley. It can be heard on XM Satellite Radio across the US and around the planet on WorldSpace Satellite Radio.

In April 2006, hit40uk launched a weekly podcast, also presented by Lucio.

On October 12 2006, it was announced that the programme was to be relaunched on October 22, with a new presenter, Capital Radio's Lucio Buffone. A new logo was also introduced to replace their old look. In the same week, a dance and urban chart, the Fresh 40, hosted by Dynamite MC, will be introduced to commercial radio's dance and urban stations, such as those in the Galaxy Network and the Kiss Network.