Red Dragon FM
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| Red Dragon | |
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| Broadcast area | Cardiff, Newport and surrounding areas |
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| Frequency | 103.2 MHz and 97.4 MHz |
| First air date | 11 April 1980 |
| Format | Contemporary |
| Audience share | 9.5% (September 2007, [1]) |
| Owner | Global Radio |
| Website | www.reddragonfm.co.uk |
Red Dragon is the main local commercial radio station broadcasting to the Cardiff and Newport areas of South Wales, serving a potential audience of around 1.6million people. Originally independent, it is currently owned by Global Radio and forms part of its One Network brand. It's studios are located in the Red Dragon Centre in Cardiff Bay.
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[edit] History
The station originally took to the air in Cardiff only. Known as CBC (Cardiff Broadcasting Company), the station launched in April 1980 on 221 metres medium wave (1359 kHz AM) and 96.0 VHF.
Following the financial collapse of GB Radio, the original Independent Local Radio contractor for the Newport and Gwent area in 1985, 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.
Originally based in Cardiff city centre, Red Dragon moved to the Atlantic Wharf Leisure Village in 2000. In 2005, the station signed a deal for the complex to be renamed as The Red Dragon Centre.
In 2000, Red Dragon made national headlines when comments made on the station's drive time show sparked panic buying of petrol across South Wales, the West and South of England a week after the actual petrol crisis had ended.[2]
[edit] Presenters and Shows
- Jason Harrold - Full Welsh Breakfast/Saturday Grill
- Darren Lee
- Warren Moore
- Leigh Jones - Drive
- Niall Foster - Travel Editor
- Graham Torrington - Late Night Love
- Sam Mann
- Tony Shepherd
- Kevin Hughes - Music Control
- Ryan Seacrest - The Entertainment Edge
- Margherita Taylor - Nokia Select
- Lucio - Hit 40 UK
- The Jeremy Kyle Show
- The Myleene Class Show
[edit] Transmission and Coverage
The 103.2FM signal, which is the strongest of the two frequencies, comes from the transmitter at Wenallt near Cardiff, with the 97.4FM signal transmitting from Christchurch in Newport. The signals reach as far out as the Valleys to the north and Swansea at its furthest to the west, as well as unofficially covering a significant area of the West of England to the south and east.
Red Dragon also broadcasts the 103.2 signal on the NOW Cardiff & Newport DAB Multiplex.
[edit] Commercial
Red Dragon has had a number of owners in the past. The Red Rose Group, under millionaire Owen Oyston, were responsible for the re-launch of Red Dragon.
The group later became Transworld Communications (TWC) which in turn became part of Emap, the radio and publishing group, in 1987. Capital Radio (now GCap) acquired Red Dragon in 1998, and GCap were in turn acquired by the station's current owners Global Radio in March 2008.
[edit] Station Name
According to rumour, the station was almost named "Yellow Daffodil". When The Red Rose Group acquired the station in 1985 the name was supposedly considered to match the group's "Red Rose Radio" in the North of England. But this rumour has since been discounted by the director of Red Dragon.
However, it was the red, rather than flower connection that was continued. Known as Red Dragon Radio throughout the late eighties, the station later became Red Dragon FM.
However, in late 2006 the station was re-branded as simply "Red Dragon", which is how the station has been referred to by locals for many years.
[edit] References
- ^ Rajar quarterly listening figures. Retrieved on 2007-12-11.
- ^ Careless talk costs litres (2000-09-22). Retrieved on 2007-12-11.
