ContactCapital Radio
"Playing all over London now..."
Capital Radio
Capital Radio
Having been given a licence (franchise) to broadcast by the Independent Broadcasting Authority in 1973, the now legendary Capital Radio came on air using two frequencies, 95.8vhf FM (at 2kw of power from Croydon) & 539 metres MW at 5:00am on 16th October 1973 as the second commercial radio station in the UK, serving London and surrounding areas.
Later in the 1970s, it moved to 194metres (1548kHz) (27.5kw from Saffron Green's transmitter) where it's AM service remains today. At the time of launch, it was Britain's first commercial music radio station - the first words read out on-air were from the lips of station Director and Chairman Sir Richard Attenborough who said "This, for the very first time, is Capital Radio...". The first record played was Simon & Garfunkel's 'Bridge Over Troubled Water', and the first commercial played was for Birds Eye Fish Fingers.
After an uncertain start - the station was immediately confronted with revenue problems stemming from the three day week during the 1973 Miners' Strike - Capital Radio began growing into one of the world's largest commercial radio stations. Sir Richard Attenborough was quoted in a 'Capital Facts' sheet, speaking about the station's early lean years 'Although one can say it now, one couldn't at the time, there were some weeks when the viability of the whole operation was in question and we might had had to close down. We almost didn't make ends meet."
During the 1970s, 1975 saw the launch of the station's Help A London Child Charity, which has since grown to be one of London's most popular fundraising causes, with millions of pounds raised to date through a wide variety of events and initiatives, including the release of records under the PWL record label by then Capital presenters Pat Sharp & Mick Brown. In 1976, the station information Helpline was launched for a wide-reaching range of use and on 11th June 1979, Britain's first ever traffic spotting plane, the 'Flying Eye' took off, first as a Piper Seneca, and latterly as a twin-engined Cirumma Cougar. The station has also lent its support to London based Orchestras, Choral Societies, the BFI Children's Film Festival and many other ventures.
Some of the early presenters included Kenny Everett, Brian Hayes, Michael Aspel, David Symonds, Dave Cash, Gerald Harper, Graham Dene, Tony Myatt, Roger Scott, Mike Allen, Nicky Horne, Gary Crowley and Peter Young. In the mid-seventies, there was even a link up with hospital radio in a show called 'Hullaballoo' presented by Joan Shenton.
Capital Radio is the flagship station of the GCap Media plc group of companies.
Information amended from the excellent Aircheck UK webpage
Capital Radio Jingles
- Capital Radio - Sue Manning Theme from 1982
- Capital Radio - Russell Watson offers to throw Steve Penk in the Thames
- Capital Radio - Flying Eye (Version 1)
- Capital Radio - Flying Eye (Version 2)
- Capital Radio - Flying Eye (Version 3)