GCap sells nine stations and plans to launch XFM and Gold brands on Digital

GCap Media is to sell nine stations and re-brand in other key areas

The nine analogue stations for sale are in the south-west, north-west and north Wales, including Marcher Group “leaving us in the seven key ITV areas where we have excellent coverage, ” said Chief Executive, Ralph Bernard.

Other changes see:

Analogue station Capital Gold combined with its national digital station Life, with both re-branded as one national station, “in Heart’s area”, and attacking Radio 2

Digital Brand Planet Rock also focused on grabbing (male) listeners from Radio 2.

Digital station Core “will almost certainly rebrand.”

Digital station Storm will be re-branded as XFM, as will Scottish-based Beat 106

The stations up for sale are MFM, The Buzz, Coast FM, Champian FM, Gemini FM, Plymouth South, Orchard FM. Latern FM and South Hams.

“This will not happen overnight, it will be prudent investment in stages to keep us ahead of the digital curve,” commented Bernard. “We see the BBC as the target; commercial radio has not been innovative enough and has lost audience to the BBC as a result.”