GWR Unveils Multi-Million Pound Digital Radio Stations Launch

GWR Group’s Digital Services division has today announced its plans for a multi-million pound launch of Europe’s first commercial digital radio stations – Planet Rock, Core and The Mix. Planet Rock and Core will begin broadcasting on Monday 15 November across the UK and Europe on the Digital One national commercial multiplex (see Digital One Advertises Three Channel Tenders), via the internet and on the digital satellite TV platform, Sky Digital (see Major Radio Stations Join Sky Digital For Satellite Broadcast).

According to GWR Digital Services managing director, Russell Stuart, the launch of the stations will be backed by a heavyweight integrated marketing and PR campaign promoting the roll-out of digital radio as a medium, as well as the new networks.

Planet Rock is targeted at the generation who lived through the era of ‘classic rock’ and will feature bands like The Rolling Stones, The Who, Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin. Core is GWR’s full-on challenge to Radio 1, with an ‘unashamed concentration on what is current now’ focusing on the promiscuous, under 25, predominantly female radio audience. The Mix, which is available on Sky Digital only, combines music from the ’80s and ’90s.

Unveiling the stations, Russell Stuart today said: “Over the past few months we have carried out a heavyweight programme of qualitative research which clearly identified the passion these two highly music-focused stations [Planet Rock and Core] engender in their target audiences. [They] combine distinctive and unique on air music programming, packaging and positioning with associated website development to appeal to listeners and advertisers alike.”

Cross promotion of the services will be used by GWR on its flagship Classic FM station, as well as its FM portfolio of local stations.

GWR Group: 0171 284 3000