Virgin Radio from London?

[Darren]

Have anybody heard anything about the possibility of XM adding international radio stations to the lineup? With them adding full blow stations such as WLW and carrying other terrestial programing such as most programming on Extreme and the likes of Hannity and Air America it would be refreshing to hear one the world's most listened to radio stations - Virgin Radio.

Never heard of them? check them out at www.virginradio.co.uk. They stream online... they are also avaiable throughout UK on FM and digital radio(not satellite) and they are available on satellite throughout Europe, Africa and Asia.

The reason for my post is that several months ago I read were XM purchased an interest in the satellite provider that carries Virgin in Europe. Now with that relationship closer it would make sense to bring Virgin to the states. They already get a lot of e-mail requests from people listening online in America.

 

[ChannelFlipper]

They already have U-POP produced in-house.

> Have anybody heard anything about the possibility of XM
> adding international radio stations to the lineup? With
> them adding full blow stations such as WLW and carrying
> other terrestial programing such as most programming on
> Extreme and the likes of Hannity and Air America it would be
> refreshing to hear one the world's most listened to radio
> stations - Virgin Radio.
>
> Never heard of them? check them out at
> www.virginradio.co.uk. They stream online... they are also
> avaiable throughout UK on FM and digital radio(not
> satellite) and they are available on satellite throughout
> Europe, Africa and Asia.
>
> The reason for my post is that several months ago I read
> were XM purchased an interest in the satellite provider that
> carries Virgin in Europe. Now with that relationship closer
> it would make sense to bring Virgin to the states. They
> already get a lot of e-mail requests from people listening
> online in America.
>

 

[BRH]

> They already have U-POP produced in-house.
>

Yeah, that's the problem. "Upop" isn't that great, and I would also much rather have a simulcast of a real UK station. I have both XM and Sirius, and I am an avid listener and huge fan of "BBC Radio 1" on Sirius. In fact, it is my most listened to channel on either service. I would definately support the idea of adding "Virgin Radio", or "Capital Radio" to XM. (either as a new channel or a replacement for Upop.) I'd also love to see Sirius add "BBC Radio 2" to go along with Radio 1.

 

[bueller]

UPop is decent in my opinon. Virgin plays a rather narrow adult rock format with a lot of classic rock and current adult rock already played on channels like XM Cafe, Deep Tracks, Top Tracks, and Mix. Wouldn't mind hearing BBC Radio 2 though, it is the most listened to station in the UK and plays a broad range of music. Capital has undergone changes and become more laid back and less CHR than it was in the 90s.

 

[brmfulasha]

i am also a dual subsciber of sirius and XM, i also love bbc radio 1 that is played on sirius the whole way they do radio is far more entertaining than american radio. interaction with callers, lack of ads is a plus for sure, always have great topics, and news breaks at the bottom of every hour.

virgin radio is also an amazing station and i wouldnt say its a total fill in for U-POP, but with XM bringing in simulcasts of WLW and other talk networks a feed of an international music station would be a great addition.



> UPop is decent in my opinon. Virgin plays a rather narrow
> adult rock format with a lot of classic rock and current
> adult rock already played on channels like XM Cafe, Deep
> Tracks, Top Tracks, and Mix. Wouldn't mind hearing BBC Radio
> 2 though, it is the most listened to station in the UK and
> plays a broad range of music. Capital has undergone changes
> and become more laid back and less CHR than it was in the
> 90s.
>

 

[bueller]

if they want a UK station that isn't BBC, I'd vote for XFM London. Great specialist shows and UK indie/alt rock.

 

[smashedcd]

> UPop is decent in my opinon. Virgin plays a rather narrow
> adult rock format with a lot of classic rock and current
> adult rock already played on channels like XM Cafe, Deep
> Tracks, Top Tracks, and Mix. Wouldn't mind hearing BBC Radio
> 2 though, it is the most listened to station in the UK and
> plays a broad range of music. Capital has undergone changes
> and become more laid back and less CHR than it was in the
> 90s.
>
u pop is one of 2 hits stations i listen to. the blend is the other..please dont take away u pop for any bbc stuff..<P ID="signature">______________
note to the NAB..satellite radio..its worth paying for!!</P>

 

[Ai4i]

>
> ...please dont take away u pop for any bbc stuff..
>

Capital and Virgin are not BBC!<P ID="signature">______________
Proud 2 B a pioneering satellite radio subs¢riber
Ai4i is always on the trailing edge of technology
______________</P>

 

[BRH]

> if they want a UK station that isn't BBC, I'd vote for XFM
> London. Great specialist shows and UK indie/alt rock.
>
As I mentioned earlier, I like "Capital Radio" (formerly "Capital FM") and their group of UK stations pretty well. ("Power FM" from SouthHampton and "Beat 106" in Scotland are two of their other outlets I like). Also, if you are going to mention other London outlets like "Xfm", what about "Kiss 100" which specializes in R&B, Hip hop, and dance.
Lots of great radio stations in the UK and Europe. They are much better than U.S. terrestrial stations, and I think we can all agree on that. But if I had to choose another for putting on the satellites here in the U.S., I would choose either "BBC Radio 2", "Capital Radio", or "Virgin Radio".

 

[bueller]

BRH:

I liked Beat 106 Scotland a lot but it has rebranded to "XFM Scotland" as of January, and is now pretty much alternative rock. I'm a bit mixed on the Capital rebrand though. I do like Power FM. Kiss 100 is suppposed to be going through a rebrand soon, which I'm hoping will bring it back to playing even more dance music. Not sure what direction Emap has in mind though.