Capital Disney

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Capital Disney

Broadcast area	United Kingdom
First air date	September 16, 2002
Frequency	DAB, Sky Digital, Digital cable and Online
Format	Pre-Teen and Chart
Owner	GCap Media
Website	www.capitaldisney.co.uk

Capital Disney is a radio station aimed at 8 to 16 year olds. It broadcasts across the UK on DAB Digital Radio (in selected areas). It is also broadcast on Sky Digital, Tiscali TV, Virgin Media, and streaming online.

1 About Capital Disney
2 The Concept
3 The Playlist
4 Awards
5 Slogans
6 How to listen
7 External links

Capital Disney is owned by GCap Media PLC (previously being owned by Capital Radio PLC before the company merged with GWR Group PLC) and is based at GCap Media's London offices in Leicester Square.

The station broadcasts twenty four hours a day with a series of presenter and music led programming. The station was originally launched as Cube. Capital Radio and the Walt Disney Company struck a deal in February 2002 which allows Capital Radio to manage a British version of the American service, Radio Disney, on some of its digital platforms. The station launched on the 12th October 2002.

Current presenters on the radio station include: Adam Morris (AKA The General), James Beckingham, Matt James, Val Mellon, Leigh Purves, Nigel Mitchell, Adam O'Neill, Saffron Oddy and Sophie Bruce.

Capital Disney was one of the first radio stations in the country to use the newly developed Digital radio (DAB) format to provide a radio station specifically aimed at children and teenagers.

In 1998 the Capital Radio Group announced plans to launch a kids-only format radio station, bidding for the North East England FM licence (which was won by Galaxy 105-106). Called Fun Radio it was to be a pop station aimed at 8-16 year olds. Despite this failure Capital still had hopes of launching this station, at the time a brand new format for an underserved audience.

The station aired in 2001 under the name of Cube in several regional areas of England and Wales with a purely new pop music format aimed at young teens. It was seen as a competitor to GWR Group's Core (radio station), which launched two years earlier. Because Cube was on DAB, at the time very few listened to the service, so it began broadcasting on Sky Digital. Cube was noted for its high tempo music-driven formula, coupled with live DJs (A rarity for digital radio- most were voicetracked) and humorous and informative short clips in between the music (Such as 'How Does a Piano Work?') designed to create a learning environment, possibly to curb outside criticism that Cube was just a mindless music station.

Cube closed down in 2001, only to re-launch as Capital Disney. The name chosen as it is a station operated by Capital Radio and co-owned with Disney UK. This co-operation reveals itself on-air with promotions such as Disney on Ice and promotions for the Disney Channel on television. The jingles at the time of re-launch simply sang the new station's name before changing in 2004, adding the slogan Your Music, Your Way!. Matt James' slogan is "egg and bean a fiver" which the General always makes fun of.

Capital Disney plays a range of chart music and new acts. Artists which can often be heard include Britney Spears, Rachel Stevens and McFly. Talking Story books for pre-school children can also be heard regularly during school hours. They also play artists that haven't got any airplay on mainstream radio such as The Lovebites and album tracks from artists that appear on the playlist.

Overnights Capital Disney plays non-stop hits, however previously to this overnights was the home of non-stop chillout music. This ceased in 2003- now this type of music can be heard on sister station Chill.

In its short time on air, the station has won a prestigious industry award and was nominated for another. In 2004, the station won the NTL Digital Radio station of the year award. In 2005, the station was nominated for and won the Sony Radio Academy award 'Digital Terrestrial Radio Station' of the year, against BBC 6 Music and BBC 7. The judges noted that, "Capital Disney gives every appearance of filling a genuine gap in the market with a professional and entertaining service directly meeting the needs of an under-served audience."

In 2006, Capital Disney was nominated for the Sony Radio Academy 'Digital Terrestrial Radio Station Of The Year' award. Planet Rock, another GCap Media station, was presented with the award. The judges noted that, "Capital Disney continues to be warm, funny and inventive without ever patronising its target audience. It is a station of great charm."

2003 The Station for 21st Century Hits

2004 Your Music, Your Way!