Heart 106.2

Radio station


name = Heart 106.2
airdate = September 5 1995
slogan = More Music Variety
frequency = 106.2 MHz
Switch Digital (London),
Block 12A, 128kbit/s (DAB)
Sky: 0124
Tiscali TV: 612
Virgin Media: 918, Freeview 728
share = 5.8%
share as of = March 2008
share source = [http://www.rajar.co.uk/listening/quarterly_listening.php]
format = Adult Contemporary
owner = Global Radio UK

Heart 106.2 is an Independent Local Radio station based in London that specializes in "adult contemporary music" and is owned by Global Radio UK.

On the 25th June 2007 it was announced that Heart along with its sister stations The Arrow, Sky News Radio, LBC and Galaxy were to be sold for £170 million to Global Radio UK from Chrysalis Radio. [ [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2007/06/25/bcnchrys125.xml Chrysalis sells three radio stations] ]

Availability

In addition to FM, the station is available on DAB digital radio in London, and across the UK on Sky Digital satellite, Freeview (England, Wales and Southern Scotland only), Tiscali TV and Virgin Media cable. The station is now also available on MXR regional DAB multiplexes in the North West, North East, the Severn Estuary and Yorkshire, as well as on Switch Digital in central Scotland, having replaced Heart Digital. Until April 2006, the station could also be listened to worldwide through its Internet stream. However, according to the website, the station has withdrawn this facility outside the UK due to licencing laws [http://www.heart1062.co.uk/article.asp?id=66804] .

Programming

Heart is famous for its high-profile breakfast show, Heart Breakfast with Jamie Theakston and Harriet Scott, which is produced by Jamie Scott, Jonathan Pascoe and Poppy Lloyd. Heart Breakfast won Gold for Best Music Personality Show at The New York Festivals, 2007 and The Silver Entertainment Award at The Sony Radio Academy Awards, 2007.

Regular features include iPlay at 7.45 and The Generation Gap (where the kids play the grown-ups) at 8.35. Big name stars in the studio include Dame Helen Mirren, Dame Shirley Bassey, Kermit The Frog, Miss Piggy, Lionel Richie, Nicole Kidman, Will Smith. Michael Fish often does the weather.

Other shows include "Club Classics" every Friday and Saturday evening and the "Time Tunnel", presented by "I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!" contestant and former Children's BBC presenter Toby Anstis.

The station's programme director is Mark Browning.

The first song to be played on Heart 106.2 was Something Got Me Started, by Simply Red.

The station uses RCS Master Control & Selector as its playout system.

Listening figures

RAJAR ratings published on 27 October 2005 showed that Heart 106.2 had overtaken 95.8 Capital FM as the most popular commercial radio station in London by both number of listeners and audience share for the first time in Capital FM's 32 year history.

On the 26 October 2006, Heart regained the top spot in London from Magic 105.4 in terms of reach and share, from RAJAR's Q3 listening figures of 2006.

Branding

The station rebranded in September 2006, new dry and sung jingles state only "This is Heart" instead of London's Heart 106.2 as it was before. The jingles were produced by IQ Beats.

Presenters

* Jamie Theakston and Harriet Scott - Heart Breakfast
* Toby Anstis - Time Tunnel (Mon-Sat)
* Nick Snaith - Lunchtimes and Saturday Afternoons (from midday).
* Emma B - Heart Drivetime and Sunday Afternoons (4-7pm)
* Matt Wilkinson - Evenings (Mon-Sun) and Saturday Breakfast
* Simon Beale - Heartbreakers
* Paul Hollins - Overnights and Early Breakfast (Mon-Sun) Sunday Mornings
* Natalie Pinkham
* Natalie B -Sunday Breakfast

* Paul Hayes - Club Classics and Sunday Lunchtime 12pm-4pm

See also

* Heart (radio network).
* 100.7 Heart FM (West Midlands).
* Heart 106 (East Midlands).
* Heart Digital (UK, DAB Radio Only).

External links

* [http://www.heart1062.co.uk/ Heart 106.2 Official website]

References