Real Radio XS
 |
|
| Broadcast area | West Central Scotland and North West England; also other areas (latterly Yorkshire) by DAB |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 96.3 FM (Renfrewshire) 106.1 FM (Manchester) DAB |
| First air date | 5 September 2011 |
| Format | Classic Rock |
| Owner | Communicorp |
| Website | www.realradioxs.co.uk |
Real Radio XS was a radio station brand operated by Real and Smooth Ltd (formerly GMG Radio) based in Salford, Greater Manchester, broadcasting a variety of peak-time news, rock music and talk output. The Manchester-based version of the service broadcast to Greater Manchester on FM, and to a number of areas on DAB: the closure of the MXR regional multiplexes ended most digital carriage of the service, with the last remaining digital transmission, to Yorkshire, ending in 2014. The other Real Radio XS service, serving Paisley and Renfrewshire on FM and central Scotland, became Xfm Scotland in 2014 before closing entirely in 2015. The Manchester frequency now transmits as XS Manchester under the control of Communicorp UK.
The station obtained a license under the name Rock Talk despite competition from other existing stations in other categories. The station began test transmissions as 106.1 FM Rock Radio on 10 April 2008 from the top of the City Tower (the former Sunley Building) in Piccadilly in Manchester. The station promoted its launch with a free, one-day festival at Cathedral Gardens featuring the bands Bad Company, Gun, Salford Jets, Letz Zep and Mercury.
Real Radio XS's sister station, 96.3 Rock Radio based in Baillieston, Glasgow, was also named Real Radio XS by parent company Guardian Media Group in 2011. The station's parent company, Guardian Media Group, was bought by Global Radio in June 2012. On 6 February 2014, Global Radio reached an agreement to sell the station and seven others to Communicorp following recommendations from the Competition Commission.
...
Wikipedia