Hysterical listening to the very early days of Capital (from Oct 1973). Richard Attenborough (Company Chairman) said in interviews that they spent a fortune in marketing before the first broadcast, thinking this what people wanted to hear. Turns out they didn’t, and no one was listening with the company nearly going bust. Luckily by the summer of 1974, they’d steadied the ship by playing to their strengths of promoting dj’s with more personality and playing more hit records and less chat. Over the years it became one of the most successful commercial radio stations in Europe (not just the UK), destroying Radio 1’s audience share not only within London but whole of the South East of England. This Capital Radio was a classic and not to be confused with the corporate entity that has its name today.
Hysterical listening to the very early days of Capital (from Oct 1973). Richard Attenborough (Company Chairman) said in interviews that they spent a fortune in marketing before the first broadcast, thinking this what people wanted to hear. Turns out they didn’t, and no one was listening with the company nearly going bust. Luckily by the summer of 1974, they’d steadied the ship by playing to their strengths of promoting dj’s with more personality and playing more hit records and less chat. Over the years it became one of the most successful commercial radio stations in Europe (not just the UK), destroying Radio 1’s audience share not only within London but whole of the South East of England. This Capital Radio was a classic and not to be confused with the corporate entity that has its name today.
Roger Scott the dj that gave me inspiration to become a mobile DJ and go on to do hospital radio. God bless Roger miss hearing you
Wow, that took me back. Brilliant stuff!!!!
A Great time in British Radio "CAPITAL RADIO 194"
Awesome...Loved Capital FM...... Great radio station...
Listened from day one..no more crappy BBC..and Radio one WAS crap
Great old normal adverts for great radio programmes
Remember listening at 5 a.m. to the opening
539!!! Jeez! Brilliant!! Before 194 Metres!
I understand there was quite a bit of animosity between Capital and Radio 1 later on over who got the first air play of new songs.
I loved the original Capital but now...?
I will finish that sentence for you.
IT IS CRAP!!!!
Tuesday October 16th 1973.
Strange that they launched on a Tuesday?
Capital Radio Capital Crime!