David de Jong reports: Following the announcement of plans to launch the Virgin Radio brand in France, its launch in Italy has also been announced. Richard Branson’s Virgin Group has reached agreement with the Italian commercial radio group Finelco, which is owned mainly by Italian entrepreneur Alberto Hazan.
Finelco currently owns currently three national radio stations: Radio 105, Radio Monte Carlo and the newly acquired Play Radio. Also smaller FM stations like RMC2, 105Classics and Swiss versions of Radio Monte Carlo and Radio 105 are part of Finelco. Dozens of Web radiostations under the RMC- and Radio 105-brands are also part of Finelco, of which RCS Mediagroup (owner of the famous ‘Gazzetta dello Sport’ and ‘Corriere della Sera’) owns 34.6 % as Play Radio - which it previously fully owned - was integrated into Finelco in return for Finelco shares.
Play Radio, which was launched as recently as 5 October 2005 on the former Radio Italia Network (a dance radio station) frequencies, was mainly a music, information and entertainment station. However, it failed to attract a large audience and has insufficient advertising, although the station never participated in the national Italian survey of audio ratings (AudiRadio).
The launch of Virgin Radio in Italy has been planned since December 2006, when Sir Richard Branson and Alberto Hazan signed a letter of intent; during the last six months, Virgin and Finelco have been finalising the deal. In the next few weeks the programming details will be revealed, as well as the official launch date.
In the UK, Branson launched Virgin Radio on 30 april 1993 (originally only on AM) but sold it in 1997. It is currently owned by Scottish Media Group (SMG) which is planning to sell the station in order to focus on television. Virgin Radio UK currently is a mainly rock orientated station with the slogan ’The Music We Love’. Branson owns Virgin Radio stations in India and Thailand, and also owns the French radio station Ouï FM.
Virgin Radio InternationalDavid de Jong reports: Following the announcement of plans to launch the Virgin Radio brand in France, its launch in Italy has also been announced. Richard Branson’s Virgin Group has reached agreement with the Italian commercial radio group Finelco, which is owned mainly by Italian entrepreneur Alberto Hazan.
Finelco currently owns currently three national radio stations: Radio 105, Radio Monte Carlo and the newly acquired Play Radio. Also smaller FM stations like RMC2, 105Classics and Swiss versions of Radio Monte Carlo and Radio 105 are part of Finelco. Dozens of Web radiostations under the RMC- and Radio 105-brands are also part of Finelco, of which RCS Mediagroup (owner of the famous ‘Gazzetta dello Sport’ and ‘Corriere della Sera’) owns 34.6 % as Play Radio - which it previously fully owned - was integrated into Finelco in return for Finelco shares.
Play Radio, which was launched as recently as 5 October 2005 on the former Radio Italia Network (a dance radio station) frequencies, was mainly a music, information and entertainment station. However, it failed to attract a large audience and has insufficient advertising, although the station never participated in the national Italian survey of audio ratings (AudiRadio).
The launch of Virgin Radio in Italy has been planned since December 2006, when Sir Richard Branson and Alberto Hazan signed a letter of intent; during the last six months, Virgin and Finelco have been finalising the deal. In the next few weeks the programming details will be revealed, as well as the official launch date.
In the UK, Branson launched Virgin Radio on 30 april 1993 (originally only on AM) but sold it in 1997. It is currently owned by Scottish Media Group (SMG) which is planning to sell the station in order to focus on television. Virgin Radio UK currently is a mainly rock orientated station with the slogan ’The Music We Love’. Branson owns Virgin Radio stations in India and Thailand, and also owns the French radio station Ouï FM.
Virgin Radio International
(Source: R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)