Chrysalis Radio’s Galaxy brand has strengthened its hold on the
northern market following its successful bid for the North-east
licence.
The Galaxy network, which already comprises Galaxy 101 Bristol, Galaxy
102 Manchester and Galaxy 105 Yorkshire, will now reach about 11 million
adults. The new licence covers the population of Tyne & Wear, Cleveland,
Durham and some parts of Northumberland and North Yorkshire. The adult
population of the area in which the service will be received is around
two million.
Chrysalis won the licence last Friday, fending off competition from 13
other applicants. One, Northern Radio Initiative, was disqualified.
Don Thomson, the group sales director of Chrysalis, said: ’We can now
put the Manchester, Yorkshire and Tyne Tees regions together, which will
make an incredibly strong sell in the North.
’The North-east is a region that has been dying for a dance music
station, as the other stations up there have a very broad appeal.’
Jonathan Gillespie, the head of radio at BMP Optimum, said that awarding
the licence to an established radio group was healthy for the
medium.
’Chrysalis is helping to build a youth brand across the UK that is
consistently bettering its own performance Rajar after Rajar. For the
advertiser, it’s great to have increased choice.’
The station is expected to launch between April and June next year with
a staff of 35, which will include a managing director, sales director
and programming controller.
