Capital North East

History

Galaxy North East

Originally called Galaxy 105–106, presenter Steve Furnell launched the station on 1 June 1999with "What You Need", by Powerhouse, being the first record played.

The station was based in Wallsend, North Tyneside at the Silverlink Business Park, 6 mi east of Newcastle City Centre.

The name was changed to Galaxy North East in 2006, in line with other Galaxy stations. This year also saw a change in demographic from 15–29 to 15–34 and a new strapline of "Passion for Music, Passion for Life". Two years later, the slogan was changed to "Love Music". In 2008, they also changed their output format to include a more mainstream playlist. During late 2010, the slogan changed to The North East's No.1 Hit Music Station.

Networked programming was broadcast from Galaxy Yorkshire in Leeds.

Capital North East

The station was rebranded as 105–106 Capital FM on 3 January 2011, as part of a merger of Global's Galaxy and Hit Music networks to form the nine-stations of Capital. Steve Furnell and Karen Wight remained on breakfast with Roger 'Bodg' Howard on drive time.

Kim Miljus was appointed managing director of Capital North East, replacing Matt Bashford, she was the former station director of Metro Radio. Giles Eyre-Tanner became the station's programme controller on 5 October 2011, replacing Stuart Barrie.

Long-serving Capital Breakfast presenters Steve Furnell and Karen Wight left Capital North East to join rival station Metro Radio and TFM, Capital Drivetime presenter Roger "Bodg" Howard, producer Matt Bailey and Take Me Out contestant JoJo Hatfield took over from the duo on 3 January 2012. 2010 Student Radio Awards winner Rob Howard joined the station and presented Capital Drivetime for three years. From 30 November 2015 Gogglebox star Scarlett Moffatt replaced Hatfield for a year. On 19 June 2017, former Miss Newcastle winner Hannah Gray took over from Moffatt.

In May 2015, Capital North East moved to new studios at Wellbar Central in Newcastle city centre, shared with sister station Heart North East and Communicorp-owned Smooth North East.

On 26 February 2019, Global stated the station's local Capital Breakfast and weekend shows would be replaced with networked programming from 8 April 2019. The weekday local Capital Drivetime show was retained, alongside news bulletins, traffic updates and advertising. "Bodg", Matt Bailey and Hannah Gray left the station whilst Martin Lowes remains.

Transmission

Capital North East broadcasts on at a power of 10kW from the Burnhope Transmitter, on at a power of 0.5kW from the Fenham Transmitter for West Newcastle, at 0.1kW from the Newton Transmitter for the Hexham area and on at 8.9kW from the Bilsdale Transmitter for Teesside although coverage unintentionally extends much further.

Programming

All programming is broadcast and produced from Global's London headquarters.

Global's newsroom broadcasts hourly localised news updates from 6am-6pm on weekdays and 8am-12pm at weekends.

Notable former presenters

• Sacha Brooks
• Rich Clarke
• Charlotte Crosby
• David Dunne
• Andi Durrant
• Stephanie Hirst
• Greg James
• Scarlett Moffatt
• Adele Roberts
• Steve Sutherland
• Margherita Taylor
• Tiësto
• Neil 'Roberto' Williams

References

References

1. McCabe, Maisie. (2010-09-13). "Global Radio takes Capital national". [[Haymarket Business Media]].
2. [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_6783/is_2011_Jan_4/ai_n56589002/?tag=content;col1 Bringing Capital to the North East] ''Evening Chronicle'', 4 January 2011
3. Jacob, Jonathan. (2012-01-02). "Capital FM's new ad for 2012".
4. (2012-01-03). "New breakfast show at Capital North East".
5. (2013-06-25). "New presenters relish a Capital opportunity". [[The Journal (Newcastle upon Tyne newspaper).
6. [http://www.studentradioawards.co.uk/winners/in3itr Best Male Presenter] {{webarchive. link. (5 June 2012 The Student Radio Awards)
7. [http://www.newsguardian.co.uk/news/local/game_is_up_as_appeal_raises_5k_1_4101496 Game is up as appeal raises £5k] {{Webarchive. link. (23 December 2014 News Guardian, 23 February 2012)
8. Duke, Simon. (2017-06-20). "Capital North East's new breakfast presenter and ex Miss Newcastle Hannah Gray hits the airwaves". [[Evening Chronicle]].
9. (2015-05-22). "Global moves to new studios in the North East".