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Capital South Wales

{{Hatnote|For the capital city of Wales, see Cardiff}}

{{Use British English|date=May 2020}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}

{{Infobox radio station

| name = Capital South Wales

| logo = Capital South Wales 2022.svg

| city = Cardiff

| country = UK

| area = South East Wales

| branding = South Wales' No.1 Hit Music Station

| airdate = {{start date|1980|04|11|df=y}}

| former_names = {{ubl|CBC (Cardiff Broadcasting Company) (1980–1985)|Red Dragon Radio (1985–1990)|Red Dragon FM (1990–2011)}}

| former_frequencies = 96.0 MHz
104.0 MHz
1359 kHz
1305 kHz

| frequency = {{ubl|DAB: 12C NOW SE Wales|FM: {{frequency|97.4|MHz}} Newport|FM: {{frequency|103.2|MHz}} Cardiff|{{small|RDS: Capital}}}}

| format = Contemporary hit radio

| network = Capital

| owner = Communicorp UK

| operator = Global Radio

| sister_stations = {{hlist|Capital Cymru|Capital Liverpool|Capital Manchester and Lancashire|Capital Mid-Counties|Capital Midlands|Capital North East|Capital North West and Wales|Capital Scotland|Capital South|Capital Yorkshire|Capital UK|Capital Xtra|Heart South Wales}}

| webcast = [https://www.globalplayer.com/live/capital/southwales/ Global Player]

| website = {{Official URL}}

}}

Capital South Wales is a regional radio station owned by Communicorp UK and operated by Global as part of the Capital network. It broadcasts to Cardiff and Newport and the surrounding areas from studios in Cardiff Bay.{{cite web|url=http://www.ofcom.org.uk/static/radiolicensing/mcamaps/MCAs.htm |title=Broadcast Radio MCA maps|website=Ofcom}}

History

File:Red Dragon ID on RDS radio in Rover 800.jpg

The station originally took to the air in Cardiff only. Known as CBC (Cardiff Broadcasting Company), the station launched on 11 April 1980 on broadcasting on {{frequency|96.0|MHz}} FM and {{frequency|1359|kHz}} AM. Following the closure of neighbouring Gwent Broadcasting in April 1985, CBC began relaying its service as a temporary measure to southern Gwent on {{frequency|104.0|MHz}} FM and {{frequency|1305|kHz}} AM. This became permanent when CBC re-launched as Red Dragon Radio on 14 October 1985. Initially, there were separate drive time shows for Glamorgan and Gwent, but these were dropped for a single service by the early 1990s.

Simulcasting on {{frequency|1305|kHz}} and {{frequency|1359|kHz}} AM ended in 1990, with the launch of Touch AM.

On 3 January 2011, the station was rebranded from Red Dragon FM to Capital South Wales as part of a merger of owners Global's Hit Music and Galaxy networks to form the Capital FM network. On 6 February 2014, Global Radio announced it would be selling Capital South Wales to Communicorp. Capital's network programming and brand name are retained under a franchise agreement. Global's Heart South Wales station shares facilities at the Capital studios in Cardiff Bay.{{cite web|last=Martin |first=Roy |url=http://radiotoday.co.uk/2014/02/communicorp-buys-8-global-radio-stations/ |title=Communicorp buys 8 Global stations |website=Radio Today |date=6 February 2014 |access-date=6 February 2014}}

On 26 February 2019, Global confirmed the station's local breakfast and weekend shows would be replaced with networked programming from April 2019. The weekday drivetime show was retained alongside news bulletins, traffic updates and advertising.{{Cite web|url=https://radiotoday.co.uk/2019/03/roman-kemp-vick-hope-and-sonny-jay-to-go-national-on-capital/|title=Roman Kemp, Vick Hope and Sonny Jay to go national on Capital|date=2019-03-11|access-date=2020-05-13|website=Radio Today|last=Martin|first=Roy}}

In January 2025, it was reported that Capital Cymru would cease all of its Welsh language programming following the broadcast regulator Ofcom's decision to relax local content obligations for commercial radio, apart from news.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/cymrufyw/erthyglau/cr4r473k931o Gorsaf radio Capital Cymru i ddod â rhaglenni Cymraeg i ben], BBC Cymru Fyw, 9 January 2025 The station's Wrexham studios will also close.

As of 24 February 2025, the station's weekday Drivetime show, presented by Josh Andrews and Kally Davies, is simulcast on Capital's stations in the North West and North Wales.[https://global.com/global-confirms-programming-changes-february-2025/ Global confirms new nationwide radio shows for Heart, Capital & Smooth], Global, 5 February 2025 Separate local news and traffic bulletins for South Wales were retained.

Coverage area

Initially, CBC broadcast to Cardiff on {{frequency|96.0|MHz}} and Newport on {{frequency|104.0|MHz}} FM. These frequencies were switched to {{frequency|103.2|MHz}} and {{frequency|97.4|MHz}} respectively in 1987, following a national reorganisation of UK FM frequencies.

The {{frequency|103.2|MHz}} signal, which is the stronger of the two, comes from the transmitter at Wenallt near Cardiff, with the {{frequency|97.4|MHz}} signal being transmitted from Christchurch in Newport. The signals reach as far out as the South Wales Valleys to the north and part of Bridgend to the west.{{cite web|url=http://static.ofcom.org.uk/static/radiolicensing/mcamaps/al000020.pdf|title=Analogue Broadcast Radio Measured Coverage Area (MCA) Maps|website=Ofcom|date=28 September 2004}}

Capital South Wales also broadcasts on the NOW Digital South East Wales DAB multiplex and online.

Programming

All networked programming originates from Global's London headquarters, including Capital Breakfast.{{cite news |title=Waking up with the new nationwide Capital Radio breakfast show {{!}} Source Magazine |url=http://sourcemagazine.org.uk/waking-new-nationwide-capital-radio-breakfast-show/ |access-date=20 March 2023 |date=19 March 2019}} Local programming is produced and broadcast from Global's Cardiff Bay studios from 4-7pm,{{cite web|url=https://www.capitalfm.com/public-file/south-wales/|website=Capital FM|title=Public Files - South Wales}} presented by Josh Andrews and Kally Davies.{{cite web |title=Capital FM |url=https://www.capitalfm.com/radio/shows-presenters/josh-andrews-kally-davies/ |website=Capital |language=en}}{{cite web |title=Regan Talent Group {{!}} Josh & Kally |date=25 August 2020 |url=https://regantalentgroup.co.uk/portfolio_page/josh-kally/}}{{cite news |title=New RSPCA store in Cwmbran to be officially opened by Capital FM DJs |url=https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/19765641.cwmbran-rspca-store-opened-capitals-josh-kally/ |access-date=20 March 2023 |work=South Wales Argus |language=en}}

=News=

Global's Newsroom broadcasts hourly regional news updates from 5am-7pm on weekdays and 8am-12 midday at weekends.

The bulletins are produced for Communicorp by Global's Cardiff Bay newsroom, which also produces bulletins for Heart South Wales, Heart North and Mid Wales and Smooth Wales.

Former presenters

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References

{{Reflist|30em}}

External links

  • {{Official website}}

{{South Wales radio}}

{{Capital (radio network)}}

{{Media in Cardiff}}

{{Radio in Wales}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Capital South Wales}}

South Wales

Category:Communicorp

Category:Radio stations in Cardiff

Category:Radio stations in Wales

Category:Radio stations established in 1980

Category:1980 establishments in Wales

Category:Contemporary hit radio stations in the United Kingdom