Editing Century Network (section)

{{About|a group of radio stations in England|the first national commercial radio station in the [[Republic of Ireland]]|Century Radio}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Infobox company |
  name   = Century Network|
  logo   = |
  type = Subsidiary – [[GMG Radio]]|
  foundation     = 1994|
  defunct        = 2009|
  location       = UK|
  key_people     = |
  num_employees  = |
  industry       = Broadcasting|
  products       = [[Independent Local Radio]]|
  revenue        = |
  owner          = [[GMG Radio]]|
  homepage       = [http://www.centuryradio.co.uk]|
}}
'''Century Radio''' was the brand name of a group of [[Independent Local Radio]] stations in England. The brand was developed with the launch of [[100-102 Century Radio]] in North East England in 1994, with [[John Myers (radio executive)|John Myers]] as managing director and [[John Simons]] as programme director. The brand grew when Myers launched [[106 Century FM]] for the [[East Midlands]], and further when [[105.4 Century Radio]] was launched in North West England in 1998. [[Ocean FM (UK)|Ocean FM]] used the Century format, but not the brand.

The group was initially owned by [[Border Television|Border Radio Holdings]] until 2000, when [[Capital Radio Group]] took over the brand. When the larger [[GCap Media]] acquired the group in 2005, they were forced to sell the [[Nottingham]]-based "106" station to [[Chrysalis Group]] for competition reasons. [[GMG Radio]], with Myers and Simons as senior executives, bought the stations in 2006. They were rebranded [[Real Radio]] to conform to the branding and network programming of the other stations in the Real Radio network that Myers had developed since in 2000.<ref>[http://radiotoday.co.uk/news.php?extend.4197/ Century to Real]  {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120229061636/http://radiotoday.co.uk/news.php?extend.4197%2F |date=29 February 2012 }}, End of an Era, 18 December 2008</ref>

The stations were very successful using their 'radio you just have to sing along to' format, but later [[RAJAR]] figures showed a decline in market reach and market share.{{cn|date=October 2024}}

The head offices were based at [[Salford Quays]], along with the studios of Century's north west station, [[105.4 Century Radio]]. In addition, the building also accommodates [[GMG Radio]]'s sales division, and has completed building work to fit in sister station [[Smooth Radio (2014)|Smooth Radio]] and newly launched [[Rock Radio]].