Editing Century Network

{{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]].

==History==

It was established by [[John Myers (radio executive)|John Myers]] and [[John Simons]] of Border Radio Holdings, a subsidiary of [[Border Television]]. The brand was later expanded to two further stations in North West England and the East Midlands.

In 2000, ownership of the stations was transferred to [[Capital Radio Group]], when Capital Radio Group bought Border Television.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/716361.stm |publisher=BBC News  | title=Capital agrees Border carve-up | date=17 April 2000 | accessdate=28 April 2010}}</ref> The buy-out was largely seen as Capital attempting to gain control of Century and its three regional licences, especially when Border Television itself was rapidly sold on to [[Granada Ltd.|Granada Media Group]].

Under the ownership of Capital the stations were subtly rebranded from ''Century Radio'' to ''Century FM''.  There was also a transfer away from the sixties, seventies, eighties, and nineties music format, which clashed with Capital's [[Capital Gold]] brand to a more modern music format.  The south-coast based [[Ocean FM (UK)|Ocean FM]] also took the "Century Format" but did not take the Century brand name.

With the merger of Capital and GWR in 2005, the Century brand became part of [[GCap Media]], however, the terms of the merger forced the sale of 106 Century FM to [[Chrysalis Group]].  Under the ownership of Chrysalis Group, 106 Century FM relaunched as [[Heart 106]] at Midnight on Friday 26 August 2005.  Later in 2005, [[Ocean FM (UK)|Ocean FM]] also began to move away from the Century format dropping Century branding, straplines, and networked programming for a more individual approach.

Finally, on 18 October 2006, it was announced that the two remaining Century stations had been sold to [[GMG Radio]].  Perhaps ironically, GMG Radio was run by Myers and Simons who created the original Century brand in 1994.<ref>{{cite web |title=GUARDIAN MEDIA GROUP ACQUIRES CENTURY RADIO |url=http://www.gmgradio.co.uk/newsarticles/news183.html |date=2006-10-19 |accessdate=2006-11-01 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20061108033404/http://www.gmgradio.co.uk/newsarticles/news183.html |archivedate=8 November 2006 }}<br>http://media.guardian.co.uk/city/story/0,,1925149,00.html</ref>

In December 2006, Century Digital ceased broadcasting on Sky Digital channel 0113 and was replaced with [[theJazz]].

Century Digital was replaced by Real Radio on DAB, a [[GMG Radio]] brand, in London on 23 March 2007, leaving Birmingham as the only area with Century Digital available, it finally closed a few days later. In 2008, Century FM changed its name to Century Radio and adopted a new logo, matching that of sister station [[Real Radio]]. On 31 March 2009, after over 14 years of using the Century name, Century Radio was renamed Real Radio to fit in with the branding and network programming of the other stations in the Real Radio network.

==Century branded stations==
*[[100-102 Century Radio]] (North East England)
*[[105.4 Century Radio]] (North West England)
*[[106 Century FM]] (East Midlands)
*[[Heart Hampshire|Ocean FM]] (South Hampshire, West Sussex and Isle of Wight)

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{official website|https://web.archive.org/web/20080512144403/http://www.centuryradio.co.uk/}} [redirects to Real Radio's website]

{{Century Network}}

[[Category:GMG Radio]]
[[Category:Radio stations in England]]
[[Category:Former British radio networks]]
[[Category:Radio stations established in 1994]]
[[Category:Radio stations disestablished in 2009]]