Absolute Xtreme was a

digital radio Digital radio is the use of digital technology to transmit or receive across the radio spectrum. Digital transmission by radio waves includes digital broadcasting, and especially digital audio radio services. Types In digital broadcasting sy ...

station broadcasting in the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the European mainland, continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

, which played new alternative music.

History

Virgin Radio Xtreme, as it was initially branded, launched at 12.15am on 5 September 2005 by then

Virgin Radio Virgin Radio launched in the United Kingdom in 1993. In 2008, Virgin Radio UK was sold to TIML, a subsidiary of The Times of India group, and the name was changed to Absolute Radio; the Virgin Radio name was not included in the sale. In 2001, ...

DJ, Steve Harris. Its music policy aimed at playing

modern rock Modern rock is an umbrella term used to describe rock music that is found on college rock radio stations. Some radio stations use this term to distinguish themselves from classic rock, which is based in 1960s–1980s rock music. Radio format Mod ...

for a youth audience. Since the departure (to rival station

Xfm London Radio X is a British National commercial radio station focused on alternative music, primarily indie rock, and owned by Global. Radio X launched in 1989 as a pirate radio station, a licensed London-wide station in 1997 and nationally in 2015 ...

) of Steve Harris at the end of 2006, the channel played non-stop music 24 hours a day. The station had carried shows which included The Edge with Steve Harris, "Hippies for an Hour" (an acoustic music show), and The Xtreme Mix with "Silent" Dave Lambert. Originally part of the

network of stations, it was wholly owned by

STV Group plc STV Group plc (formerly known as Scottish Television plc, Scottish Media Group plc and SMG plc) is a media company based in Glasgow, Scotland. Beginning as a television broadcaster in 1957, the company expanded into newspapers, advertising and r ...

, until 30 May 2008 when Virgin Radio was purchased by the TIML Golden Square Ltd, a subsidiary of the

Times of India ''The Times of India'', also known by its abbreviation ''TOI'', is an Indian English-language daily newspaper and digital news media owned and managed by The Times Group. It is the third-largest newspaper in India by circulation and largest ...

group, for £53.2 million. As a result of the sale of the Virgin Radio stations and the rebranding of Virgin Radio to

Absolute Radio Absolute Radio is a British Independent National Radio, National radio station owned and operated by Bauer Media Audio UK, Bauer as part of the Absolute Radio Network. It broadcasts nationally across the UK via Digital audio broadcasting and ...

, on 1 September 2008, it was announced that Virgin Radio Xtreme would be rebranded as Absolute Xtreme on 29 September 2008. In October 2009, it was announced that Absolute Xtreme would be replaced on DAB and digital TV by an all-1980s music station,

Absolute Radio 80s Absolute Radio 80s is a national digital radio station, owned and operated by Bauer as part of the Absolute Radio Network. History Absolute Radio 80s launched at 7.00pm on 4 December 2009, replacing Absolute Xtreme. The marketing plan for Abs ...

, with listeners seeking alternative music redirected to new user-controlled station dabbl, which itself closed in 2010.

Former DJs

Steve Harris Steve Harris may refer to: * Steve Harris (musician) (born 1956), founder member and bassist of the band Iron Maiden * Steve Harris (actor) (born 1965), American film and TV actor * Steve Harris (basketball) (1963–2016), American basketball playe ...

*David "Silent Dave" Lambert

Tuning In

DAB Digital Radio Digital radio is the use of digital technology to transmit or receive across the radio spectrum. Digital transmission by radio waves includes digital broadcasting, and especially digital audio radio services. Types In digital broadcasting syst ...

London London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...

on the Switch Multiplex *

Freesat Freesat is a British free-to-air satellite television service, first formed as a joint venture between the BBC and ITV plc and now owned by Digital UK. The service was formed as a memorandum in 2007 and has been marketed since 6 May 2008. F ...

Channel 726 * Sky Digital Channel 0200 *

Virgin Media Virgin Media is a British telecommunications company which provides telephone, television and internet services in the United Kingdom. Its headquarters are at Green Park in Reading, England. It is owned by Virgin Media O2, a 50:50 joint ven ...

Channel 951

References

External links

dabbl
{{UK-radio-station-stub