Slogan Classic Soul and Disco Former callsigns The Groove | Format Soul | |
Broadcast area London, United Kingdom (DAB);
Worldwide (Internet) First air date 26 June 2000
(ended 4 April 2008) Audience share Small but not zero (September 2007, [1]) | ||
A sister station to Virgin Radio, Virgin Radio Groove was a former radio station broadcasting worldwide on the internet. The station closed officially on 31 December 2007; however, it continued to broadcast until 4 April 2008.
It was launched as The Groove on 26 June 2000, and was renamed Virgin Radio Groove in 2004.
The first song played on The Groove was "ABC" by the Jackson 5.
As well as being broadcast on the internet, Virgin Radio Groove also broadcast on DAB in London and selected digital television networks (Sky Digital and Virgin Media). On 5 September 2005 the station was temporarily replaced by Virgin Radio Xtreme on DAB in London, but returned in early 2006 as a part-time service, daily from 7.00pm to 6.00am.
Closure
Virgin Radio Groove was due to close down at the end of 2007. This came after it was revealed that plans to launch Virgin Radio Viva, which would have been on the new Channel 4 platform and aimed at 15 to 29-year-old women, have been scrapped.
Between January and April 2008, the station still operated on all platforms, albeit entirely automated, and the official website was not updated since a message was added about the station's closure in 2007.
Virgin Radio Groove ceased broadcasting completely and was removed from the Sky EPG on 4 April 2008. The online streams also closed down. On the former frequency of Eurobird 1 11390V It is currently showing a 16Hz test tone for 1 day and then silent. The station's former channel existed on the Virgin Media EPG with a message mentioning the closure of the station in place of the programme titles until 17 April when Virgin Media removed it from their lineup.