Capital gets go-ahead to buy Virgin Radio

Capital gets go-ahead to buy Virgin Radio

The Radio Authority said it "sees no reason" to bar Capital Radio's acquisition of Virgin Radio. The Authority had been conducting a public interest test to determine whether the pounds 64.7m deal would undermine plurality of ownership or diversity of output.

Despite its decision, though, the Authority "sought undertakings" from Capital that news programmes would be separately produced and presented on the three London stations, Capital FM, Capital Gold (AM) and Virgin FM. Virgin's promise of performance has also been amended in the light of the merger to limit alternative rock to 20 per cent of the total output.