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| Broadcast area | Spain |
|---|---|
| Programming | |
| Language | Spanish |
| Ownership | |
| Operator | Grupo Antena 3 (1982–1992) Unión Radio (1993–1994) |
| History | |
First air date | 1 February 1982 (1982-02-01) |
Last air date | 17 June 1994 (1994-06-17) |
Antena 3 Radio was a nationwide Spanish radio station opened on 1 February 1982 and closed on 19 June 1994. It served as the basis for the creation ofAntena 3 Televisión.
Antena 3 was created on 1 February 1982 byLa Vanguardia (51%) andABC (13%),Manuel Martín Ferrand (5%),Europa Press andGrupo Zeta. The CEO was Manuel Martín Ferrand, and its president wasRafael Jiménez de Parga, later succeeded byJavier Godó (from La Vanguardia). The general director was Javier Jimeno, the Head of Programs was José Luis Orosa, and José Cavero was head of news.
The main goal of Antena 3 was to create a private television channel. That request was rejected in 1982, but then approved in 1989, when Antena 3 Televisión was created, joining both companies of radio and television.
Antena 3 started broadcast nationwide on 4 May 1982. In 1984, they acquired Promotora de Televisión y Radio S.A. and its music station Radio 80, which becameRadio 8 Serie Oro. On 1991, through Onda Musical S.A. they released another music station,Radiolé. In 1989, they became the first Spanish media company on the stock exchange. On 1992, they went to number 1 on the EGM (3.139.000 listeners, beatingCadena SER with 3.007.000 listeners).
On 22 July 1992 Prisa, owner of Cadena SER, bought 49% of Inversiones Godó and 51% of Patrielva, and therefore controlled 25% of Antena 3 Radio. At the end of 1992, fulfilling the Television Law, Antena 3 Radio sold their part of Antena 3 Television (12,49%), and therefore, the radio and television companies became independent from each other.
On 1993, PRISA launched an IPO to acquire the share of stock. At the end of 1993, after some business movements, Prisa owned 80% of Antena 3 Radio through the constitution of "Unión Radio". Eight journalists from Antena 3 (Antonio Herrero,Manuel Martín Ferrand,Melchor Miralles,Pedro J. Ramírez,Luis Ángel de la Viuda,Federico Jiménez Losantos,José María García andLuis Herrero) would denounce this operation. The newspaperEl País would criticize this denounce.[1]
Meanwhile, in January 1993, Radio 80 (owned by Antena 3) merged with Radio Minuto (owned by Prisa), creatingM80 Radio. In May 1994, against the opinion of the Court of Competition, the cabinet council authorized the operation and creation of Unión Radio.
Therefore, on 19 June 1994, Antena 3 ceased its broadcast as ageneralist station, and became "Sinfo Radio Antena 3", which would be dedicated to classic music. In 2000, the Supreme Court outlawed the 1994 operation, but the sentence never was executed.[2] Finally, on 29 March 2002, Sinfo Radio Antena 3 ceased its transmissions and was substituted by Máxima FM, dedicated to dance music.
