51°30′44″N0°08′13″W / 51.512248°N 0.136937°W /51.512248; -0.136937
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|---|---|
| Broadcast area | United Kingdom |
| Frequency |
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| Branding | Absolute 80s |
| Programming | |
| Format | 1980s rock/pop |
| Network | Absolute Radio Network |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Bauer Radio |
| History | |
First air date | 6 December 2009 (2009-12-06) |
| Links | |
| Webcast | Rayo |
| Website | www |
Absolute Radio 80s (known on-air asAbsolute 80s) is a national digital radio station, owned and operated byBauer as part of theAbsolute Radio Network. Its main output is non-stop 1980s hits.
Absolute Radio 80s launched at 7.00 pm on 4 December 2009, replacingAbsolute Xtreme.[1]
The marketing plan for Absolute 80s started with targeted sampling at 80s events such asMadness,Pet Shop Boys andDepeche Mode at theO2 Arena,Erasure at theNEC Birmingham andSimple Minds at theWembley Arena. The first track to play on the station was "(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!)" by theBeastie Boys.[2][3]
On 14 May 2010, Absolute 80s began broadcasting in mono at 64 kbps onDigital One national DAB digital radio.
On 29 February 2016, the station switched to the newly launchedSound Digital multiplex (an "upgrade" to 80 kbps in mono) although it continued to broadcast on Digital One until the end of April 2016.[4]
On 16 October 2023, Absolute 80s switched to DAB+ broadcasting in stereo.[5]
On 12 December 2023, Absolute Radio 80s was removed fromFreesat, followed bySky andVirgin Media on 13 December, along with every other radio station owned by Bauer Media on either of the three TV platforms.[6]
The station's DJs includeLeona Graham,Sarah Champion, Richie Firth and Chris Martin. Claire Sturgess hosts a live 80s show every Friday on sister stationAbsolute Radio that is also simulcast live on Absolute 80s called Friday Night 80s. TheDave Berry Breakfast Show is also simulcast live on Absolute 80s.
Weekend programming sawTony Hadley, the former lead singer ofSpandau Ballet, used to host the two-hour80s Party on Saturdays from 6pm, that ended in December 2019.
On Sundays, Sarah Champion looks back on the chart hits of the decade on the 80s Chart Show. It airs during the same timeslot - 4pm to 7pm - that the singles chart programme used to air on bothBBC Radio 1 and commercial radio. This is followed by a follow-up programme in which Chris Martin looks at the album charts of the two years featured on the 80s Chart Show. At 9pmMatthew Rudd presenting Forgotten 80s, featuring lesser-played hits of the decade.
From 23 September 2019, Absolute Radio'sHometime with Bush and Richie is simulcast on weekdays, with the same "split playlist" system as used at breakfast allowing relevant music to be played on each station.
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