Absolute Radio to launch 90s station as Absolute 80s goes nationwide

Absolute Radio is to launch new digital station, Absolute Radio 90s, and take its existing digital service Absolute 80s nationwide. The Britpop-based Absolute Radio 90s will launch on digital audio broadcasting (DAB) in London in June. Absolute 80s went nationwide on the digital audio broadcasting (DAB) platform Digital One at 10am today. Already available via the internet, the station debuted with an average weekly reach of 264,000 listeners in the first three months of this year, according to Rajar figures published yesterday. The performance of the digital station helped compensate for another slide in listening for the main Absolute Radio service, down 17.5% year on year to 1.4 million. Donnach O'Driscoll, Absolute Radio chief executive, said: "Absolute 80s has been a runway success and listeners love it, which is why we're expanding the station on to a national platform. "With Absolute 80s we struck on a winner so extending the format with this 90's proposition was the natural progression." • To contact the MediaGuardian news desk email [email protected] or phone 020 3353 3857. For all other inquiries please call the main Guardian switchboard on 020 3353 2000. • If you are writing a comment for publication, please mark clearly "for publication".