{{short description|Former British radio station}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox radio station | country = England | name = Radio X Manchester | logo = | airdate = 15 March 2006 | last_airdate = 13 September 2015 as XFM | frequency = 97.7 [[megahertz|MHz]]<br>[[Digital Audio Broadcasting|DAB]]: 11C | area = [[North West England]] | format = [[Indie folk|Alternative music]] | owner = [[Global Radio]] | coordinates = {{coord|53.4802|-2.2386|type:landmark_region:GB|display=inline,title}} | website = {{url|http://www.xfmmanchester.co.uk/}} }} '''XFM Manchester''' was an [[Independent Local Radio]] station broadcasting alternative and indie music to [[Manchester]] in [[North West England]].

It built on the brand and format established by [[XFM London]]. The majority of programming was shared but some was produced specifically for Manchester. At its launch in 2006 it was owned by [[GCap Media]], and later became part of the [[Global Radio]] group.

In September 2015, the station was replaced, along with XFM London, by [[Radio X (United Kingdom)|Radio X]].

==Launch== XFM Manchester was awarded a 12-year (until 2017) [[FM broadcasting|FM]] radio licence on 9 June 2005, beating 18 rival bids.<ref name="XFM wins Manchester licence">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2005/jun/09/radio.uknews|title=XFM wins Manchester licence|last=Day|first=Julia|date=9 June 2005|work=MediaGuardian | location=London|publisher=Guardian News and Media}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=XFM Manchester wins licence fight |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/4080246.stm |work=BBC News |date=10 June 2005 |access-date=19 October 2011}}</ref> Established local radio presenter [[Terry Christian]] was cited in the licence application document but he remained at the relaunched [[BBC Radio Manchester]].<ref>{{cite news |title=BBC revamps GMR as competition heats up with Xfm launch |url=https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/bbc-revamps-gmr-competition-heats-xfm-launch/547809 |access-date=14 January 2022}}</ref>

Before its launch 20 February 2006, XFM Manchester began occasional technical test transmissions consisting of a playlist of songs chosen to appeal to its audience. XFM Manchester was officially launched at 8 am on 15 March 2006.<ref>{{cite news |title=XFM Announce Manchester Launch |url=https://radiotoday.co.uk/2006/01/xfm-announce-manchester-launch/ |access-date=14 January 2022}}</ref> A collage of Manchester related clips was played, and [[I Am the Resurrection]] by [[The Stone Roses]], and [[Song 2]] by [[Blur (band)|Blur]]. The first presenter on air was [[Paul Tonkinson]] with guest [[Shaun Ryder]] of the [[Happy Mondays]]. Launch events were held all day across Manchester, including a [[world record]] attempt in Albert Square hosted by [[Bez_(dancer)|Bez]] to shake the most number of maracas at any one time.<ref>{{cite news |title=Bez breaks world record for maracas |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/happy-mondays-76-1366072 |access-date=14 January 2022}}</ref>

Some presenters were formerly members of Manchester bands and institutions, including [[Inspiral Carpets]]' keyboard player [[Clint Boon]], [[Elbow (band)|Elbow]]'s frontman [[Guy Garvey]], [[The Smiths]]' bass player [[Andy Rourke]], [[Factory Records]] boss [[Tony Wilson]], and [[The Haçienda]]'s [[Dave Haslam]].<ref>{{cite news |title=XFM Reveals Manchester Launch Date |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/whats-on/music/xfm-reveals-manchester-launch-date-1018203 |access-date=14 January 2022}}</ref>

==Transmitter and studios== XFM was initially broadcast from studios at Laser House in [[Salford Quays]], the same building as [[105.4 Century FM|Century 105.4]]. But after Century was sold by [[GCap Media]] to [[GMG Radio|GMG]] in late 2006, the two stations ceased to share resources, and XFM Manchester moved to studios at the nearby Exchange Quay, also in [[City of Salford|Salford]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/business/commercial_property_news/s/1054232_xfm_in_quay_move|title=XFM in Quay move|date=17 June 2008|work=Manchester Evening News}} {{dead link|date=May 2012}}</ref> After [[Global Radio]] acquired the station, it moved the operations of its own [[Capital FM Manchester]] to the same site.

XFM Manchester's 1 [[kW]] transmitter is situated on the roof of [[City Tower, Manchester|City Tower]], formerly the Sunley Building, overlooking [[Piccadilly Gardens]] in the city centre, the same place as [[Capital FM Manchester]] and [[106.1 Rock Radio]]'s transmitter. All three services share the same broadcast [[Antenna (radio)|antenna]] system situated on the centre's tower which is illuminated with red [[Aircraft warning lights]] at night. XFM's analogue signal is available to an estimated 1.3 million people over the age of 15.<ref name="XFM wins Manchester licence" />

==XU and daytime networking== In May 2007, the then-owner of XFM Manchester, GCap Media, announced that all local presenters would be removed from the daytime (10 am-4 pm) lineup. Instead, an interactive show, incorporating listener requests via the website and phone in, 'vox-pops', live music and entertainment news would be broadcast. This show, named XU, was launched later that month. It received mixed reviews, and was eventually dropped a year later, replaced with networked daytime content sourced from XFM London.<ref>{{cite news |title=Xfm Brings Back DJs |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/xfm-brings-back-djs-1311803/ |access-date=14 January 2022}}</ref>

==Manchester United commentary== In August 2007, XFM Manchester acquired the rights from 105.4 Century FM to broadcast commentary from all [[Manchester United]] games,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2007/aug/06/radio.sport|title=XFM to air United commentary|last=Plunkett|first=John|date=6 August 2007|work=MediaGuardian | location=London|publisher=Guardian News and Media}}</ref> as an adjunct to the station's usual music programming, with commentary provided by presenters including [[Mickey Thomas (footballer)|Mickey Thomas]]. The contract ran for one season with [[Key 103]] becoming United's official commentary partner for 2008–11.<ref>[http://www.mediaweek.co.uk/news/836896/Key-103-wins-Manchester-United-commentary-rights/ Key 103 wins Manchester United commentary rights] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120217003040/http://www.mediaweek.co.uk/news/836896/Key-103-wins-Manchester-United-commentary-rights/ |date=February 17, 2012 }}</ref>

==Planned sale by GCap and Global takeover== In February 2008, GCap Media announced it would be selling the analogue licence for the station.<ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/feb/11/gcapmedia.digitaltvradio | title = Hazlitt: DAB 'not economically viable' |access-date=11 February 2008 | work=guardian.co.uk | location=London |last=Plunkett|first=John| date=11 February 2008|publisher=Guardian News and Media}}</ref> This decision was blamed on GCap's desire to cut costs while trying to fight off a takeover bid by rival group Global Radio.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/1036053_xfm_under_threat|title=XFM under threat|last=Donohue|first=Simon|date=12 February 2008|work=Manchester Evening News|publisher=M.E.N. Media}}{{Dead link|date=July 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Once Global's takeover of GCap succeeded, the decision to sell XFM Manchester was reversed.

==Notable presenters== {{Alumni|people|date=March 2015}}

*[[Clint Boon]] *[[Jo Good]] *[[Dave Rowntree]] *[[Phil Clifton]] *[[Andy Rourke]] *[[Adam Cole]] *[[Darryl Morris (presenter)|Darryl Morris]] *[[Guy Garvey]] *[[Russ Winstanley]] *[[Tony Wilson]] *[[Mick Rock]] *[[Lauren Laverne]] *[[Mike Sweeney (DJ)|Mike Sweeney]] *[[Jason Manford]] *[[Paul Tonkinson]] *[[Dave Haslam]] *[[Mike McClean]] *[[Pete Mitchell (broadcaster)|Pete Mitchell]]

==See also== *[[List of radio stations in the United Kingdom]]

==References== {{reflist|2}}

==External links== * [http://www.xfmmanchester.co.uk Official site] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060403002036/http://xfmmanchester.co.uk/ |date=3 April 2006 }} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20070930035156/http://www.ofcom.org.uk/radio/ifi/rbl/car/ifmapps/mancapps/XfmManchester.pdf Licence application document (1.2MB PDF)]

{{Global Radio}} {{Manchester radio}}

[[Category:Radio X (United Kingdom)]] [[Category:Radio stations in Manchester]] [[Category:Mass media in Salford]] [[Category:Radio stations established in 2006]] [[Category:Radio stations disestablished in 2015]] [[Category:Defunct radio stations in the United Kingdom]] [[Category:Rock radio stations in the United Kingdom]]