Heart UK

Heart UK (formerly Heart Extra) is a digital radio station owned and operated by Global as a national version of Heart, and broadcast from studios at Leicester Square in London.

Heart UK
  • United Kingdom
FrequencyDAB+: 11D/12A Digital One, 12A Channel Islands
Programming
Language(s)English
FormatHot AC
Ownership
OwnerGlobal
History
First air date
29 February 2016 (2016-02-29) (as Heart extra)
12 March 2020 (2020-03-12) (as Heart UK)
Links
Websitewww.heart.co.uk/digital/

On 2 February 2016, Global announced that the station would launch as Heart Extra on national DAB on 29 February.[1][2] As Heart Extra, the station broadcast a presenter-free music sequence from 10am-4pm on weekdays, and simulcast Heart London programming outside this time.[3]

On 14 March 2017, Heart Extra was removed from the Sky and Virgin Media TV platforms in favour of new sibling Heart 80s.[4][5] Heart Extra continued to broadcast on DAB and online as before. Global closed Heart Extra on 12 March 2020 and replaced it with a full-time 'Heart UK' national feed.[6]

Heart Xmas

Heart Extra was re-branded as Heart Extra Xmas, a pop-up Christmas music service with the slogan 'Turn up the festive feel good!', during November and December 2016. The pop-up festive offering was Global's successor to the prior Smooth Christmas service. Heart Extra Xmas ran again at the end of 2017. Heart Extra Xmas was relaunched again for 2018, this time running between 3 November until midnight on 26 December 2018.[7] Heart Extra Xmas relaunched for 2019 on 1 November 2019.[8][9] It relaunched on 25 October 2020 branded as Heart Xmas following the closure of Heart Extra in March 2020. Heart Xmas relaunched for 2021 on 15 October ran until 27 December.[10]

Heart Xmas returned in 2022 for its 7th consecutive year, launching on 23rd September.

Heart Xmas officially returned exclusively to Global Player on 22 September 2023 and also on 28th September on DAB for its 8th year, and will be on-air until 5th January 2024.

References
  1. "Global to launch Heart extra on DAB radio".
  2. "Heart Extra Has Arrived!". Heart.
  3. "Join Jamie Theakston and Amanda Holden for the All New Heart Breakfast". amp.heart.co.uk.
  4. "Digital radio with Sky and Freesat from Sky". Digital Radio Choice.
  5. "Virgin TV Channel guide". Virgin Media.
  6. "Smooth Extra and Heart extra replaced on Digital One". 12 March 2020.
  7. "Heart extra Xmas returns for festive season". 3 November 2018.
  8. "Heart extra turns into Heart extra Xmas". 1 November 2019.
  9. "How to listen to Heart extra Xmas on DAB, Global Player and smart speaker". Heart.
  10. "Heart Xmas is back for 2021!". amp.heart.co.uk. Retrieved 17 October 2021.


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