Europe 2 is a French private musical category D radio (category C for local stations). The whole works like a broadcasting network, the local antennas broadcasting a program during the pick-up, and the national program the rest of the time. Virgin Radio has been the new name for Europe 2 from January 1, 2008 to January 1, 2023.
Europe 2 broadcasts singles and songs by rock & pop artists. Classified in the category of contemporary adult radios and primarily targets young adults.
History (2007 to 2014 and 2017 to 2020)
Year 2007
It was on July 17, 2007, that the CSA accepted the name change from Europe 2 to Virgin Radio. Lagardère Active, owner of the radio and TV station, has undertaken not to broadcast any advertising messages for other products of the Virgin group, nor to refer to them during broadcasts. This request was first contested in court by the radios NRJ and Skyrock but their request was rejected.
Year 2008
On January 1, 2008 at midnight, following the Happy Rock Hours, the best of 2007 show, Europe 2 officially became Virgin Radio after the broadcast of a brief history retracing the history of Europe 2, and the top launch times announced by Richard Branson. To inaugurate this new station, DJ Zebra hosted the first 6 hours of the air. The rest of the program schedule is almost identical to that of Europe 2.
In July 2008, Virgin Radio is managed by Jean-Christophe Lestra (managing director of the Lagardère musical radios pole and also President of Lagardère Active Radio International) and Sam Zniber (Director of musical radios programs de Lagardère and Vice-President Programming of Lagardère Active Radio International). A few days after the radio polls concerning the period March – April 2008, on July 26, Virgin Radio decided to part with the slogan Get more.
At the start of the school year 2008, several key figures from Europe 2 leave the station. They are the animators Nagui and Manu which are replaced by Cauet, who is back on the air with Le morning de Cauet ; of the host Kash who joins NRJ to replace Bruno Guillon at the head of 6/9 and Albert after eight years spent at the two stations, also leaving for NRJ. The slogan also changes (Rock Star Music) as well as the skin. Bruno Guillon, ex du 6/9 from NRJ also arrives, with Camille Combal, on the station at the end of the afternoon. They animate "Le 17/20". Bruno Guillon therefore exchanges his place with Kash. On December 23, 2008, Éric Madelon in turn left the station, giving way to Clément, defector of the show called Talk on Fun Radio.
Year 2009
On April 29, 2009, Gaël Sanquer, defector of Fun Radio, where he held the post of head of channel and head of musical programming, was appointed director of programs for Virgin Radio.
In June 2009, Jean-Pierre Sablier and Sébastien Cauet present their last show. In the weekend of July 11 and 12, 2009, Léo Lanvin and DJ Zebra also make their last after being respectively 12 and 18 months on Virgin Radio . Between July 1 and 15, 2009, three new hosts are arriving on Virgin Radio: Déborah Grunwald (ex Fun Radio) David Mantaul alias "Ti 'Dav "(ex Skyrock) and Léo Cuenca (ex Radio FG). On July 31, 2009, at 9 pm, Sébastien Séfrin definitely turned the page on Virgin Radio after 13 seasons of presence.
On August 24, 2009, Bruno Guillon, Christina Guilloton and Arthur Pillu-Périer recover the morning with the eponymous program Bruno Guillon , from 5:30 a.m. to 9:00 am, replacing Cauet, while Camille Combal hosts the after-work from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with "Camille Combal and her orchestra" .
Beginning December 2009, Sam Zniber is replaced by Jean Isnard at the head of Virgin Radio. This is the third direction in 2 years of existence. During the whole month of December 2009, listeners were able to vote for the 100 songs pop rock from 2000s. On January 1, 2010, the results were revealed with a landslide victory for the group Muse (four titles in the top 7 rankings, including the first three places).
Year 2010
In 2010, Lagardère sold the Virgin 17 channel to Bolloré, which replaced it on 1 September by Direct Star.
Beginning August 2010, Deborah leaves the station. Gaël Sanquer also, joining NRJ, he is replaced by Denis Rostagnat (ex: NRJ Group and Rouge FM). Florian Gazan, another flagship host of 6/9 sur NRJ , joined Bruno Guillon at the morning, now broadcast from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. Arthur Pillu-Périer, on the contrary, leaves Bruno Guillon for the program Camille Combal et son orchester , now broadcast from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. then, during the year, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. h.