Biography
Radio 538 (pronounce radio vijf-drie-acht) is a commercial radio station in The Netherlands aimed at young people. It has a broad format including Top 40, dance, R & B and recent hits. As of April 2004, it is the most popular radio station in The Netherlands with an average market share of about 12%.
Radio 538 was founded in 1992 by a group of former employees of Radio Veronica, led by Lex Harding. Broadcasts started on December 11, 1992 from a villa in Bussum. The name Radio 538 is derived from the wavelength at which Veronica broadcasted in the seventies (538 meters).
From the start in 1992 till 1995, Radio 538 only broadcast via cable. A request to broadcast in the ether was denied at that time. After a media campaign during which 320,000 signatures were collected, Radio 538 got its ether frequency in 1995, consisting of various regional frequencies. In 2003, Radio 538 was given a new nationwide frequency, 102 FM. However, Radio 538 had to pay € 57 million to gain the new frequencies, which it can operate until 2011.
In 1995 Lex Harding started the TV station TMF (The Music Factory) after which Erik de Zwart became the new president of Radio 538. At the end of 2002 Erik de Zwart left to go to competitor Noordzee FM. Jan-Willem Brüggenwirth became the new president. In December 2003 Radio 538 was sold to Advent International. Lex Harding kept 10% of the shares. In May 2005 Radio 538 was sold in its entirety to John de Mol's company Talpa. In June 2007 the Talpa holding was sold to RTL Nederland.
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