Europe 2

Europe 2

France
Broadcast area	France (National)
Frequency	103.5MHz(Paris) 100.3MHz(Lyon) 102.3MHz(Marseille)
RDS	EUROPE_2
Programming
Format	Pop
Ownership
Owner	Lagardère News
Sister stations	Europe 1 RFM
History
First air date	December 1, 1986
Former names	Virgin Radio (2008–2022)
Links
Website	www.europe2.fr

Europe 2is 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.

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 theCSAaccepted 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 theVirgingroup, nor to refer to them during broadcasts.This request was first contested in court by the radiosNRJandSkyrockbut their request was rejected.

Year 2008

On January 1, 2008 at midnight, following theHappy Rock Hours, the best of 2007show, 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 byRichard Branson.To inaugurate this new station,DJ Zebrahosted 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 sloganGet more.

At the start of the school year 2008, several key figures from Europe 2 leave the station. They are the animatorsNagui and Manuwhich are replaced byCauet,who is back on the air withLe morning de Cauet;of the host Kash who joinsNRJto replaceBruno Guillonat the head of6/9and Albert after eight years spent at the two stations, also leaving forNRJ.The slogan also changes (Rock Star Music) as well as the skin.Bruno Guillon,ex du6/9fromNRJalso arrives, withCamille 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 calledTalkonFun 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 andSébastien Cauetpresent their last show. In the weekend of July 11 and 12, 2009, Léo Lanvin andDJ Zebraalso 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" (exSkyrock) and Léo Cuenca (exRadio 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 andArthur Pillu-Périerrecover the morning with the eponymous programBruno Guillon,from 5:30 a.m. to 9:00 am, replacingCauet,whileCamille Combalhosts 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 songspop rockfrom 2000s. On January 1, 2010, the results were revealed with a landslide victory for the groupMuse(four titles in the top 7 rankings, including the first three places).

Year 2010

In 2010, Lagardère sold theVirgin 17channel to Bolloré, which replaced it on 1 September byDirect Star.

Beginning August 2010, Deborah leaves the station. Gaël Sanquer also, joiningNRJ,he is replaced by Denis Rostagnat (ex:NRJ GroupandRouge FM).Florian Gazan,another flagship host of6/9 sur NRJ,joinedBruno Guillonat the morning,now broadcast from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m.Arthur Pillu-Périer,on the contrary, leaves Bruno Guillon for the programCamille 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.

On September 1, 2010, the inter-union of Virgin Radio andRFMcalled on the employees to strike to denounce a plan to massively close the local stations of these 2 stations. This is a historic first since the creation of the group.

Faced with the collapse of the audience since the beginning of 2010, the choice is made to abandon the pop rock format and add dance andR'n'Bin the playlist and increase rotations.

Year 2011

As of January 3, 2011, the slogan changes for the fifth time since the creation of the radio station and becomes' 'Un MaXx' de Tubes' ',a slogan already used by Europe 2 a few years earlier.

Denis Rostagnat is leaving the post of program director at the beginning of April. He is replaced by Thomas Plessis, also director of radio programs and internet development at Lagardère Active Radio International. The latter will leave the group in May 2012 to joinCyril Hanounaon the channelD8and devote himself to his production activities. He will be replaced by Roberto Ciurleo.

Between 2010 and 2011, the distribution of dance titles increased by 22%.

In July 2011, after three seasons with Virgin Radio,Bruno Guillonand his team joined Fun Radio to replace Manu in the morning; it is also the departure of Ti'Dav for theMouv ',of Thomas Caussé forOÜI FM,and especially of Philippe Despont who after 13 years with Europe 2 and Virgin Radio joinedRFMto liven up weekend mornings. At the start of the 2011 school year, it wasCyril Hanounawho hosted "Hanouna le matin" withÉnora Malagré,a defector fromNRJ.For his part,Camille Combalhosts the "Soir Show" from 9 pm to midnight.

Year 2012

Beginning June 2012, the groupLagardère Activeannounces its intention to sell all or part of the capital of Virgin Radio, whose audiences are in free fall.Goom Radio,bouquet ofwebradios expressed interest in a takeover of Virgin Radio, but the operation was ultimately unsuccessful.

At the end of the 2011–2012 season, Greg di Mano left Virgin Radio, Léo Cuenca joinedRFM,Camille Combalsaw his program "Le Soir Show" stop for lack of audiences sufficient. On August 27, 2012,Cyril Hanounaleaves for a second season ofHanouna le matinwith a renewed team while a new musical show,Le Lab,hosted by Double F, airs every evening between 9 p.m. and 2 am. The grid will run for several months with a very small number of animators. On this occasion, the radio adopts a new slogan: The Pop Music Playlist.

Year 2013

A new schedule has been set up on February 26, 2013, and allows the return of Albert Spano, a former host of Europe 2. He takes the 9h / 13h box. The evenings of the weekend are animated byDJ Zébra,who also makes his return.

On March 28, 2013,Denis Olivennes,chairman ofLagardère Active,which owns Virgin Radio, declares that a takeover offer for 20% of the capital of the radio had been made byNRJ,but no firm offer had been received, and Virgin Radio was no longer for sale.

In June 2013, after two seasons in the morning program,Cyril Hanounaannounced his departure forEurope 1.The end of the season also marks the departure of Double F, which ends ten years of airing on Europe 2-Virgin Radio. On August 26, 2013, two new shows were aired: firstVirgin Tonichosted byChristophe BeaugrandandFlorian Gazan,and then also "Enora in the evening", afree antennahosted byÉnora Malagré.

The resort's slogan is evolving. The Pop Music playlist becomes the Pop-Rock-Electro playlist but despite this, audiences continue to decline with only 4.1% in November 2013.

Year 2014

On March 5, 2014, on radio, the station inaugurates a new studio, Studio Indochine

On March 20, 2014, on radio, the station launches into television.Lagardère Activeafter having sold the channelVirgin 17toBolloréis launching a new low-cost channel, capturing radio broadcasts and broadcasting together, the budget of which should not exceed two million euros per year. It is present on the internet as well as on ADSL networks. The channel broadcasts concerts, film clips and music videos. The station should also get closer to the groupMeltyand create around thirtyweb TVon YouTube.

In May 2014, following poor audiences, the showÉnora le Soirwas reduced by one hour whileJean-Michel Mairejoined the 'team. On July 4, 2014, Albert Spano left Virgin Radio for the second time after 16 months at 9 am / 1 pm to joinRFM,to host this same time slot. At the same time,DJ Zebrais leaving the station whileChristophe BeaugrandjoinsRTL.On August 25, 2014,Camille Combalis back to host the second season ofVirgin TonicwithLaure CohenandClément Lanoue.

Year 2017

On June 29, 2017,Camille Combalannounces that he is back for a final season at the head ofVirgin TonicwithClément/ Nico / Ginger andMélanie.On July 2, 2017, Lionel, emblematic host of the station, announces his departure from the station for the reason that he is planning a trip around the world. On July 7, 2017, Morgan, host of 4 to 9 p.m. on Virgin Radio national, announces his departure from the station to joinMouv '.His replacement is known, it will be Victor, host of Virgin Radio Provence.Cauetannounced on August 21, 2017, on his Facebook page that he will be host from 6 p.m. / 9 p.m. from August 29 on Virgin Radio with the name issue "Cauet let go".

Year 2018

Camille Combal takes over for (finally) a new season (5) of Virgin Tonic between 7 am and 10 am with Ginger, Nico, Clément and Mélanie. Lionel Virgile takes the 10 am – 12 midday on weekdays in place of Pierre-Alex who is transferred in the morning of the weekend 6 am – 12 midday Marion returns to her place a year ago at 12 midday – 4 p.m. Victor takes over from the 4 pm with the local national program until 8 pm (instead of Cauet who returned to him on NRJ). Also with Victor from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. it's Top VirginRadio and from 9 p.m. to midnight it's WorldOfPop.

Year 2019

Virgin Radio TV was shut down on 1 July 2019, during the sold of Lagardère TV activities toGroupe M6.

Camille Combal is still there for the sixth season of Virgin Tonic between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m. always with Ginger, Nico, Clément and Mélanie. Lionel Virgile and Marion left the station to devote themselves to other projects, they are replaced by Paul de Montreuil (ex. Radio FG) from 10 am to 12 midday and Julien (ex. Mouv) from 12 midday to 4 pm. The local program is maintained from 4 p.m. to 8 pm, in National with Victor who is also responsible for Le Top VirginRadio from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. finally the 9 pm – 12 midnight of the station is provided by Amandine with the best of the morning.

Year 2020

In September, Camille Combal gave way toManu Payetfor the seventh season of Virgin Tonic, while keeping his team (Ginger, Nico, Clément and Mélanie).

Year 2022

Virgin Radio wants to become Europe 2 again.

Virgin Tonic will end on July 1, 2022, succeeded by Le Morning sans filtre (The Morning without filter).

Year 2023

On 1 January 2023, Europe 2 returns.

Logos

• 
  Old logo of Europe 2 from August 22, 2005, until December 31, 2007.

External links

• Official website