Heart Xmas launches early for Christmas 2020

Global has started its annual festive radio station Heart Xmas early this year.

The service is available on lots of local digital radio multiplexes across the UK rather than the national mux D1 used previously.

The switch-on comes on the same day British Summer Time ends and more than 60 days before the big day itself.

This year sees a slight name change, dropping the “extra” tag used in previous years as Heart extra changed to Heart UK in March.

It’s on Global Player, Smart Speakers and these areas via DAB:

– Berkshire & North Hampshire
– Bristol
– Cambridgeshire
– Derbyshire
– Devon
– Essex
– Hereford/Worcestershire
– Herts/Beds/Bucks
– Humberside
– Kent
– Leeds
– Leicestershire
– Lincolnshire
– Greater London
– Norfolk
– North Yorkshire
– Northamptonshire
– Nottinghamshire
– Oxfordshire
– Peterborough
– Plymouth
– Somerset
– South Yorkshire
– Swindon
– West Wiltshire

We've switched on Heart Xmas to turn up the festive feel good! Anyone else BUZZING Christmas has come early?! ? ? ⛄️

— Heart (@thisisheart) October 25, 2020

Andy Everett, Managing Editor of Heart, said: “With the nation turning to radio for light-hearted escapism and comfort, we are thrilled to bring listeners some festive feel good cheer earlier than ever before this year as we launch Heart Xmas today!

“With the clocks going back, we’re switching on Christmas as Heart’s much-loved festive sister station returns, playing the nation’s favourite festive tunes from the past 50 years, non-stop, 24/7. The countdown to the big day is officially on here on Heart Xmas!”

Heart Breakfast’s Jamie Theakston adds: “It may be October, but we’re kick-starting our Christmas countdown on Heart earlier than ever before!

“As the clocks go back, we’re bringing the festive feel good forward to help lift the spirits of the nation over the next few months.”

Bauer launched its Christmas station, Magic 100% Christmas even earlier this year, on August 25th.