Antena 3 Radio was a nationwide Spanish radio station opened on 1 February 1982 and closed on 19 June 1994. It served as the basis for the creation of Antena 3 Televisión.
Antena 3 was created on 1 February 1982 by La Vanguardia (51%) and ABC (13%), Manuel Martín Ferrand (5%), Europa Press and Grupo Zeta. The CEO was Manuel Martín Ferrand, and its president was Rafael Jiménez de Parga, later succeeded by Javier Godó (from La Vanguardia). The general director was Javier Jimeno, the Head of Programs was José Luis Orosa, and José Cavero was head of news.
The main goal of Antena 3 was to create a private television channel. That request was rejected in 1982, but then approved in 1989, when Antena 3 Televisión was created, joining both companies of radio and television.
Antena 3 started broadcast nationwide on 4 May 1982. In 1984, they acquired Promotora de Televisión y Radio S.A. and its music station Radio 80, which became Radio 8 Serie Oro. On 1991, through Onda Musical S.A. they released another music station, Radiolé. In 1989, they became the first Spanish media company on the stock exchange. On 1992, they went to number 1 on the EGM (3.139.000 listeners, beating Cadena SER with 3.007.000 listeners).
On 22 July 1992 Prisa, owner of Cadena SER, bought 49% of Inversiones Godó and 51% of Patrielva, and therefore controlled 25% of Antena 3 Radio. At the end of 1992, fulfilling the Television Law, Antena 3 Radio sold their part of Antena 3 Television (12,49%), and therefore, the radio and television companies became independent from each other.
Meanwhile, in January 1993, Radio 80 (owned by Antena 3) merged with Radio Minuto (owned by Prisa), creating M80 Radio. In May 1994, against the opinion of the Court of Competition, the cabinet council authorized the operation and creation of Unión Radio.
Therefore, on 19 June 1994, Antena 3 ceased its broadcast as a generalist station, and became "Sinfo Radio Antena 3", which would be dedicated to classic music. In 2000, the Supreme Court outlawed the 1994 operation, but the sentence never was executed.[2] Finally, on 29 March 2002, Sinfo Radio Antena 3 ceased its transmissions and was substituted by Máxima FM, dedicated to dance music.
