Network Chart - The Kid & The Doctor

It was probably one of the most gifted scheduling decisions to programme a music chart at teatime on Sundays. Not a peak audience period naturally, but one where audience availability was high. The BBC owned the daypart traditionally, and commercial radio lost out hugely when programming against the might of the Corporation’s established offering.

Eventually, commercial radio’s trade body (then the Association of Independent Radio Contractors) co-ordinated a chart offering across the commercial network of stations. Back then, networking was rare across any stations, let alone the whole country.

I recall the chart was originally despatched down the ‘IRN line’, so poor mono quality. But it worked.

David ’Kid’ Jensen was the first host of the ‘Network Chart’, known as a ‘national name’ from his time at Radio Luxembourg and BBC Radio 1. The show adopted Nescafe as its first major sponsor. Stations were delighted at the daypart’s revenue; and from the sexiness of the branded programme property including a never ending supply of T shirts and sweat shirts.

Neil Fox took over what had become the Pepsi Network Chart in 1993. As sponsorship regulations eased, the show then became simply the ‘Pepsi Chart’ and then hit40uk. In 2009, hit40uk became The Big Top 40.

Hear here Kid talk about the early days, and Neil 'Doctor' Fox talk about its steps forward. Hear some early promos from across the network; and, finally, Neil Fox's last countdown.

And it’s stereo now.