Beginning in 2008,[2] the Absolute Radio Network stations (with the exception of 20s) utilise a 'split playlist' solution developed at Absolute Radio to syndicate the presenter links of the weekday Dave Berry Breakfast Show and, since 23 September 2019, Hometime with Bush and Richie from the main Absolute Radio station, with their music tracks replaced by those relevant to each station, chosen by the network database to match the required length, mood and tempo.

Weekend morning programmes, The Frank Skinner Show (Saturday) and The Jason Manford Show (Sunday) are broadcast on a one-hour time delay (airing from 8am on Absolute Radio and from 9am on the digital siblings), again with music tracks replaced by relevant music for each service - with the exception of Absolute Radio Country which does not share weekend morning programming.

The station was relaunched as a presenter-led service under the name Virgin Radio Classic Rock in 2004, and launched onto DAB in London (replacing Liquid).

The first of these, Absolute Radio 60s, covers a range of 1960s music, stretching from British pop/rock bands of the era such as The Beatles and The Rolling Stones to soul and Motown tracks.

[3] This station plays a broad mix of music from the era, ranging from rock and punk, to glam and soul.

Shortly after launch, the 90s service became available on Digital One, sharing a broadcast slot with Absolute Radio Extra, for what was initially billed as a five-week trial run; however, the trial continued beyond this, and in November 2010 it was confirmed that 90s would remain available nationally on a regular basis.

As the name suggests, the station plays music from the 1990s, following a similar format to the Absolute Radio 80s service.

As with the 80s and 90s stations, the new service will broadcast a range of music from the relevant decade and will feature shows hosted by Absolute DJs.

The eighth station in the Absolute Radio network began broadcasting at 10am on Monday 18 November 2019, and operated solely online until being made available as a DAB+ service in London from 26 April 2021.

A launch special, presented by Absolute DJ Jay Lawrence, played the station's first track, "Pompeii" by Bastille.

The ninth station in the Absolute Radio network began broadcasting at 10am on Monday 24 February 2020, and operates solely online.

The station used the 1215 AM frequency to play songs from The Andrews Sisters, Vera Lynn, Billie Holiday, Judy Garland, Glenn Miller, Bing Crosby, Doris Day and Gracie Fields for 24 hours with Dave Berry,[7] Leona Graham[8] and Claire Sturgess presenting shows, which included archive footage and reminisces from VE Day veterans.

[11] This pop-up was the winning idea of the 2024 Absolute Radio You competition,[12] with the pitch coming from Scottish sisters Rachael and Emma Hare.

[15][16] The first winner of the Absolute Radio You competition was Natalie Cole who proposed a service ‘Where sing-alongs matter’.

The station was on air in February 2022 and played show tunes from the stage and Disney films, mixed with upbeat pop tracks and boyband ballads.

Listeners seeking alternative music were advised to switch to dabbl, though that service was not available on digital TV and was only on DAB in London in the evenings.

The dabbl platform operated 24 hours a day online at dabbl.co.uk – its first DAB outlet was in the nights-only (7pm to 6 am) slot on DRG London previously vacated by Virgin Radio Groove, though the 24-hour dabbl was subsequently made available on local DAB platforms in the Essex and Bristol/Bath/Wiltshire areas.

The technology used allowed the station to be "interactive" – members of Absolute Radio's "VIP" online user community selected and voted for music to be played on the service.

At the time of the closure of Absolute Xtreme, its listeners were advised to retune to dabbl for alternative music service.

Ironically, the FM and MW services of Absolute Radio do now provide some split programme content (primarily football commentary) and had done in the past, but did not do so during the period that 105.8 was available in its own right on Sky.

In September 2005, Virgin Radio Xtreme launched and took over the London DAB and digital TV platforms previously carrying Groove.

Then, in June 2006, Groove returned to Sky's line-up 24 hours a day as part of an expansion of Virgin Radio's presence on the platform.

Sky channel 0202 was taken on by WRN and subsequently leased to Jazz FM (UK), whilst the 7pm-6am DAB slot would later be used by dabbl.