GWR purchased Marcher Radio Group in October 2000, although the latter remains as the official licensee of the station, which now forms part of Capital North West and Wales.

The first voice heard on air was the station's chairman, Lord Evans of Claughton and the first track played was Cliff Richard's Wired for Sound.

[citation needed] The group attracted funding from local businessmen and the Welsh Development Agency and shareholdings from neighbouring station Radio City.

Within two years of its launch, Radio City pulled out, the original management had left and the station was in severe financial difficulties.

Marcher initially broadcast for around 12.5 hours a day from 6am-6.30 pm (6am-6pm at weekends), with a daily Welsh language news programme on weekdays and a bilingual magazine show on Sunday.

A relay was added on 97.1 FM from the Moel-y-Parc transmitter, initially aimed at coastal areas of North East Wales.