The Manchester-based version of the service was broadcast to Greater Manchester on FM, and to a number of areas on DAB: the closure of the MXR regional multiplexes ended most digital carriage of the service, with the last remaining digital transmission, to Yorkshire, ending in 2014.

[1][2] The station began test transmissions as 106.1 FM Rock Radio on 10 April 2008 from the top of the City Tower (the former Sunley Building) in Piccadilly in Manchester.

The station promoted its launch with a free, one-day festival at Cathedral Gardens featuring the bands Bad Company, Gun, Salford Jets, Letz Zep and Mercury.

[3][4] The station's parent company, Guardian Media Group, was bought by Global Radio in June 2012.

[5][6][1] On 6 February 2014, Global Radio reached an agreement to sell the station and seven others to Communicorp following recommendations from the Competition Commission.