Capital Radio signs up to sponsor Thorpe Park ride

Thorpe Park’s new rollercoaster Colossus is to be sponsored by Capital Radio as part of a marketing deal with the theme park’s owner, The Tussauds Group.

The deal, which starts next week, will also see 95.8 Capital FM played throughout the Surrey attraction. The 95.8 Capital FM brand will appear on flags around the car park and on Colossus ride photos.

Thorpe Park will be promoted on 95.8 Capital FM and its website, while DJ Schooly will feature a Capital Colossus section on his show inviting listeners to nominate their favourite songs.

The deal has been struck by Capital Radio group marketing director David Andrews, through OMD. No financial details have been released.

Colossus is claimed to be the world’s first ten-loop roller-coaster and can travel at speeds of up to 65mph. It has a throughput of 1,050 people an hour.

Meanwhile, Capital Radio is launching a pilot project to raise the profile of the station and the radio industry among London schoolchildren. Starting in May, DJs from 95.8 Capital FM will visit mainly teenage schoolchildren in the capital to talk about how they can find jobs in radio.

Andrews has created the initiative because he believes there may be a shortage of media talent over the coming years as the number of UK radio stations grows.

The station is particularly keen to lure more female DJs into what is a male-dominated industry.