Pepsi Chart

The Pepsi Chart
Other namesThe Pepsi Network Chart
GenreChart
Running timeSundays 4.00pm – 7.00pm
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Language(s)English
Home station95.8 Capital FM
TV adaptationsChannel 5
StarringDr. Fox
Created byUnique Productions
Original release1 August 1993 –
29 December 2002
History of the UK independent and commercial radio music chart
The Network Chart Show
1984-1993: The Network Chart Show
The Pepsi Chart
1996-2002: The Pepsi Network Chart Show
1996-2002: The Pepsi Chart
Hit40UK
2003–2009: Hit40UK
The Official Big Top 40
2009–2010: The Big Top 40 Show
2010-2011: The Vodafone Freebees Big Top 40
2011-2017: The Vodafone Big Top 40
2017-2018: The Official Vodafone Big Top 40
2019-2022: The Official Big Top 40
2022-2024: The Sky VIP Official Big Top 40
2024–present: The Official Big Top 40

The Pepsi Chart (previously known as "The Pepsi Network Chart Show") was a networked Sunday afternoon Top 40 countdown on UK radio that started life on 1 August 1993 with Neil 'Doctor' Fox hosting the show live from the Capital Radio studios in London. The Pepsi Chart show carried an emphasis in fun and was the UK's first personality-led chart show: the presenter was live and exciting and big-prize competitions were held.

The Pepsi Chart was produced for the Commercial Radio Companies Association by the Unique Broadcasting Company,[1][2] who along with the (then) programme director of Capital Radio Richard Park, and Fox, came up with the new show concept. The show was broadcast on between 80 and 110 local commercial radio stations across the UK via SMS satellite. Locums for the 'Doctor' included Capital's own Steve Penk and Key 103 Manchester's Darren Proctor. Occasional guest presenters filled in, such as Richard Blackwood of MTV UK & Ireland fame.

The Top 10 of the Pepsi Chart was the same as the official Top 10 of the UK Singles Chart that was compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC but then CIN) and which was used by the BBC's Radio 1 Official Chart Show. However, the lower positions of 11–40 on the Pepsi Chart combined sales with radio airplay data. The Pepsi Chart was a re-branded version of The Network Chart Show which had previously been compiled by MRIB until Pepsi took over sponsorship from Nescafé in August 1993.[3] In 1995, it was called the Pepsi Network Chart Show,[4] but in 1996 it was renamed the Pepsi Chart.[5]

  1. ^ Williams, Paul (18 July 1998). "MTV takes to the airwaves in radio launch with Unique" (PDF). Music Week. p. 5. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  2. ^ "Research-based chart debuts in the UK" (PDF). Music & Media. 16 December 2000. p. 21. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  3. ^ "Network Chart opts for official CIN data" (PDF). Music Week. 3 July 1993. p. 1. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  4. ^ "David Sloly" (PDF). Music Week. 24 June 1995. p. 3. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  5. ^ "Pepsi peps up chart backing" (PDF). Music Week. 14 September 1996. p. 3. Retrieved 12 September 2021.