On 2 February 2016, Global announced that the station would launch as Heart Extra on national DAB on 29 February.[1][2] As Heart Extra, the station broadcast a presenter-free music sequence from 10am-4pm on weekdays, and simulcast Heart London programming outside this time.[3]
On 14 March 2017, Heart Extra was removed from the Sky and Virgin Media TV platforms in favour of new sibling Heart 80s.[4][5] Heart Extra continued to broadcast on DAB and online as before. Global closed Heart Extra on 12 March 2020 and replaced it with a full-time 'Heart UK' national feed.[6]
Heart Xmas
Heart Extra was re-branded as Heart Extra Xmas, a pop-up Christmas music service with the slogan 'Turn up the festive feel good!', during November and December 2016. The pop-up festive offering was Global's successor to the prior Smooth Christmas service. Heart Extra Xmas ran again at the end of 2017. Heart Extra Xmas was relaunched again for 2018, this time running between 3 November until midnight on 26 December 2018.[7] Heart Extra Xmas relaunched for 2019 on 1 November 2019.[8][9] It relaunched on 25 October 2020 branded as Heart Xmas following the closure of Heart Extra in March 2020. Heart Xmas relaunched for 2021 on 15 October ran until 27 December.[10]
Heart Xmas returned in 2022 for its 7th consecutive year, launching on 23 September. Heart Xmas officially returned exclusively to Global Player on 22 September 2023 and also on 28 September on DAB for its 8th year. Heart Xmas returned for its 9th year on 25 September 2024 along with Smooth Christmas.[11]
