GCap Media, which owns Capital Radio, today announced plans to invest in a marketing campaign to help boost the station's ratings.

In a six-month trading announcement, the company said marketing activity for Capital would begin "shortly", and hoped the impact would be visible in the New Year and in its 2007 listener figures.

The statement said: "Enhancing Capital Radio’s performance remains our priority. Our strategy for the station is clear and we have made good progress in its implementation."

In the most recent Rajar figures (August 2006) Capital fell behind Emap's Magic and Chrysalis-owned Heart 106.2.

GCap's total revenues were down 9% on 2005 figures, for the six months ending September 30, 2006.

The company said that although the market remained weak, it expected its advertising revenues, excluding Capital Radio, to be in line with the radio sector as a whole for September and October.