The station launched as Active 107.5 FM and, after ten years of planning, went on air May 18, 1998, broadcasting to east London and in particular to the London Boroughs of Havering and Barking & Dagenham. Active FM played a mix of new and old pop music with an emphasis on soul and rhythm and blues; evening shows catered for specialist musical tastes covering genres including disco, garage and contemporary club music. The station had its own local news team which would broadcast from Studio 2.