The BBC's new digital radio station dedicated to black music launched on Friday evening.

1Xtra has strong links to Radio 1, targeting the same audience of 16-to-24 year olds but with a playlist focusing on hip-hop, UK garage, drum and bass and ragga.

Breakfast show host KC was the first voice to be heard, yelling "oh my God we're on air!" as she and and DJ collective Rampage opened the station at 1800 BST with a special five hour show to mark the occasion.

The opening show also introduced a number of the DJs who have been lined up for the station including Seani B, Manny Norte and JJC.

The station bills itself as "the home of new black music", and the first tracks to be played were a garage mix by Dem Lott - 1Xtra's Ere Now - and Xtra Dangerous by hip-hop stars Rodney P and Skitz.

DJ Semtex is part of 1Xtra's line-up

As part of the launch there will be a number of 1Xtra parties around the UK.

Other names included on the station's roster of DJs are G Child, Robbo Ranx, Kinky D and DJ Semtex.

News team

The programming has been designed to cover issues relevant to the station's target audience.

The station will have its own dedicated news team and a key element of 1Xtra will be a nightly discussion programme.

1Xtra is only available on digital radio, digital satellite channel 919, digital cable television or via the internet.

The station is the BBC's third digital station to launch, following the introduction of Five Live Sports Extra and 6 Music, dedicated to the best of rock and pop from the past 40 years.

A speech station, known provisionally as Network Z, is due to be launched later this year - although its launch has been delayed because of problems clearing the rights to archive programming.

The Asian Network - which currently broadcasts on AM in parts of England - will also be launched on digital radio later this year.

The radio industry hopes the new BBC digital stations and the launch of a new �99 set will help boost the medium.

But there is a waiting list of up to 10 weeks for the Pure Evoke 1 set - the first digital set to go on widespread sale for under �100 - which first entered shops last month.