Newsdesk

The latest stories about radio in London

Radio One Hits London on FM

Radio One has launched an FM relay for London after carrying out experimental VHF transmissions since the summer.

Tests were carried out on several frequencies in late August and September, one of which had to be abandoned following interference to Fire Brigade communications. Engineers finally settled on 104.8MHz and the full service was only delayed while the BBC waited for international clearance. The relay took to the air on October 31, operating from the same site as Radio London at Crystal Palace, with approximately 2KW ERP. JBC, who previously broadcast to North West London on 104.75 have been forced to move.

The BBC has denied that it is considering a separate London opt-out service on the frequency, aiming at a more adult audience with AOR programming, although they are reported to have had discussions with record companies about such a service. Radio One is making major programming changes, though. There are to be more album cuts and a wider spectrum of music will be played. There is also to be more speech content and drama.

BBC Plans Major Shake-Up of Radio

The BBC is to make major changes to its radio services as it moves towards the 19905 and the arrival of more competition on the dial.

The existing national services Radios 1, 2, 3 & 4 will all be concentrated on FM, while on AM, Radio 2's channels will house a World Service / Sport / Education service and Radio 4's channel a Parliamentary, special events and news service.

Pirate Boss on Menaces Charges

The boss of Prime Time Radio has been sentenced to 200 hours community service by lsleworth Crown Court for demanding money from a former DJ on the station.

The offence occurred after the station suffered two DTI raids and equipment worth £1,200 was seized. Prime Time's boss jumped to the conclusion that one of his DJs tipped off the DTI about the location of the station.

The DJ claimed that he was dragged into a car and taken to the station's studio at a flat in Southall where he was attacked with a rolling pin and a demand for £1,200 to replace the confiscated equipment was made. The DJ also alleged that he was threatened with being shot in the legs if the money was not handed over.

Prime Time's owner denied all the charges and said the DJ went voluntarily to the flat to discuss posters he had agreed to design.

He was found guilty of blackmail and demanding money with menaces, but acquitted of abduction and false imprisonment.

Star Force Are Go

The new owners of the MV Communicator, former home of Laser, are planning to have two new services on air from the boat as soon as possible.

Star Force 576 will broadcast with a hot hits format, presented by American DJs, from 5am till 1am. Programmes will go out both on 576KHz AM with 25KW and an as yet unannounced FM frequency with 100KW ERP. Harmony 981 will broadcast MOR music and religious programmes from 7am to 7pm.

Work on the Communicator to erect new aerial systems is progressing rapidly and both stations hoped to be on the air by November. The boat has moved to a new location off Suffolk from its previous location near to Caroline's boat, the Ross Revenge off Kent.

The new station is launching at a time when the Government is proposing further legislation against offshore broadcasters. There is also some doubt about the viability of a VHF signal in London, especially now that territorial waters have been extended to 10 miles with an additional 10 miles customs zone, in which customs officers have additional powers.

Hurricane Strikes London Radio

Many of London's stations were taken off the air in the gales of 15 / 16 October.

LBC was worst hit when the cooling system on the station's emergency generators failed and they had to resort to broadcasting from a temporary studio outside their headquarters. Telephone lines were also out of action causing further problems. Capital was the only station on the air throughout, though there were breaks on VHF along with LBC who share its Crystal Palace transmitter site. Radio London opened early at 5.30am with its Rush-hour programme.

London's pirates were also hit, mostly due to power failures at both studio and transmitter sites. Direct Line Radio and London Rock both had their aerial masts split in two. RFM only managed to repair its aerial system a few hours before the start of their usual Sunday broadcasts. Almost all stations were back on the air by Sunday.

Radio Ships The MV Ross Revenge and M V Communicator were subjected to winds of over 120mph and seas rising to over 70ft. Some damage was caused to the boats, and Caroline was forced to abandon broadcasting when its transmitter kept tripping out due to the large spray.

Leading Rockers Split

Leading London rock station RFM has split over differences about the direction the station was moving in.

The dispute began when Claire Mansfield expressed her worries that the station was moving too far towards an AOR / Classic Rock format when she felt it ought to be playing more upfront metal. Meanwhile, several DJs were involved in an attempt to oust Monty Zero, which led to Claire and Monty leaving. Dave Fuller has now teamed up with Claire again to form a new station. DFCM Rock Machine, which will broadcast continuous rock music to London all weekend.

Update

A Survey into what listeners want from radio has shown little interest from the general public in community radio, except for ethnic stations.

The DTI have reported that there are problems with the increasing use of 'link' transmitters by unlicensed stations. They say that these only come to light when they cause interference to other services

New independent stations are on the cards in 13 areas throughout Britain, including Aylesbury, Milton Keynes and Hertford & Harlow.

Country music is planned for an after midnight service on Radio Caroline's second transmitter, shortly to move from 963KHz to a clearer channel.

Turkish Community Radio had a successful special event broadcast at the Enfield Show in August. The Home Office licensed a 50 milliwat transmitter for the duration of the event.

Solar Radio hopes to begin 7 days a week programmes as soon as is practicable.

London's hip-hop fans, get a better deal from the radio when Ice House, 'your chillin' centre', launches in November.

Biggest fine ever received by a pirate is £1000 plus £900 costs for a DJ from Canvey Community Radio.

Lates

Another of those issues where stations choose to take to the air just as the listings are done. Confidence Radio has returned to West London on 92.8, as per usual reggae with a touch of soul though the sound quality is not too wonderful. Somewhere in London (North of the Thames maybe?) comes Northdown 105, heard right at the start of November. Finally, an omission: Playback FM from Watford on 93.2, with commercial soul. First heard back in September when they were broadcasting every evening. Quiet for a patch and now back once more.

Another omission. Due to a total lack of space the listings round up for the rest of the UK has unfortunately not been able to be fitted in. Should you wish to avail yourselves of a copy then send an SAE to our usual address requesting one. We're working on extending the listings section for the next issue, as several stations programme schedules have also had to be cut.

After writing the piece about Star Force 576 we're getting increasingly sceptical about actually hearing anything. Work is apparently slowly progressing, but it seems that It never really pays to write too much about offshore stations until they hit the air and stay. .

That's all that's new. Quick plug for the new Kiss- FM promotion, The Base, at The HQ, Camden Lock, NW1 every Saturday from 10.30pm and see you soon.