Sponsorship now switches mainly to record companies such as Decca and EMI. On Sunday 3 December, English programmes are simultaneously broadcast from Radio Paris and Radio Luxembourg, and finally transferred permanently to Luxembourg the following Sunday. Radio Luxembourg Advertising Ltd is founded. RTL Group is using the new DRM (Digital Radio Mondiale)technology to re-launch Radio Luxembourg in English on several short wave frequencies, notably 7145 KHz, offering a format of Classic Rock. In the 1950s, when John Peel was growing up, its evening broadcasts on the medium wave band were the only alternative to the BBC for most UK listeners, and remained so until the rise of the offshore pirate stations of the mid-1960s. The PWD was an Anglo-American organisation that used radio broadcasting to undermine German soldiers’ morale. All rights reserved. The station broadcasts records, sports results on Saturdays, and live concerts performed by an orchestra from their attic studio, as well as from outside. He was also one of the very first radio DJs to appear on the BBC’s newly-created Radio 1 . Arguably the earliest commercial radio station broadcasting in the English language, Radio Luxembourg started broadcasting to the entertainment-starved listeners of the United Kingdom. At the end of the nineties, the merger of CLT and UFA creates the leading European broadcaster and production house, and is a turning point in CLT’s history: CLT-UFA is the European Entertainment Enterprise. The company becomes a European pioneer by broadcasting a unique programme in several languages using the same frequency. François Anen is involved in both companies. Bitrate. A legal battle between the CLR and Radio Publicity (London), the English language concession company, leads to the revocation of the concession in favour of the newly created Wireless Publicity Ltd, which is actually a subsidiary of the ostensibly private firm Cable & Wireless Ltd, whose vast undersea cable network was the subject of considerable British government interest and secret subsidies. The main shareholders are CSF, Agence Havas (both already associated in Radio Paris), I&P, Banque de Paris et des Pays-Bas, Compagnie des Compteurs,  and the Banque Industrielle Belge. The CNRL – in which the Anen station has been integrated, and which was given the frequency of 223m by the Prague Plan in January – starts building a transmitter site in Cessange (Kohlenberg) and begins broadcasting under the name Radio Luxembourg. Some turn towards Luxembourg. On the day of the Nazi invasion, Radio Luxembourg installations are among the first objectives of the Wehrmacht in the Grand Duchy. On the eve of war, the Luxembourg government, concerned about maintaining Luxembourg’s neutrality, asks CLR to stop broadcasting – a decision already considered by the company’s management. The government demands that CLR suspends its activities and, from 1944 onwards, the Allies use the radio station. Nostalgia Central is an enormous scrapbook providing a trip from the Rockin 50s via the Swinging 60s, the Mirror-balled 70s and Day-Glo 80s to the Grunge-filled 90s. A French–Luxembourgish study syndicate is created, with the aim of installing a powerful radio station in Luxembourg. In October RTL Group sells its 80% share in Atlantic 252 to Teamtalk. On 22 September, the commercial TV channel ITV starts broadcasting from London. Pirate radio brought a new music to the mainstream. While the MAB has not had any reports of any significant pirate radio activity in our state in a number of years, legal broadcasters are asked to report known pirate radio operations via the FCC Unlicensed Broadcast Station “Pirate” Reporting form. The Teen and Twenty Disc Club (TTDC) was part of Jimmy Savile’s Decca-sponsored Radio Luxembourg show. The same aim is pursued by two more companies created in 1929: Stations like these helped keep rock and roll alive. Radio Luxembourg begins broadcasting again on 12 November 1945, with the famous words: “Bonjour le Monde, ici Radio Luxembourg.”. The British authorities also protest vehemently against the wavelength (1250 metres) chosen by the Radio Luxembourg management and which has been denied to the Grand Duchy at the European Broadcasting Conference in Lucerne, claiming it would interfere with British aircraft wireless services. Note: At several points in the article Radio Luxembourg is referred to as a 'pirate' radio station. Radio Insurgente, the voice of the Zapatista movement, operated from 2003 to 2009. Concerns are raised especially by the BBC and the British Post Office concerning the power of the transmitter that enables Radio Luxembourg to be broadcast throughout Britain, undermining the BBC’s monopoly. Often mistakenly referred to as a ‘Pirate’ radio station, Radio Luxembourg offered an English speaking commercial service for more than 60 years and shaped the radio landscape for future commercial broadcasting in the UK. Part of the Villa Louvigny – once a 17th century fort located in the heart of Luxembourg City – is rented as headquarters for all radio activities except transmission. Radio Caroline, the first of several British pirate offshore radio stations, starts broadcasting from a ship. War time. There was little television nor radio – Irish radio at the time consisted solely of the semi-state broadcaster RTE (Radio Teleifis Eireann) and the only music stations I can remember are BBC Radio 1 or Radio Luxembourg. External Live Stream. Easter Saturday 1964 marked a revolutionary event for British radio, through the first, UK-based, pirate radio station known as Radio Caroline. The Legend Is Back! The first presenters speak mainly Luxembourgish, but also German, French and English. Under the impulse of this new agent, Radio Luxembourg expanses with daily programmes in English and asserts its dominance until 1939. [2] Because commercial broadcasting was prohibited at the time in the UK, sponsored programmes in English were broadcast from the continent (Radio Normandy, Radio Lyons, Radio Toulouse, Poste Parisien, Radio Paris). A 25-year concession agreement is signed on 29 September. It was better than Radio Luxembourg, which only played records in … The concept of popular pirate radio began with Radio Luxembourg in the 1930s. Radio Caroline was an idea thought by Ronan O’Rahilly, With financial backing, O’Rahilly transformed a passenger ferry into a pirate radio … Powerful long-wave transmitters go into service at the Beidweiler site. Pirate radio, unlicensed radio broadcast intended for general public reception. Following the ongoing success of Radio Luxembourg, CLR buys the Villa Louvigny and extends the premises. The station was already broadcasting legally around Europe from the tiny nation of Luxembourg… English programmes from Luxembourg enjoy growing popularity among British listeners, especially as the Sunday broadcasts on the BBC are rather austere in accordance with the Sunday Observance restrictions, whereas Radio Luxembourg broadcasts jazz and light music. Radio Luxembourg. The construction of the transmitter site in Junglinster begins. © Copyright 2021 Nostalgia Central. The members of the SLER found the Compagnie Luxembourgeoise de Radiodiffusion (CLR). To counter the popularity of these illegal broadcasters and the ongoing success of Radio Luxembourg, the BBC is restructured, establishing Radio 1, Radio 2, Radio 3 and Radio 4. Radio Luxembourg begins broadcasting again in November 1945. Stephen Williams returns to Radio Luxembourg on 7 January as Director of English programmes. This affects Radio Luxembourg as a number of its sponsored programmes move to ITV. On 27 May, the Société Luxembourgeoise d’Études Radiophoniques (SLER), led by the French Compagnie des Compteurs, is officialised. This entertaining and informative show, produced, written and narrated by Bill Rollins for Internet radio station Atlantic Oldies 2NG, traces how U.K. music radio evolved starting with Radio Normandy and Radio Luxembourg in the 1930’s and focuses on the offshore pirate stations of the 1960’s. Although it peaked throughout the 1960s and again during the 1980s/1990s, it remains in existence today. 128. There are a number of pirate radio stations in Mexico. The 350kW medium wave transmitter – relocated from Junglinster to Marnach to provide a better reception in England and Scandinavia – goes into service. CLR holds a 75% stake, and Information & Publicity (IP) the remaining 25%. After an agreement between the Luxembourgish Government in exile and the United States, the transmitter, which has been damaged by the German army, is made available to the Psychological Warfare Division (PWD) of SHAEF (Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Forces). “Every radio station has a team”, explains Tony, “But how many have teams who are thrown together in circumstances where their only friends are their colleagues, where they work and play together 24/7”? The BBC tries to persuade leading British newspapers not to publish the Radio Luxembourg schedules. In February, Radio Luxembourg switches to a new wavelength of 1304 metres, which had been allocated to Warsaw by the Lucerne Wavelength Plan. After 25 years at Radio Luxembourg, General Manager Geoffrey Everitt leaves the station and is succeeded by Alan Keen. The Junglinster transmitters are used as back-up. An orchestra is founded under the direction of Henri Pensis. The use of a medium wave transmitter contributes to the spectacular development of the CLR’s radio business. Staff of ship-based pirate radio station Radio London arrive at Felixstowe after the station's closure, 14th August 1967. All it took was a gutsy Irishman, a murder acquittal and a few rock ‘n’ roll hits. Major General W. H Grey chairs the company, which has its headquarters at 154 Strand, London. American troops come to liberate the country. Format. The Anen brothers create the Association Radio Luxembourg to run the station. He and his programmes became very popular during his seven years at the BBC. Radio Luxembourg Advertising Ltd is taken over by CLR London Ltd. Radio Luxembourg London (RLL) moves its offices from 38 Hertford Street to 74 Newman Street. Subsequently, he joined Radio Luxembourg before moving to Radio 1 in 1974, presenting a Sunday morning show and hosting the Top 20 chart programme. On 1 July, CLR becomes CLT (Compagnie Luxembourgeoise de Télédiffusion) and begins the construction of a TV transmitter and studio in Dudelange. Enthralled by radio broadcasting, François and Marcel Anen install a radiotelephone transmitter in the attic of their house, 28, rue Beaumont in Luxembourg City, in autumn 1923 and start their first experiments. Radio Luxembourg 208 changes its format, shifting from sponsored pre-recorded programmes to an all-live format with commercial breaks. Shortening a long story, I was working in radio by age 14. In June, Radio Luxembourg 208 and the magazine Fabulous link up. The Marine Broadcasting Offences Act outlaws pirate offshore stations, although some unlicensed radio stations continue broadcasting. The full Radio Luxembourg story can be read on the website: radioluxembourg.co.uk. Radio Luxembourg could only be heard at night in Britain. Studios and offices are established at 38 Hertford Street, London. While many pirate radio stations have been short-lived low-power entities operated by amateur hobbyists, others have been elaborate professional undertakings that skirted government regulation by transmitting from However, Kenny got his start in Pirate Radio, with the broadcasting ship Radio Luxembourg. The station was unlicensed, but according to the San Andres Accords, the indigenous communities targeted by Radio Insurgente had the right to broadcast their own content. From May 1938 to September 1939 a De Havilland Dragon airplane christened ‘The Luxembourg Listener’ (Olley Air Service) makes a twice weekly return trip from Croydon to Esch-sur-Alzette carrying taped programmes, records and passengers. In France, the Bokanowski decree aims to strengthen the state monopoly in broadcasting. Named Blue Star Radio, it is represented by the Luxembourgish sports journalist, Alphonse Steinès, and has the financial support of the Banque française et hollando-américaine. The Office of War Information begins to use the station in July, handing over the installations to the CLR on 11 November. mp3. The satellite and short-wave service is dissolved after exactly one year, at midnight on 30 December 1992. This is regarded as illegal by the International Broadcasting Union who has however no coercive power. In Britain audience figures peak at around four million. The new building at Kirchberg is inaugurated: it will become the Group’s administrative and radio headquarters. 29 July, sees the officialisation of the Compagnie Nationale de Radiodiffusion Luxembourgeoise (CNRL), led by Jacques Trémoulet, head of Radio Toulouse. In the days before UK pirate radio in the mid 1960s, the only way to hear broadcasts of pop music was to listen to the evening programmes starting at 7pm from Radio Luxembourg on 208 metres medium wave. Offices are leased at 34 & 36 Davies Street, and at 25 Brooks Mews, London. Regular programmes cease on 2 September, and broadcasting is limited to official government communiques and music. Despite the inconvenience the long signal fading periods, Radio Luxembourg was extremely popular” (Radio). ‘The Station of the Stars‘, the famous ‘Two-O-Eight‘, was the expression of freedom and liberty for a whole generation in Western as well as Eastern Europe, and therefore had a major impact on society, especially in the 1950s and 1960s. The SLER obtains the exclusive licence for radio broadcasting from the Luxembourg Government. Radio Luxembourg transfers its English programme to medium wave 208. With the exception of Radio Luxembourg, no other station had ever sold advertising spaces before. Pirate radio in the United Kingdom has been a popular and enduring radio medium since the 1960s, despite expansions in licensed broadcasting, and the advent of both digital radio and internet radio. Your website is a great piece of nostalgia, even if you've gone a bit overboard on pictures of Barry Alldis. The most recent example of a true pirate radio station in Mexico is La Tremenda 106.5 in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas. Nevertheless Radio Luxembourg was originally founded as a peripheral radio station aimed at serving French listeners (peripheral as in “broadcasting from another country”). CLT SA acquires the office building at 74 Newman Street. Disc jockeys had been pop picking for Caroline since 1964 and had used the good ship Mi Amigo as their floating studio since 1972. Radio station RTL Radio plays adult contemporary, oldies, variety 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. Four weeks later, German troops restart the station, using it for their communication until October 1940, when the transmitter is incorporated into the Reichs-Rundfunk-Gesellschaft and used for Nazi propaganda. He came back to England and worked as a DJ in a Northern disco for five nights a week, buying himself out of the Air Force in 1966 to take a job with one of the pirate stations. Part of the broadcasting on medium wave is also occupied by a programme in Dutch and Luxembourgish. At the Copenhagen European Broadcasting Conference, Radio Luxembourg obtains the right to broadcast on 208 metres medium wave. On 1 January 1933 Stephen Williams, Directeur-Général of Radio-Publicity, a British company chaired by Frenchman Jacques Gonat, which holds the concession for English programmes at Radio Paris, begins presenting sponsored broadcasts from the French capital. In January the CNRL is ordered by the Luxembourgish authorities to stop broadcasting Radio Luxembourg. Having moved from transmitting from ships in the sea to towerblocks across UK towns and cities, in 2009 the UK broadcasting regulator Ofcom estimated more than 150 pirate radio stations … Owners of such radio stations, like Radio Paris and Radio Toulouse, start looking for new opportunities outside France. My favourite shows were Peter Aldersley's and Jim Dale's. The international and multilingual programme of Radio Luxembourg is a huge success in Germany, Great Britain, France and Belgium, and astonishes CLR’s competitors. The Radio Luxembourg tape. TV activities remain in the now legendary Villa Louvigny. The winged lion with the motto ‘Alas Leoni dedit’ (‘It gave wings to the lion’) decorates the front of the building. He left the BBC on 29 September … Until the advent of pirate radio in 1964, the evenings-only English-language broadcasts from Radio Luxembourg—208 on the dial and transmitted from the grand duchy—represented the only pop music radio regularly available to British fans. CLR (Compagnie Luxembourgeoise de Radiodiffusion) is born. Tune in Luxembourg radio live stream from Luxembourg and enjoy great music. http://sc-rtllive.newmedia.lu/listen.pls. But perhaps the most interesting misrepresentation in Curtis’s movie is that the anti-pirate government of the day is clearly portrayed as Conservative. John N. Catlett becomes General Manager of the station. The law states that any radio station has to be authorised by the head of the Postes et Télégraphes administration. The world discovers a new method of immediate and far-reaching communication: the radio. François Anen becomes technical head of the new company. As Radio Paris was to become a state-run national station, an alternative had to be found for broadcasting English programmes. March 20: After 16 years of tearing up the airwaves the bell finally appeared to toll for pirate station Radio Caroline. The success of Radio Luxembourg grows day by day. On 1 September, Atlantic 252, an English-language radio station, is launched in Ireland by Radio Tara as a joint venture between the Irish state broadcaster RTÉ and CLT. XRadio Luxembourg was in the 60's facing strong competition from the Pirate radio stations that broadcast from ships or marine forts out at sea, and this was the main reason behind the many experiments and upratings of transmitter power to improve the station's reception quality over England. Radio Luxembourg, RTL since 1966, wasn’t per se a pirate radio station, it was a legal operation in Luxembourg, launched in 1933. Michigan Association of Broadcasters. Listen Live to the RTL Radio music radio station streaming free online from Luxembourg. CLR’s new medium wave transmitter in Junglinster is inaugurated. Tony believes the magic of the station was similar to that of the pirate ships where his own radio career began. English-sponsored programmes start 1 July 1946. ‘Two-O-eight’ becomes a new reference for young Britons. The concept of popular pirate radio began with Radio Luxembourg in the 1930s. Radio Luxembourg, the medium wave programme that contributed to the reputation of CLT in Europe – particularly the UK – for many decades, stops broadcasting on 30 December 1991. It made rock music popular, it was a source of inspiration for many music stars, it was a colourful radio station, a legend! The magazine Fabulous 208 is born. Formed around Scottish singer Maggie Bell the band worked initially in clubs and air bases around the UK and Europe before arriving in London in... Born in the Bronx area of New York on 18 July 1939, Dion Dimucci was hailed as one of the the finest singers of... Hailing from Downpatrick, Northern Ireland, Rosetta Stone originally formed as The Young City Stars in 1973 when brothers Terry, Damian and Colin McKee, and their... One of the most underrated power pop bands of the 1980s, The Spongetones - from Charlotte, North Carolina - released several albums of effortlessly melodic, catchy... Stuart Fergusson Victor Sutcliffe was born on 23 June 1940 in Edinburgh, Scotland. It broadcast international contemporary music and news in Spanish and English. The English-language service of Radio Luxembourg began in 1933 and was one of the earliest commercial radio stations broadcasting popular music to Britain. Radio Luxembourg was a welcome change from the BBC until the pirate stations brought a breath of fresh air. The station broadcasts from Trim in the Republic of Ireland. To counter the popularity of these illegal broadcasters and the ongoing success of Radio Luxembourg, the BBC is restructured, establishing Radio 1, Radio 2, Radio 3 and Radi… Possibly recorded at Advision Studios sometime around the late sixties, these are five Radio Luxembourg jingles. By age 6, the engineers there helped me set up a small AM “pirate” station using the telephone lines as an antenna. Often mistakenly referred to as a ‘Pirate’ radio station, Radio Luxembourg offered an English speaking commercial service for more than 60 years and shaped the radio landscape for … After an experimental programme, Radio Luxembourg makes its first regular long wave broadcast on 15 March in French and German, from the Villa Louvigny’s studios, using the most modern and powerful (200kW) transmitter in Europe: the site in Junglinster. The most famous member of the club – who Jimmy went to meet on behalf of the Club – was Elvis Presley. Radio Luxembourg is used as a relay station by German stations such as Radio Hamburg to broadcast Nazi propaganda to Britain from 1940-1945 by Irishman William Joyce, better known as Lord Haw-Haw. The headquarters of the CLR is established at 53, avenue Monterey in Luxembourg City. These pirate stations, broadcasting mainly rock and pop music, are major competitors to Radio Luxembourg. In August, RTL International is launched. The transmitter’s power is boosted to 250W. Christopher Stone joins the commercial station Radio Luxembourg in September. What better alternative than the most modern and powerful transmitter in Europe? Less than three weeks later, on 21 September, operations are closed down. There were four distinct DJ generations working for Radio Luxembourg, (affectionately … Everett earned a reputation over the years for his shocking behaviour, zany characters, and unique approach to presenting. The station was already broadcasting legally around Europe from the tiny nation of Luxembourg, … For 3 years, until 1967, the DJs on the Radio Caroline pirate ship broadcast their music and shows 24 hours a day and sold advertising space to make money. But on March 19, 1980, a violent storm broke out off the coast of Essex. CLT continues to expand into new countries, setting up a complementary network of TV channels and radio stations and thus beginning to create families of channels. Not all the stations even broadcast pop or rock music – several were so-called ‘sweet’ music stations and one broadcast a magazine programme, rather akin to the BBC’s Woman’s Hour.. It authorises the existing private commercial radio stations only until 1 January 1933 – by this date they will come under the guardianship of the State. Although the station’s policy of leasing airtime to record companies meant…. The Association Radio Luxembourg is granted a subsidy by the Luxembourgish State to install a new antenna. DJ’s included Don Wardell, Pete Murray, David ‘Kid’ Jensen, Tony Prince, Keith Fordyce, Kenny Everett, Barry Alldis, Jimmy Savile, Alan Freeman, Bob Stewart, Simon Dee, Paul Burnett, Dave Christian, Mark Wesley, Noel Edmonds, Brian Matthew, Pete Brady, Peter Powell, Emperor Rosko, Stuart Henry, Johnny Walker, Tommy Vance, Rob Jones, Tony Blewitt, Tony Brandon, Chris Carey, Peter Carvey, Rodney Collins, Roger ‘Twiggy’ Day, Pearly Gates, Stuart Grundy, Paul Kaye, Johnny Moran, Colin Nicol, Mike Read, Steve Wright and Muriel Young (one of the very few female disc jockeys on Radio Luxembourg). The ‘new’ Villa Louvigny is inaugurated in Luxembourg City. The same year, François Anen accepts the outgoing 3kW transmitter from Radio Toulouse, for use in Luxembourg. In April 1924, the Anen brothers take the step from amateur radio to broadcasting, sending out a regular programme from Luxembourg, playing mainly music records. With its English language service, Radio Luxembourg was far more than just a radio station. In May 1962, the power of Radio Luxembourg was displayed in Britain when B Bumble and The Stingers took the instrumental Nut Rocker into the UK Top 10 without a single play on the national BBC radio. Licences for independent local commercial radio stations are awarded by the British broadcasting authorities. There were pirate stations I’m told going back to the 1970s, but I can’t say that I ever listened to them. Therefore, as far as the British authorities were concerned, Radio Luxembourg was a "pirate radio station" and British listeners to the station were breaking the law (although as the term 'unauthorised' was never properly defined it was somewhat of a legal grey area).