Archive

Category: Europe

Sea Change: Coast FM West Cornwall

The sandy beaches and turquoise waters of Mount’s Bay in Cornwall are one of the UK’s most cherished natural spots (writes Annabel Martin). The historic port of Penzance is the county’s westernmost town. Here, we speak with Dave Pascoe, station manager of Coast FM, about the community radio station, the Beach Boys and a shoplifting seagull.

Radio Nova Opens ‘The Vinyl Vault’

Like any computer, a playout system can need rebooting at an awkward time. When that happened for Dublin’s Radio Nova, however, it launched an on-air vinyl resurgence.

BBC World Service Turns 90

90 years on, BBC World Service evolves with time. It began in 1932 as the “BBC Empire Service” – making radio broadcasts via globe-girdling shortwave to the far-flung territories ruled under the British Crown.

Britain’s Secret Falklands Propaganda War

Almost exactly 40 years ago – on April 2, 1982 – one of the most celebrated moments in radio history took place. The station was small and its listeners were mostly sheep farmers and fishermen. That morning, tuning in, they heard their station being invaded by a gang of Spanish speaking men.

Offshore Radio Against The Beatles Phenomenon

In the early 1960s, an event would occur that would change the sound of British radio forever – the growth of ‘pirate’ radio stations from overseas.

Ukraine’s Radio Station of National Resistance

High up in the Carpathian Mountains, two Kyiv broadcasters keep the signal alive. Recently, at a closed ski resort in Ukraine’s Carpathian Mountains, Roman Davydov leaned into a microphone and announced the latest news from the war. Kryvyi Rih, in southern Ukraine, was being attacked; a U.S. journalist had been shot; and the British Foreign Secretary had announced new sanctions on Russian oligarchs in London.

Caithness FM, Thurso, Scotland

At the tip of Scotland’s rugged northeastern coastline is the historic county of Caithness, famed for its ancient burial sites and beautiful scenery (writes Annabel Martin). It is also home to Caithness FM, the northernmost radio station on mainland Britain. Here, we speak with Jackie Johnson, co-director and secretary, about the station’s beginnings, its most requested track and falling asleep at the mixing desk.

Rovinj FM, Croatia

Rovinj is an ancient fishing port on Croatia’s Istrian coast (writes Annabel Thomas). It was originally an island, until the channel separating it from the mainland was filled in 1763. Alen Matosovic Topssy from radio station Rovinj FM tells us about the town’s baroque cathedral, the perils of broadcasting from a sailboat and the team’s favourite hangout.

Deutsche Welle map of Germany

Germany’s international broadcaster, Deutsche Welle, sent this wall map/poster to listeners in 1994. (Please note that the scan is a very large file and may…

Introducing the Bayerischer Rundfunk

In 1991 German broadcaster Bayerischer Rundfunk published this interesting booklet that was sent out to listeners along with QSL cards and stickers. At the time they broadcast on 6085 kHz in the 49 metre shortwave band and were heard world-wide.

Remember Atlantic 252? The story of the station that was the sound of the 90s

For a while no car ride was complete without hearing it. Atlantic 252 – on longwave – was a 90s Manchester radio stalwart, even though it was based in Ireland.

Sifnos RadioActive 91.3, Greece

Riris Papatsarouchas originally set up radio station Sifnos Radioactive 91.3 in 1999 to provide some better driving music (writes Georgia Bisbas). As well as broadcasting to some 10,000 people on Sifnos and the nearby Cyclades, it has built a global fan base, with listeners in Brazil, Zimbabwe and Thailand.

New museum to recognize Warsaw radio station that was second biggest in the world

In memory of what was once the second tallest radio transmission station in the world, scientists are looking to set up a museum to commemorate its history.

The Radio Scene in the Isles of Scilly

Some thirty miles out west from Land’s End at the tip of the Cornish peninsular lie the Isles of Scilly, an archipelago of 140 islands, 5 of of which are inhabited. These Atlantic islands operate under their own separate local authority as part of the county of Cornwall, their main industry is tourism, and their main export is cut flowers (in particular daffodils) for the London market.

The Early Wireless Scene on Three Islands off the Coast of Wales

An investigation of the early wireless scene on three separate islands, all tourist related islands, that are located off the northwest coast of the country of Wales in islandic Europe. These three islands are identified as Holy, South Stack, and Anglesey, and we begin with the Marconi wireless scene at Holyhead on Holy Island back in the year 1901.

Radio Brings Audiences Together

The many challenges faced by artistic programming and performances during the past 18 months are well documented but cannot be overstated. It has quite simply been a devastating time for the creative sector and the subsidiary industries that work within or closely with it.

Radio Prague International celebrates 85th anniversary

Czech Radio have published this article on their website, celebrating the 85th anniversary of Radio Prague International, which was launched on August 31, 1936: https://english.radio.cz/radio-prague-international-celebrates-85th-anniversary-8727236…

BNBS Leopoldville, Belgian Congo

Rare station id & booklet from station OTC of the Belgian National Broadcasting Service transmitting from Leopoldville in the Belgian Congo c1953

German Radio 100

It was on December 22 just last year (2020), that Germany celebrated its centenary of radio broadcasting with special radio programming to honor the occasion. Just 100 years ago, on Monday December 22, 1920, Dr. Hans Bredow and his fellow staff personnel at the Koenigswusterhausen Radio Station presented a special program of music and talks to honor the Christmas occasion.

Vatican Radio Celebrates 90 Years

It was at 4:30 pm on Thursday February 12, 1931 that the new Vatican Radio was officially inaugurated under the direction of the famous radio…