THE Magazine for Today's Radio Industry Now Radio OC TOB ER 6. 198 7 ISS U E # 37

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NORMAN MLEOD SAYS "WA -CH YOUR LEVELS!' IBA TO READVERTISE RADIO TELETEXT FRANCHISE EDWARD COLE RECALLS RADIO 390 HI-TECH AND IN)EPENDENT RADIO NEVS....PAUL EASTON Of LBC'S NEW PROGRAMMES PLUS LATEST REVS & ALL YOUR REGULARS!! THE Magazine for EDITORIAL Today's Radio Industry COMMENT ISS U E # 37 Now Radio OC T O BE R 6, 1987 Editor: Howard G. L. Rose ** * ** Contributors: Chris Andrew A week ago the first issue of our new publication, NOW John Lewis — Paul Easton RADIC REPORTS was mailed out Gavin Cooper — Barrie Johnston to its subscribers. Steve Hamley — Rob Chapman The idea of NOW RADIO REPORTS is to provide a Clive Glover complete and even more up- to-date service of news, United States: Graham Kennedy information, background and Job vacancy listings than is possible with this ISS 0951-7901 publ!cation which fortLightly. Telephone: (0536) 51 44 37 (24 hours) NOW RADIO REPORTS is Telex: 8951182 GECOMS G (NOW RADIO) avai'able only to subs(ribers of NOW RADIO PO Box 45, Kettering, Northants, NN16 ONW MAGA INE (this publication) at £ 5 for a year (26 issues UK Orders: - 1 ,T,er fortnight). Now Radio, FREEPOST, Kettering, NN16 ONW It is published in the week

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Published by: Now Radio Communications, PO Box 45, Kettering, Northants, NN16 ONW Telephone: (0536) 51 44 37 (24 hours) *-- All contents 0 Now Radio Communications 1987 r B B C T O P - 4 0 O C E A N S O U N D C H A R T M O V E T E S T H I T A T T RANSMI SSI ONS I L R S U R V E Y The IBA have started test- RADIO ONE has moved the day it transmissions on 96.7 MHz VHF/FM announces its brand-new TOP 40 as from Winchester. from last Sunday October 4th. The new FM transmitter will provide In the past the chart has been a relay for OCEAN SOUND for the announced on Tuesdays, when BRUNO Winchester and surrounding area BROOKS ran down the new survey from later this year. between 5 - 7pm. The signal has been reported over The BBC say that the move to much of North Hampshire and West Sunday's 5 - 7pm will make it the Berkshire by NOW RADIO readers. most up-to -date chart "in the world". T C R They say that calculations of chart S P E C I A L E V E N T positions will take into account B R O A D C A S T G R A D E D record sales right up until the A B I G S U C C E S S close of trading on Saturday afternoon. So the new chart will be TCR, TURKISH COMMUNITY RADIO, say announced less than 20-hours after that their recent Special Event the last record has been sold. broadcasts at the Enfield Show in GALLUP, who produce the BBC chart North London were a major success. for the BRITISH PHONOGRAPHIC E X ALI, of TCR, told NOV RADIO, INDUSTRY have installed computers "The success of our broadcast must in 500 record stores around the help pave the way for Communty United Kingdom, representing every Radio. If our broadcast had been a kind of outlet from the smallest failure, it could perhaps have been independent to the largst a step backwards for the movement." superstore. The station, operated by an After the stores close on Saturday, applicant group, carried a wide GALLUP's central computer spends range of programming, including an the night automatically telephoning interview with the Mayor, and the 500 shops, collecting data from public reaction was "very good". ench of the computers and Some people travelled to the show calculating the entire TOP 100. The Just to hear the station, as did a print-out will then be delivered to group from the CRA. RADIO ONE at about 3pm on Sunday E X ALI told NOW RADIO that a full afternoon. That will leave the TOP account of the Special Event 40 show producer Just two hours to broadcast was to be sent to the prepare the broadcast. HOME OFFIC, including a request 'Saturday is a big record-buying day,' that next year they be allowed to said BRUNO BROOKS, 'so it's important that use 1 Watt transmitter power, we will be able to reflect Saturday sales, instead of 50 milliWatts. Still, I think the new chart may cause a The broadcast by TCR was the first few headaches until we get used to it, You by any ethnic group in the United see, to make the show finish on the dot of Kingdom, but the station received 7pm, we have to calculate the length of support from more than Just the all the records we want to play before we Turkish community. can put the programme together.. maybe we "There was a considerable amount of should get the computer to do that for us goodwill from all sections of the as well!' community for what we were doing and what we plan in future." G O V E R N M E N T T O of any nation. However, T O U G H E N M A R I N E after the arrest of the O F F E N C E S A C T RADIO PARADISE ship MAGDA MARIA, off Holland, the UK The British Government wants authorities are very to strengthen the Act of cautious of taking such Parliament which outlaws action in case registration Briton's working for, does actually apply to a advertising on, supplying or radio ship. In the Dutch promoting the activities of case the ship was registered Radio stations operating in Panama and the owners from ships and structures took the Dutch authorites to outside United Kingdom court for wrongful arrest of territorial waters - The their ship. The owners won Marine (etc) Broadcasting the case. Offences Act 1967. DTI officials appear The news, released in NOW concerned that offshore RADIO several months ago broadcasters have bases used exclusively, will come as as offices inside the United another worry for the Kingdom, yet the law, operators of offshore radio designed to close any loop- stations. holes to allow their activities, actually gives NOW RADIO understands that them a fair degree of the DTI is to push the protection. Government to introduce new sections into the Act which This is especially the case would allow Search warrants where the station is managed to be issued to officials by non-UK nationals, and investigating offshore where a station is not broadcasting activities. At registered as a business in present no search warrants the United Kingdom, and can be issued under the Act. where the primary function of the office is not the Government will also be management of an offshore asked to legislate to allow radio service. for the arrest of people thought to be involved in Lawyers would have to offshore radio activities. carefully draw up new legislation for the The Government will also Government, but it could look into the subject of pass into law without any arresting vessels used for opposition, as did the offshore radio stations on Territorial Sea Act, the High Seas when it is extending UK Territorial known that such ships are Waters from 3 to 12-miles, and which came into force un-registered. last Thursday, October let. In International Law, a vessel which is stateless, Stronger International Co- is not bound to be protected operation is also being sought by by any country and could be Britsh authorities for dealing arrested by the authorities with the situation. C H R I S T I A N S G E T taken on ROB McCAFFREY as its B I G G E R V O I C E permanent representative in South Shropshire. TRANS WORLD RADIO, the American- owned operation which leases Y O R K S H I R E B B C airtime via RADIO MONTE CARLO, is S T A T I O N S L I N K — U P paying £2,000,0000 for a new transmitter which it hopes will BBC local stations LEEDS, improve its reception in Eastern HUMBERSIDE AND YORK are linking Bloc countries, as well as in six evenings a week for specialist Western Europe. music programming featuring rock, classical music, brass bands, jazz, H I G H P O W E R M O U T H country and folk. F O R B R I T A I N I N BBC RADIO SHEFFIELD also Joins the H O N G K O N G network for three evenings per week at present. Bb EXTERNAL SERVICES has opened its new £9,000,000 transmitter N O A I R P L A Y F O R operation in Hong Kong. E P Y C A T C H E R R E C O R D The system is designed to put a

better-than -ever signal into China, The CAMPAIGN FOR PRRRS & as well as Japan and Korea. BROADCASTING FREEDOM has released 'Programming in Mandarin is being a recording about the PETER WRIGHT expanded, and a further 10-hours Spycatcher affair, "THE BALLAD OF A per week of English-language SPYCATCHER". programmes will be aired through However, no station is likely to air the new facility. the record, leading to the The installation is a part of a organisation claiming it to be massive 10-year programme of up- another piece of censorship by the dating equipment, some of which was British media. first used in 1940's, and will cost the BBC £100,000,000. R E D R O S E C U T N E W S Parliament gave its approval to the O U T P U T A T R E D development programme in 1981. D R A G O N

S T A F F E X I T R A D I O RED DRAGON RADIO, the S HROPSHI RE Cardiff/Newport ILR station taken over by RED ROSE RADIO of Preston RADIO ONE'S IEWSBEAT has hired in a rescue bid, has been forced to SYBIL RUSCOE away from BBC RADIO resume normal news coverage after SHROPSHIRE where she was News cutting back the main evening news Producer, DIANA KEMP has moved to broadcast to Just 15-minutes PEBBLE MILL to assist present instead of 30, and cutting down MIDLANDS TODAY and JOHN BROOKS, in other bulletins and scrapping a charge of the stations TELFORD special bulletin for Gwent. newscentre, Joins BBC TV in VALES. Union sources claim that the Presenter TIM SMITH and freelancer changes were forced on the PAULA AL-LACH are also departing Journalists by management and did the BBC Local station to start new not have IBA approval. careers in Australia. Management is claiming that the In cone COLIN YOUNG and ROBIN cutbacks were brought in because of LATCHEX who rJoin the station after staff shortages and one person on being away on loan to other BBC materinity leave. departments. The station has also RED ROSE also claims that IBA C A R O L I N E approval would only be required if F R E Q U E N C Y S H I F T the changes were to have been permanent. NUJ members claimed to RADIO CAROLINE will be moving its NOW RADIO that they believed the 963kHz transmissions to 981kHz as changes to be permanent. soon as a new crystal has been Journalists also have been told of delivered to the radio ship Rngs a plan to record their bulletin at REVENGE. 6pm for on-air playback at 8, 9 and At press time the crystal had been lOpm. Union members said they could ordered and could be aboard the never accept this "completely ship within n week or two at the unprofessional suggestion". latest. The move from 963kHz has been S H E T L A N D S S T A T I O N caused by RADIO FINLAND increasing O N A I R S O O N its transmitter output power on the same frequency to 600kV, and wiping SIBC, The Shetland Island's out reception of money-earning community radio applicant company, VIEWPOINT 963 programming in the will be broadcasting 24-hours day evening. within days. At press time work was progressing C O MMUNI CATOR on studio and other technical areas L A T E S T for the station which will provide an FM stereo signal for Lerwick and A spokesman for STAR FORCE 576 and surrounding areas. HARMONY RADIO in New York told NOW SIBC has purchased professional RADIO this morning that "there is broadcast equipment and carried out great progress to report to you! all legal requirements for a The aerial masts are being errected business. and we are looking at an on-air date of no later than November R A D I O S E A L A N D 1st." " S T I L L O N T H E The two stations will broadcast B O O K S" from the m.v. COMMUNICATOR, former base for LASER, and use two AM Work on preparing a TV station from channels and one on FM in stereo. the Principality of SEALAND, the The FM channel, when operational, former wartime fort 'ROUGHS TOWER, will provide a signal of 100kW will not prevent plans for one and, e.r.p. in time, three commercial radio STAR FORCE 576 will be Hot Hits stations broadcasting. Radio, broadcast daily 5am until "It is all down to negotiations and lam and HARMONY will be an easy they are continuing as I talk to listening music programme, also you," said a spokesman for one of carrying an hour of religion at the main contenders for operating llam to be repeated at 6pm daily. radio from the base now occupied by There will also be a prayer for the the BATES family. "We have day on the half-hour and news, from everything ready technically, the Good News Bible on the hour. legally and could begin operations Engineers aboard the COMMUNICATOR are at within weeks of the agreement from present working on locating a new certain parties." He concluded. frequency for HARMONY following CAROLINE's SEALAND is denying that the new decision to move to 9811Hz. They will TERRITORIAL WATERS ACT brings however, perhaps try to get on to that SEALAND inside UK Waters which channel ahead of a crystal arriving aboard were extended on October let. the ROSS REVENGE. MORE The front-page picture in the last Issue of NOV RADIO MAGAZINE, by the D 0 .5.3 way, was of that original line-up for RADIO ONE and RADIO TWO.-can END anyone remind us of the person who happened to miss the photocall? And why? Let's go back to that story we ran a few issues back about audience OVEN BARRY has departed ZEE-103, a figures for BBC RDIO SHROPSHIRE border blaster in Ireland, for the which caused outrage at the desk of southern city of Cork, where he'll Programme Manager PETE WAGSTAFF at resume his broadcast career with a BEACON RADIO.-You see PETE was station there. Reason is the lad has unhappy because we didn't mention just married. Our best wishes to that the BBC survey was conducted OVEN and his wife. The young lad before BEACON actually switched on began his career at NORTH EAST its new transmitters for RADIO, a cormercial statior based Shropshire. They're on 103.1 FM, by in Dundalk, C,Kinty Louth the way. PETE WAGSTAFF also says he is intrigued to know how BBC In case yol missed it, JOHNNIE Local Radio manages to give a WALKER Aire(' a short, yet most weekly reach figure, when for many. interesting teature on his STEREO hours of the day, their outputs are SEQUENCE on RADIO ONE, the other that of BBC National Radio. He is Saturday. Prortoted by the man as also amazed that anyone (and it was "something for the anoraks.. " it a RADIO SHROPSHIRE staffer who said was on the making of Compact Discs it.-) should describe BEACON's - and in particular the reccrding start-up in Shropshire as "a of the new jingles for RADIO CNE on whimper".-PETE says BEACON gave CD away a car, a holiday for two in New York (Sloody great radio choice The new package for RADIO ONE were, there, matoy!), a Sunshine holiday again, recorded :n the USA.-. (is that A weekend in Ludlow???), plus they carried out an extensive In our travels we are TV advertiaing campaign and a mail- continually amazed at some out of the BEACON RADIO TIMES of the low rates that (original) to every household in presenters are paid in Shropshire -finally, in putting the commercial radio in this picture s raight, MR WAGSTAFF (who country. We n'ow know of a we love - don't think otherwise!) station paying just £3 per wants us all to know that in their hour - in tho north, and latest survey BEACON RADIO's share another, just outside London in the %vest Midlands is now 567. and within spitting distance and in Shopshire, 46% of a major m-torway, that pays £6 per hou -. The £3 per PETE WASTAFF is actually P G hour rate i3 just so WAGSTAFF -could we suggest he then distgusting we can't find calls hi. Record of the week. PG the words to roally express TIPS?''... our horror tha': management are getting awa with it. It Dare we suggest that it is now a just shows that certain people (and

case o- --"Over to you, RADIO they know who they ere-) just don't SHROFSH11E!!!" give a monkey's abc.it programming! Perhaps we'll tell mcre sometime?... I E R P R O G R A M M E I B A R E A D V E R T I S E S S H A R I N G N E W S R A D I O T E L E T E X T F R A N C H I S E GWR has produced a one hour documentary on Cryonic Suspension - The IBA is re-advertising one of the prolonging of life indefinitely the two Radio Teletext frachises by means of freezing. A group of for the London area. American and British scientists Discussions designed to lead claims that within fifty years towards a proposed offer of the human life could be extended franchise to TELENET UK LTD, which indefinitely. This documentary started last November, have been examines the scientific 'inside discontinued. The IBA blames information' and, with contributions unacceptable delays in the group's from top names from the medical, implementation of its application scientific and religious world, proposals. discusses the practical, moral and TELENET had planned to operate a ethical issues involved. subscriber service giving up-to- the-minute financial quotations and DEVONAIR has offered another news using a sub-carrer added to POSTCARD FROM STRASBOURG with JIM the normal programme signal GIBBONS continuing his lighthearted broadcast on CAPITAL RADIO at 95.8 examination of European politics. MHz FM. This programme is one commercial The other Radio Teletext contractor, half-hour in duration. INDEPENDENT RADIO FEATURES (a company owned Jointly by TELERATE There are five one hour concerts UK and LBC RADIO) began its service featuring highlights from the on the LBC sub-carrier on 97.3 MHz CAPITAL RADIO JVC JAZZ PARADE 1987 last April. featuring SARAH VAUGHAN & GEORGIE Closing date for completed FAME, THE CRUSADERS, BRANDFORD applications for the re-advertised MARSALIS & CHICK COREA, COUTNEY franchise should reach the IBA not PINE, WYNTON XARSALIS & STAN GETZ, later than noon on Thursday ROCKI.11 DOPSIE & IRNA THOMAS and November 5. MICHAEL BRECKER & STANLEY JORDAN. The Authority says it hopes to The pogramme was produced by award and announce the offer of CAPITAL and is presented by RICHARD contracts as soon as possible after SKINNER. the deadline.

And LBC has produced THE BRITISH S U N S H I N E P O W E R CONNECTION looking at the Mormon H I K E Church and its British connection. The programme lasts an hour. Shropshire-based unlicensed community station, SUNSHINE RADIO, Other programmes include THE SAGE which recently returned to the air OF CHELSEA (LBC) 1 hour, INTERVIEWS with a Sunday 7am - 6pm schedule by BOB HOLNESS (4 x 1 commercial on 1017 kHz with 40 Watts output is hour), and TIXBUK 111 and ALISON now planning to increase power MOYET in concert fins CAPITAL and output. lasting one commercial hour. It is thought that the station will inrease to around 100 Watts. Stations interested should contact The signal from the station is the AIRC's Programme Sharing unit serving a wide area and the at Regina House in London for operation is again getting wide details. listener and adyertiser support. L 0 0 .S' E should have read as RADIO CLASH. Nearly! They're leasing airtime on ./\/- .7D RAINBOW transmitters on 1521, 6240 and FM Stereo for a programme that runs 11 - 12 noon Sundays. First SORE FINGERS OF THE YEAR AWARD - one was last Sunday (October 4).-. to LBC Engineer MARTIN COX, who had the Job of carting up the station's Is there a shortage of DJs??? RADIO latest Jingle package...110 cuts " LUXEMBOURG are down to having only two deeJays on the air some The the long familar clatter of Saturday nights during this month typewriters is now all but a thing of October" of the past at IRN. The news operation is now running with their United States broadcasters are new DYNATECH 'NEVSTAR Computer being urged to limit their AM system signals to 10kHz - to avoid interference to stations on near-by That well-known news man and NOV channels. Some stations, including RADIO subscriber HOWARD HUGHES is AM-Stereo op's, have been using up curre3tly expanding his horizons by to 15 kHz of space up for their hosting RADIO WYVERN's breakfast broadcasts Channels are spaced 10 airshift kHz apart in North Ameri ca....

SUNSHINE RADIO 'Community Radio for An interesting point for those Shropshire' in Ludlow is actually on following the SEALAND saga. It the air Sundays between 7am and would appear that whilst the United 6pm. Stacked-up with commercials, Kingdom doesn't appear to be running around 35-Watts and aiming recognising the status of the to boost to round 100 Watts soon. former wartime fort as a They don't really need the extra Principality, Government sources power as they signal is very strong have said that even if ROY BATES over a large area on 1017 kHz AM. were to allow transmissions, under You can write them at SUNSHINE current International RADIO, Ludlow, Shrosphire-- Telecommunications regulations, SEALAND could only provide a Ever asked yourself whatever service within its own territory!!! happens to all those transmitters Agreement with and through the ITU that the DTI remove from naughty would be needed for any pirate radio stations? Well, they 'international' service - that is a are taken away and analyised by station that reached beyond the technical engineers before being tower itself! The story goes on!-. destroyed. The DTI say that in Just about every case they fail to come A new commercial shortwave station up to official specification and is being established in Salt Lake couldn't be used for legit radio City, USA. With the call-sign KUSV stations the 100kW station (equipped by CARLSON COMMUNICATIONS) will carry "INVICTA.-FIRSI WITH MUSIC!" said a format of American Contemporary the DJ.-who was introducing an Classics and beam its programming oldie'"' at the people of Canada

In the last issue we spoke of a new N E W S? ? ? programme service from Ireland LET NOW RADI O HA VE I ! ! ! called RADIO CRUSH.-sorry! It (05351 51 44 37 Hear some of the greatest radio production ever, and some of the The following items are available moet exciting radio ever. This through NOV RADIO NEWSLETTER to aircheck tape set features the name subscribers at special prices. DJs, jingles, commercials and the To order, send your name, address, highlights of an entire weekend of items required by title, and quality broadcasting. This is a two payment to NOW RADIO, FREEPOST, cassette set, 2 x 90 minute KETTERING, NORTHANTS, 1116 OBR. cassettes. Orders from outside the United PRICE t6.99 Kingdom should be addressed to NOW RADIO, PO BOX 45, KETTERING, 1R004. THE PIRATES WHO WAIVE THE NORTHANTS, ENGLAND, 1116 ONW. RULES by JAY JACKSON. Ever Prices include postage and wondered how you could go about packing. setting up an offshore radio station? This book by JAY JACKSON NR001. RADIO CAROLINE. This 90- details how to go about it - and minute aircheck cassette recording reflects on the operations of features highlights from the JAY CAROLINE, MONIQUE, LASER, etc. It JACKSON and SIMON BARRATT segments also covers the popular landbased of the stations 21st birthday stations of 83/4. More than 80- celebrations. You'll also hear pages, including illustrations. JOHNNY LEWIS. The Die are playing PRICE t3.99p through the DJ's All Time Top 200 tracks. Also included several 1R005. RADIO JACKIE LP. Why pay t8? competitions, JAY JACKSON's Coffee Why pay t7? Just send £5 and we Break and memories of the station will supply this splendid album back in the sixties, including featuring airchecks, studio jingles, com mercials and plenty of recordings, jingles, PSAs, former CAROLINE DJs. commercials and dramatic highlights PRICE t3.99p of South Vest London's very own RADIO JACKIE. Includes closedown NR002. LASER. On this aircheck broadcasts. Illustrated sleeve. cassette recording you'll hear PRICE £5.00p about an hour of LASER test transmissions (729kHz) with BLAKE NR006. THE GREAT BRITISH WILLIAMS, JOHNNY LEVIS, etc. PIRATE ERA. A double You'll also hear early LASER 558 cassette feature from RBL output with names like DAVE LEE lasting 2%-hours and STONE, JESSIE BRANDON, RICK featuring the period 1964 to HARRIS, STEVE MASTERS, etc. This 1968. Programme airchecks, is great radio at its greatest! top quality narration and PRICE t3.50p interviews with ROBBIE DALE, TONY PRINCE, DON ALLEN, NR003. KFRC-SAN FRANSISCO. In ROGER DAY, CARL CONWAY, DAVE February 1986 KFRC celebrated 20 CASH, MARTIN KAYNE. Most years as the market leader and the highly recommended. A legend of California hit radio collectors item in times to broadcasting by counting down the CO M. all-tine 610 songs of the past PRICE £6.50p couple of decades. (610 is the station's dial location...610kHz). PLEASE MAKE CHEQUES PAYABLE Back come names of the past, live TO in the studio and on the phone. NOW RADIO COMMUNICATIONS. I T' S A L L Another new programme, running each C H A N G E A T evening between 7 and 9 is THE L B C R A D I O NIGHT IS YOUNG, presented Mondays to Thursdays by GILL PYRAH (Variety PAUL EASTON Club Independent Radio Personality For MOW' RA010 of the Year). The specialist music programmes nor run The much talked about changes at between 9 and 10 (except on Mondays, which LBC finally came into effect at 6 is a repeat of Sunday's MIKE ASPEL show), o'clock on Monday morning September and then at 10, N16HTLINE - London's most 21st. New programming, new popular late-night show, has a new presenters, new jingles and a new presenter Mondays to Thursdays, with MIKE ALLEN, Friday, Saturday and Sunday will logo have led to what is continue to be presented by BOB HARRIS. undoubtedly the single biggest change in station sound in LBC's The overnight programme has been renamed history, and are designed to re- THROUGH THE NIGHT, and with presenters inforce LBC's premier position in THERESE BIRCH, MIKE CARSON and CLIVE BULL London as 'The Information Station'. has seen a lot of changes, many of which HENRY KELLY is presenting WEEKEND have broadened the programmes appeal AM between 7 and 10 on Saturdays amongst London's night time listeners, and Sundays, and MICHAEL ASPEL is LBC's Managing Director, BILL COPPEN - bringing his own brand of relaxed GARDNER, says 'The new package will broadcasting to a new Sunday enhance LBC's already considerable appeal lunchtime chat show at noon. Other to advertisers and audiences alike, programme and presenter changes Everything we are doing serves to include Sunday 2 - 5pm (leading strengthen our committsent as a station to into the NETWORK CHART SHOW) with all aspects of news, information and the first hour presented by TOMMY community service designed to meet the BOYD (making a welcome return to needs of an increasingly sophisticated the station) and a 2-hour programme audience,' STREET TALK hosted by MIKE ALLEN The introduction of a new jingle package (ex-CAPITAL). brings to an end the well-known logo, composed by JEFF WAYNE, that has been in LBC's weekday morning programming does, however, retain a familiar use in one fors or another for 13-years. feel, with the key AM team of The new jingles, by MIKE MORAN and DAVID DOUGLAS CAMERON and PETER DEELEY ARNOLD introduces a new theme, with between 6 and 10am. At 10 BRIAN variations for each of the main programmes. Voiced Jingles have also made HAYES with a shorter, two-hour, programme. HAYES is now actually a return to the airwaves at LBC. When be running Sundays - Thursdays first introduced in 1974 the JEFF WAYNE with JENNY LACEY doing the jingles used the distinctive voice of TONY programme on Fridays. STEVE JONES JAY, and also JULIET HARMER, for five has a new 12 - 2 slot, with a years, before continuing as music-only strong consumer element, a daily 10s. This time, the station identity is 'disaster clinic' and the LUCKY being enhanced by DAVID TATE and SALLY SEVEN QUIZ. PHILLIP HODSON's highly GRACE, popular advice hour, offering Finally, a new multi-colour station personal, sexual and emotional log, for use on all stationery, advice, continues from 2 - 3. At merchandise and station vehicles 3pm, PETE MURRAY hosts a new has been devised by FIRST afternoon chat and Call-In Show. IMPRESSIONS under an exclusive two- RICHARD DALLYE continues between 5 year contract. and 7 with an evening news sequence, now re-titled UPDATE. VU METERS - NO THANKS! W A T C H Y O U R E V E ! Unlike our American counterparts, who rarely seem to use anything else, British and European FEATURE BY NORMAN McLE00 broadcasters tend to look down on Quite early on in your engineering the VU meter for serious desk career, you must gain a grasp of the monitoring. idea of levels and decibels if you The VU meter over here is generally are to make any sense at all of the associated with inferior domestic equipment around you. equipment such as cassette Before long, you will learn that recorders. In any event, these days it is tending more and more to be there are such things as 'mike level' replaced by LED bar-graphs, which and 'line level' signals, and that the do at least have the merit of second are very much stronger than the first. Both categories cover a controllable response. wide range of signal levels: 'mike The practice which has devalued the level' signals can range from -80dB VU meter is one of fitting any old to -40dB, say, while line level meter with any old ballistics into signals are usually between -20 and any form of rectifier circuit and 420dB. then sticking a label from -20 to 43 on the front, complete with red DECIBELS strip, to give the impression that the meter knows something about the Already I have flung in a reference to decibels, abbreviated dB. In signal levels it is being fed with. specifications and test sheets you PEAKS AND AVERAGES will come across various suffixes to the basic decibel unit: dBm, dBu, The VU meter is unable to follow dBV etc. These arise because the decibel figure itself has no absolute the PEAKS of signal, but indicates instead the AVERAGE ENERGY of the value unless the reference level is signal. In this way, they are true understood. It's just a RATIO. to their description as "Volume Units" displays, and give some In most broadcast engineering, as indications of the overall loudness opposed to the machinations of the of the programme being measured. recording industry, the reference

level (OdB) . is taken as the voltage However, what usually counts more required to produce lmV of power in in broadcasting are the peaks of a 600 ohm load. signal, because it is these which can overload tapes or transmitters. This reference voltage is 775mV rms ( as shown on a voltmeter), or 2.2V All professional broadcasters rely on some form of Peak Programme peak-to-peak (if observed on an Meter or PPM on studio desks. VU oscilloscope). On a PPM, it's number meters are generally only employed 4. On a VU it can be anywhere, as line-up indicators on tape because the majority of VU meters encountered bear no resemblance to a machines. standard specification. If you're Analogue PPM are usually marked lucky, it'll be OVU, or possibly -4VU, from 1 to 7, with OdB being PPX4 depending on the situation. It's not and there being 4dB between each for nothing that these things are known as Virtually Useless meters. mark on the scale. WHAT IS A DECIBEL? COMPARING POWERS

I explained earlier that the decibel It is important to distinguish measure itself is only a ratio, and carefully between voltage and power. it can only relate to absolute values Doubling the voltage in a circuit of voltage or power if the reference will quadruple the power. If a level Is understood. signal of IV produces a power of IW in a particular load, then increasing the signal to 2V Mathematically, the decibel ratio between two voltages V1 and V2 is:- produces not two watts, but four.

20 log,0V1/V2 A ratio of 2:1 in voltage is 6dB, as we said earlier. That same ratio, To ease understanding, I have worked 6dB, is also a four times ratio in out the decibels which correspond to power. various voltage ratios:- A two times ratio in power is only Voltage Ratio Decibels 3dB. The correspondence between power ratio and decibels is shown 2:1 6dB below: - 4:1 12dB 10:1 20dB Power Ratio Decibels 20:1 26dB 3dB 40:1 32dB 2:1 100:1 40dB 4:1 6dB 10dB 316:1 50dB 10:1 13dB 1000:1 60dB 20:1 16dB 3162:1 70dB 40:1 20dB 10000:1 80dB 100:1 316:1 25dB Ratios expressed in figures multiply 1000:1 30dB 35dB (e.g. if you take a signal through an 3162:1 40dB amplifier with 100x gain, and then 10000:1 pass it through another amplifier with 10x gain, the resultant gain Both RF and audio power are often will be 100 multiplied by 10, i.e. expressed in decibels referenced to 1000). But ratios expressed in dB a milliwatt (iBm), or with OdB simply ADD. So, in the above being taken as 1W, (dBW). Field example, the first amp has a gain of strengths are usually expressed in 40dB, the second 20dB, and the dB relative to 1 microvolt per combination 60dB. Easy, isn't it? metre - dE(µV/m). Signal-to- noise ratios are always measured in So an amplifier with a gain of decibels, as is the gain of an 1000x, which turns an input of lmV amplifier, or aerial, or the loss of into an output of IV, and which a filter or feeder. You will come might be suitable as a microphone across them all the time on your preamplifier, can also be said to travels. have a gain of 60dB. In subsequent articles I will look There are other applications, more closely at what sort of levels however, where the quantity being to expect in various places. In the meantime I hope you now appreciate measured is not voltage but POWER. Most often this will occur when something of the meaning of "dB"! talking about transmitter outputs. --- 0 N McLeod 1987 --- E D W A R D C O L E British coast, of course. The two RE M E M B E R S offshore giants, LONDON and RA DI O 39 0 CAROLINE, had already been on the air for more than a year when 390 AN ARTICLE BY FORMER RADIO 350 ANNOUNCER made its debut in September 1965, EDIIARD COLE, „YHO IS NOV I/ORKIN6 FOR BBC and there were plenty of other, RADIO FOUR, smaller stations scattered around the coast, some on ships, some on forts. Friday July 26th 1967; a fine morning. RADIO 390, Britain's sweet But on 390 we liked to think we music station, was on the air as were pioneers. For we were the usual. The views from the windows first pirates to specialise in sweet and catwalks of RED SANDS TOWER music, instead of mindless pop, were of sunshine and a calm sea. with civilised announcers instead of raving djs. Our audience weren't But as I sat down to lunch with my teenyboppers, but housewives, and three fellow announcers, three all daytime programmes began with engineers and two record the words: "RADIO 390, presenting librarians, the radio set in the EVE, the woman's magazine of the galley was tuned to not our own air..." And the ladies evidently transmission, but to the BBC HOME liked it, more than eight million SERVICE. For the one o'clock news tuning into our wavelength. was due, and was to include an item of vital concern. It came half way RED SANDS TOWER, "home" for the through the bulletin. past 22-months, was a wartime coastal defence fort, comprising "The pirate station, RADIO 390 is seven separate buildings each going off the air today. ESTUARY perched on four massive legs RADIO, the company which runs the embedded in concrete below the station on RED SANDS TOWER in the water, and interconnected by Thames Estuary, this morning lost catwalks 50 feet above. its appeal against a HIGH COURT Judge's order in May, stopping it We were all mad, of course; I broadcasting without a licence—the realise that now. We must have been; fir es managing director said: "We why else would we risk our lives on shall close down as soon as we can a crumbling, rusty structure eight get a boat out of Whitstable and a half miles from land? It Harbour to the fort." certainly wasn't the salary that attracted us, nor the working The legal wrangling had been going conditions, although these had on for months. The POST OFFICE Improv ed considerably since the claimed that RED SANDS TOWER was early months, when we sat huddled inside territorial waters. The cause round one electric fire, while the of the trouble was a nearby bitter November gales swept down sandbank known as Middle Sand, and the Estuary. Now there was a modern the point of dispute: did it appear studio, central heating, television above the surface of the water? The and ping-pong - but the fort still Appeal Court had now decided it shook in the wind, and if anyone did, and RADIO 390 was ordered to had fallen over the rail into the cease transmissions. sea there was little hope of rescue.

We weren't the first pirate station Our tender was the MALLARD, a 39- to broadcast from around the foot Whitstable fishing boat which called twice a week, weather BILL became law, and the pirate permitting; on Wednesday, to take radio bonanza was over. It produced men on and off when the shifts great comradeship, and was a unique changed, and on Saturday, to bring adventure. Most of the 390 water, diesel fuel for the announcers are still broadcasting; generators, and other supplies. On a some with the BBC, some with fine day, the journey too just over commercial stations, some overseas. an hour, but on a wild one, it could But radio is like a drug. Once take two hours, with the seas you'”e tried it, you don't want to washing the deck and us squashed in stop. the wheelhouse. And then, one by one, we were winched up onto the Today, nine years later (ED: This fort, while the boat circled, was written in 1976), it all seems pitching and tossing, below. quite unbelievable. I don't think I'd do ft again. But Pm so glad I did I had two shows to present on that it once. final afternoon; PLAYTIME for the under-fives, and MEMORY LANE, our 8ELOY: The actual script sent fro. RADIO daily dose of the thirties for the 390's head office for EOYARO COLE to nostalgia buffs. Normally, it was a read „ show I enjoyed doing, but today I just didn't have much enthusiasm, 'somehow. We spent the rest of the I ron time peering at the horizon, waiting for the first sight of the MALLARD.

At a quarter past four she appeared In the distance, and at five o'clock he arrived at RED SANDS. On board were VIC DAVIS, her Captain, and a !.aldful of press and television men who wanted to be in at the death. I was chief announcer, so Vic handed n. to me the sealed orders from head ••••••• o r t• trig . office. I was simply to read out a farewell message, composed by -• 1,•• y - ,^-1_ managing director DAVID LYE, play

all three verses of the National ...... 1• 1 1•• e.11 aa ea. •fila

Anthem, and that was it. •L11 ea

140.0. Ne u , Ye •••••I 'mut •••••••

...0•• ••• I can remember feeling sick as I walked across the catwalk and up rias Limo •••, . . .1.1••• ell Yon* the stairs to the studio, reporters at my heels. Our ON THE SCENE programme was on the air, so I faded it out, drew a deep breath, and made the announcement. I fluffed my words twice; Pm surprised it wasn't more. On went the Anthem, and then there was silerce. It was ten past five.

Two weeks later, EDWARD SHORT's MARINE (Broadcasting) OFFENCES W I L L H I G H T E C H than happy with the new system. It N E W S R O O M did take a long time arriving, E Q U I P M E N T I M P R O V E though, and there are scores of I R N S E R V I C E ? radio news people (here I talk of services outside of this country) who couldn't believe that IRN was 800480 6 L ROSE operating manually in 1987. Opinion For ail Rg010 seems to be that they could have taken on such a move many years ago. Many years ago was, however, Even if you've never worked in a in days before the grand entrance radio newsroom, you will more than of the Australians with their likely have seen one. Tatty 'progressive' attitude towards both typewriters held together with IRN and LBC RADIO. Now both are rubber bands, a noisy teleprinter, entering a brand-new phase. piles of literature in just about every corner, dirty carpets, After a stalling period, where the overfilled rubbish bins (files?!) union's thought they might be able and, of course, a television tuned to use the old strike tactics to into either CEEFAX or ORACLE for halt development, both in news and the latest news! From this corner programming, the Australian's got of the station come all those words their way. What they appear to want that flow every hour on the hour. is a radio station, LEG, that really does grab the attention of London At IRN (Independent Radio News) audiences, and a news service which they hope to have thrown out the becomes as well respected, known typical newsroom image in favour of and accepted as ITN is for a costly but much needed computer commercial television. No-one's said system called NEWSTAR. It's not much about BBC NEWS as a difficult to use, so even the most comparision. fumbling typist can use it. Honest! The particular system was selected Hews material from agencies like by ROGER FRANCIS, the operations REUTER and PRESS AcmCIATION are Chief Engineer. He is reported to currently available through the IRN have claimed that, after some system, with UPI and EXTEL shortly testing with real live Journo's, the to be available. At IRV a journalist NEWSTAR system came out tops, can check the news index and call saying it is user-friendly, up any story. It can then be adaptable and easier that other written into 'radio-style' and to systems checked-out at the ensure no bulletin should over-run, operation which is responsible, at a constant count of words used, is least until 'deregulation day' for shown on the screen. providing news material to the country's 40-odd commercial Out in the field, 1RN correspondents stations. can file reports direct via their own personal computers with the The installation of the NEWSTAR correct modem. system was rapid by anyone's standard. Ordered one month, The bulletins are still read from installed and ready for 'on-the-job' sheets of paper - but clear white training within about another sheets which the system prints out month. From what we are hearing IRN in around a quarter of a minute - staffers would never want to revert and a system which allows for last- to using typewriters and are more minute detail or up-date material to be available to the newsreader direct access to all the news and information, would permit them to on the screen in the studio as he perhaps drop relaying the bulletins or she is reading the bulletin. from London, and have them read locally. Especially, if the ROGER Another change brought in at IRK is the 'doing-away' with engineers FRANCIS' dream of having audio having to feed audio material 'up material filed away on a digital storage system becomes a reality. the line' to stations around the country. This job will now be done Of course, having IRN provide direct from the newsroom by longer bulletins, with opt-out journ5lists. This should be helping points along the way, might also to provide stations with a real serve the situation for the moment. around-the -clock service and more If LBC RADIO in London, or for that up-dates than until now seem to matter RADIO TAY in Dundee, wanted have been given. to get out after 3-minutes they There are more progressive could. The others might like to developments on the way which will settle for a five-minute bulletin. please subscriber stations. At the But, will the new technology be the moment the teleprinter in ILR answer to IRN's prayers? Will it newsrooms which is slow. Very, very slow at printing out copy. Often make it a more acceptable, in financial terms, service to the one will discover after reading a stations around the country? Will bulletin that an up-date on a story some stations want to pull the plug began to churn out as it was being read. In the future the copy will be on IRN come deregulation of the printed out so fast there should be airwaves? no reason for main stories being missed in this way. I could imagine a good market for another news service for both the Later stations will be able to link existing commercial stations and some of the proposed Community, with the main IRK computer and select their own stories from the Neighbourhood, Specialist Music and local commercial stations, planning main file. They'll also be able to link to background, obit files, and to take to the air. This is not to say that what IRN is doing is bad. other general information much Of course not! Just that it would be needed in small newsrooms without healthy to have a choice when vast reference libraries. This particular development will interest establishing a station of which national news service you could programmers who until now have found that the amount of material select from. At the moment, for ILR, provided by IRN, whether as there is no choice. teleprinter copy or audio feed, was not enough, and that the IRN So, despite all the rumblings, the bulletins, fed up the ET line was Australian invasion of Gough Square much too short for their has done some good. It has placed IRN in the running for grabbing requirement. This has led to so many stations putting their own some new contracts from potential bulletins in front of, or after, the new local radio services. IRN bulletin. Where some stations At that is something that, not too are happy with 3-minute news bulletins from IRN (only 2-minutes long ago, would have seemed like an impossible proposition to make in at weekends and certain other times), others are not. Having any radio circles. M O R E PAUL RUSLING says that he is surprised/shocked to discover that I, 0 0 .S E BEACON RADIO's new Shropshire station only provides about four E N D S hours of 'localised programming for the county, with the rest of the time broadcasts coming from their They're a bit concerned in Dublin at main studio centre. Even more the moment after discovering that a surprised/shocked, be was, to hear number of Hackers had broken into that NORTHANTS 96 also only the RTE NEWS computer system. broadcast one four hour programme They've not only managed to get each weekday from their Northampton into files on the latest from the studios. The NORTHANTS 96 idents Gulf, or the Anglo-Irish talks, but and commercials are simply played private mail and highly in from the main studio on a confidential memos circulating separate cart machine for the around the service Northampton transmitters. Paul made a query of why they need so many Did you notice that the BBC cut transmitters to cover their area - sound from its live transmissions as the main transmitter can be from the Liberal Assembly in heard in Northampton Harrogate, West Yorkshire, as a section of PETER V. IGHT's Questions were also raised, by SPYCATCHER was being read out? somebody else, about the equipment DAVID DIMBLEBY explained thit the being used by some local stations BBC could risk prosecution if it for their outside broadcasts. Seems allowed the sound to be heard. that some of it is actually more Funny, to think, that the bc)k has powerful than legally permitted. Oh also been heard in part ,t the dear?! ILR stations breaking the European Parliament and are Wireless Telegraphy Act available via HMSO - the (1949)...what can we do?? Government's own book sho:. Dog eats Dog???.... The next step in the major MARINE (etc) BROADCASTING OFFENCES ACT PAUL BOON, Chairman oi the (1967) and a gaggle of people ASSOCIATION FOR BROADCASTING accused of conspiracy and offences DEVELOPMENT, managed to wr,te-off in connection with LASER and even his car off whilst he was 4riving the publication of RADIO CAROLINE'S to witness the operation of the frequency, will be a two-day special event station run ;)y TCR hearing at Sittingbourne Court on (TURKISH COMMUNITY RADIO). November 10th. The dirt will fly" Fortunately only a few bruises resulted Can we blame the Editor? Perhaps! Perhaps Not! But in the last issue One of the awful thing t about we forgot to omit a line which said moving to our new office ti is past STAR FORCE 576 / HARMONY 981 hoped week has been the job of h.ving to to be broadcasting by October 1st. sort out reams of paper in me form Well, that was their aim, some time or another! Sacks of all rinds of back. But, at press time for last

cuttings, magazines, ne ,spapers, Issue, was not practicable and we notes, have been deposited 4ith the should have deleted the line. At refuse collection servi.e. You least we did give the whole venture really wanted to know the:, didn't some news coverage you? " Now Radio Rose's Ramblings

Next year, the retail chain DIXONS for management involved with SIBC will be selling a complete Satellite have done Just about everything by Receiving system for 1.300 —giving the book. They are a legally formed us all the chance to pop down the company, registered for National High Street and bring ourselves a Insurance and VAT, have planning wide range of television and radio permission and Just about services we have so far been everything else a local commercial denied. station needs to have...except a We've been denied this choice for a licence. But, and this is quite an couple of reasons. One has been the important factor, they have been cost of such equipment, and the after a licence for years - only to other has been down to governmental be put off time and time again. restraint of our broadcast industry. Of course, IAN ANDERSON could beam Now the shackles are off as far as his programmes up to a satellite, cost of equipment goes, and in some and provide all Shetland islanders cases restrictions have been lifted. with a satellite receiver and they If you want to set up a radio could hear SIBC that way.. it would service from studios in London, be possible, if not a little linked up to a satellite and then expensive. picked up by citizens in homes and One can only Join with everybody offices across Europe - or by cable else in wishing SIBC the best of distribution systems - you can do luck. so. At this moment several former Some while back we did actually collegues of mine, Robb Eden, Chris promote the idea that a station set Cary and Willem van Kooten are in up in the way SIBC has been should the running to put around-the-clock not promote the DTI into taking radio stations on the air next year severe action for illegal this way. broadcasting. Meanwhile, those of us who still We now have had a suggestion from want to broadcast using the humble a source in that department that AM or FM transmitter to a local whilst a station operating audience, with a format of our professionally and not causing choice, are unable to do so because interference to other users of the the government still has not spectrum might go right down the allowed any development in this bottom of the list of 'problems' it area. would not prevent an ILR station in Either later this month, or early in the same area suing such an November, the Community Radio unlicensed station for "loss of Association, will be 'pulling a earnings". stunt' involving a ship (a Thames Radio Jackie suffered this fate Cruiser) to promote the fact that because of Radio Mercury - an ILR there is a need for the Home Office station not in Jackie's area - 60 it to announce details of both has been done before! legislation and a time table for the So, anybody following our line of development of Community Radio. thought should have a clause in any Others, who want to run local contract with an advertiser stating commercial stations, are very much that he is not diverting possible in the same boat. Waiting. funds away from any advertising due It is no surprise to us, nor the to an IL? stition. Government, that in the Shetland Surely that 4ould stand up in Court Islands a new local radio station should anybody attempt to be as Is about to start broadcasting. It petty-minded as Radio Mercury Is wrong to really call it a pirate, again. G R E A T N I G H T O U T A S H L E Y B A C K P L A N N E D F O R S T U A R T H E N R Y CHRIS ASHLEY has rejoined BEACON RADIO. On the night of Tuesday ASHLEY rejoins the BEACON team of October 27th, a NIGHT OF A broadcasters amidst the claim from HUNDRED DJs is being held at management that he was the Le Palais, Ham mersmith, West announcer with the highest ever London, to raise funds for Breakfast audience on BEACON RADIO. ailing di STUART HENRY. His career began at BBC RADIO DJs (and Pap Stars) who BRIGHTON in the 'seventies. would like to attend or support the event in some N E W L O C A T I O N way, are asked by NOV RADIO F O R N O W R A D I O to contact TONY PUINC.9 for O F F I C E further details. Tony is on 06286 67276. NOV RADIO COMMUNICATIONS is now The aim is to make life for located in the centre of Kettering, STUART HENRY and his wife, Northampton at a new base at 26, OLLIE, a lot easier... one Gold Street, Kettering. example of support is the The move to larger second floor installation of a new premises has been made due to the satellite dish at the HENRY continuous growth of the operation. home in Luxembourg, a job Our addresses and telephone number carried out by former di remain the same. CHRIS CARY. "We are now publishing every week The deejay line-up for and the extra space and more HAMMERSMITH will include accessable location was very much names such a s TONY needed." said HOWARD G L ROSE, BLACKBURN, BRUNO BROOKS, Editor of NOW RADIO MAGAZINE and JONATHAN ROSS, ALAN FREEMAN, NOW RADIO REPORTS. etc. "It is most pleasing that, despite a TONY PRINCE would also like delay in the development of UK to hear from broadcasters Radio, our publication has grown at who have any radio-related the steady rate it has since April items that could be 1986. We are sure that as the new auctioned on the night to Broadcasting Bill get's closer, and raise funds. new local stations get nearer coming on the air under licence, our P I E R C E Y M A R R I E S readership and usefulness will also grow. It is our aim to be the Voice RADIO TEES breakfast air of the entire radio industry - and personality NICK PIERCEY married on accessable to all." he said. Saturday 26th September. "We now have to start NICK . net his Bride, MELANIE, looking carefully at further eighteen months ago whilst working developments. But that will for BEACON RADIO in Wolverhampton. depend upon both the speed NICK is 26 and MELANIE is 18. at which Government will Already word is out that she is the allow more radio, and the Boss--"When Pm out, that is!" time it takes us to further claims NICK. expand Ou r team of MEL has just signed a contract with correspondents and workers." a modelling agency and is aiming to ROSE concluded. become a page 3 girl-. E D E N S A T E L L I T E E S S E X P I R A T E H I T R A D I O P R O J E C T B Y M A S S I V E F I N E L O O K I N G F O R S P R I N G T A K E O F F A member of a Canvey Island, Essex, unlicensed radio station, CANVEY The satellite-delivered radio RADIO, has been given one of the service being promoted by ROBE biggest ever fines imposed under EDEN is hoping for a Spring launch. the WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY ACT (1949) EDEN, talking to NOW RADIO this for operation of a transmitter week, said that the first service without a licence. bc'ng planned would be an around- He was fined £1,000 and ordered to the-clock all hit radio service. It pay t900 costs. The costs were to was hoped programming would be in cover RADIO INVESTIGATION SERVICES all main European languages, tracking down of the station and 1ncuding English, German, French the summary prosecution. and perhaps Italian. The WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY ACT makes The project, until now known under it an offence for any person to the working title SATELLITE MUSIC Install or operate equipment for NETWORK, is about to be registered wireless telegraphy without a under the official title SATELLITE licence from the HOME OFFICE. The RADIO NETWORK. maximum fine is £2,000. "We have plans for a speech-based channel as well as the all-hit PO E T S C O R N E R channel, so a change of name is So then Jimmy Saville appropriate to avoid confusion." Now that you are giving up said EDEN. your aide record club, Sunday "We are hoping for an Easter launch will Just be a day that falls BRITISH TELECOM willing!" said ROBB between Saturday and Nonday. EDEN. A major launch party will be held No more will we bear them in a couple of months time. there same old anecdotes "We have a fantastic line-up ready about the Beach Boys playing for the service - but we don't want at Stoke Xandeville or to say too such at this moment Elvis not taking drugs. because of other groups also planning to Launch similar services. And who was this person Mind you, we really have done our known as "The King' whose home work, and I think that some of records all reached number the others will make serious 47 but luckily were mistakes. They just have not caught in your 'safety net' carried out the kind of market and I have scanned the research that our company has. That Chart Files for mention of will benefit us greatly." he "Brian Poole and them Tress" to no claimed. avail. ROBB EDEN started in radio in 1971 with RNI, and he has also had Keith's Mum reckons she once spells with CAROLINE and in ILR saw you in a motorway production areas. service station wearing a Programme Directors of stations scullcap, proving, she said interested in the possibility of that you wear a wig taking SRN programming are invited Ultimately I think this to contact ROBB EDEN on (0451) proves nothing. 30741 to discuss the matter ROB CHAFXAN further. (With apologies to E J Thribb) W cJ H r H H AN/. II\T G : THE NEW GOLDEN AGE? "T H E I ID E A O F A • G 0 L 1D H N A G E • Certainly the time is ripe for a new age of radio, at least from the COMMENT BY NORMAN AcIE00 technological point of view.

The Home Secretary, no less, thinks Never before has so much good- that we now face the prospect of a quality technology been available no new "Golden Age" for Radio. These cheaply. Often I use an LCD words of his were reported in Now battery frequency counter, which Radio's fine Festival round-up in cost about £150. Twenty years ago Issue 32, together with a suggestion a comparable unit would bend that perhaps the last Golden Age shelves under its weight, take half occurred in the middle sixties. an hour to warm up and cost ten times as much for the same Many readers who remember that facilities. period would agree, but their parents might prefer to nominate the war Or take turntables: nowadays you years as the special time when radio can buy the Technics SL 1200 series had a value and an importance it turntables for a little over £200, can never now recover. and for most low-cost broadcasting use they are Just the Job. What Whatever may be your preference, it would we have had twenty years ago is certainly worth developing the for the same money in real terms? notion that there was, or should be, Garrard 301's with slip mats? Yuck! such a thing as a Golden Age of Radio, because it carries with it the Leaving the engineer's bench and idea that things could be - or have the studio for a moment - what been - much better than they are about the listener? Twenty years now. It's a good guard against ago there were Dansette trannys complacency to devote a short but galore: now we have everything from regular amount of time to mammoth ghettoblasters to radios contemplating Just how much radio built into baseball caps. Anyone could be improved in an ideal but who wants a radio can have one, so technically feasible world. cheap and plentiful is the supply.

It does seem that people who And at last the myth of frequency listened to the radio in its 'Golden shortage has gone. How could there Age' got more out of the experience have been a frequency shortage when than they appear to now. It also every local radio station since seems that radio played a much more 1973 has been given two frequencies central role in the lives of people on which to broadcast the same at certain times in the past than programme to the same area? Giving the mumblings of a beaten-up tranny everyone twice as much spectrum as In a busy shop ever do today. they need is hardly evidence of short supply. It certainly did in my Golden Age. I was a few days short of thirteen So we have the technology, and when the infamous MOA became law in there will be even more around in 1967, but I had already spent the future. But who will create the countless hours tuned to Radio right conditions for a new "Golden Scotland, and was from then on Age" to happen? Back to you, Home destined to have a streak of Secretary! anarchist blood in my veins. --- 0 N McLeod 1987 --- Now Radio Openings

SOUTHERN 50UND have a METRO RADIO has an opening vacancy for a PROGRAMME for a REPORTER. Write to: CONTROLLER who is skilled in KEITH HAMILL, METRO RADIO, music radio and has a good Swallwell, Newcastle-upon- understanding of market Tyne, NE99 'BB research and listener analysis. They're after a person who is imaginative, The CHILTERN NETWORK committed, organised and a requires a dynamic REPORTER good leader. Company car and to take charge of their bonus added to your salary. Bedford newscentre. A full c.v should be sent Excellent salary and to; The Managing Director, prospects offered. Only SOUTHERN SOUND RADIO, PO Box experienced radio 1323, Brighton, East Sussex, journalists need apply. CV BN4 2 SS and demo tape to: ANDY DIPROSE, Head of News, BBC RADIO BEDFORDSHIRE is looking CHILTERN NETWORK, Chiltern for a part-time PRODUCER/PRESENTER Road, Dunstable, for its weekly religious magazine Bedfordshire, LU6 1HQ programme. You must have skills and an informed interest in religion and current affairs and the ability BBC RADI3 NORFOLK has a to lead a small, varied team. vacancy for a NEWS PRODUCER. Application and aircheck cassette Journalistic experience at to MIKE GIBBONS, BBC RADIO sub-editor O r reporter BEDFORDS MRE, PO Box 476, Luton, level, gcod microphone voice Bedfordshire, LU1 5BA and current driving licence are essential. Salary RADIO TnES has an opening for a £10,881 - £15,388 plus an SENIOR ANRNALIST. Applications in annual allowance of £1,065 writing to JAN VERRILL, Programme per antum. Contact BBC Administrator, RADIO TEES, APPOINTMiNTS immediately am Stockton-on-Tees, TS18 1HE quote reference number 4442) Telephone (01) 927 5799. OCEAN SOUND is looking for capable Completed application forms PRESENTERS to join the expanding should be returned by 15th service. Applications should be sent October In form of written application, c.v. and eircheck cassette to PROGRAMME BBC RADIO MANCHESTER also CONTROLLER, OCEAN SOUND, PO Box 99, requires a NEWS PRODUCER Fareham, Hampshire, P015 5TA with very much the same qualifications as those PRESENTERS capable of high energy requied by the above job at air style delivery are required for Norwich. The salary in a new private commercial station Manchester is also on the being established in Ireland. CV and same scale. For an aircjeck cassette to: NORCOM ULSTER application form contact BBC MARTETING, 102, Great Victoria APPOINTMENTS on (01) 927 Street, Belfast 2 5799 and quote reference number %,413

A salection of current radio OPENI1C3S, NO W RADIO NE WSLETTER, vacancies around the country (and ,'0 BO X 45, KETTERING, beyond!). Entries in this section are .rORTHA NTS, NN16 ONTN free of charge to subscribing 7't lex: 8951182 GECO MS G stations. Details should be sent in (NO W RADIO) writing or by telex. Services Guide Now Radio

NOW RADIO MAGAZINE is published EQ UI P M E NT every 2 weeks. In the weeks in between WIRELESS WORKSHOP. 25 Ditchling publication of this main magazine Rise, Brighton, BN1 4QL. Telephone we have available a new title, NOV (0273) 671928. Special Event, RADIO REPORTS, designed to keep Community, Campus Radio subscribers fully up-to-date with Specialists. Transmitters, news, developments and the latest Processing equipment. Sales, Job vacancies. Installation and hire facilities. A Subscription to NOW RADIO MAGAZINE costs £24 per year (for PHEONIX COM/lNICATIONS. 26 fortnightly issues), or £1.2 for Transmitters, Studio Equipment, 6 months (13 fortnightly issues. Links. Tel (01) 800 08S0 for full Subscription for NOV RADIO REPORTS details. Export Specialists. (26 issues) is t15.00p. NOV RADIO REPORTS can only be made available SOUND BROADCASTING SERVICES. 42, to subscribers of NOV RADIO Grenville Road, London, 1(19 4EN. MAGAZINE. Qualified and Expert Service. Please write for brochure. SUBSCRIBE TODAY! COMPLETE AND RETURN .THIS fORN (OR NAIL JI N G L E S YOUR ORDER ON A PLAIN PIECE OF PAPER), USE OUR FREEPOST ADDRESS, AND REA MER, NO PARS. Whatever your format, PANS STRIP IS REQUIRED, (OUTSIDE UK, WRITE: NOW make your station staid out from RADIO, PO SDI 45, KETTERINC NORTHANTS., the rest! Call now fcr the facts! ANI6 ONO, Phone: (01) 304 8088. To: NOV RADIO, freepost, KETTERIN6, ANIS OBR NE W EN T R ANT S NAME' ASSOCIATION FOR BROADCASTING DEVELOPMENT. Representing the ADDRESS. interests of prospective radio broadcast operations. Free Details of membership. ABD, 79, Caling Croft, New Ash Green, Dartford, Kent, DA3 8PY POSTCODE'

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