Tuesday, 9 February 2010

Hullo everyone,

I've just read the posts below...

From: "Daz Whitt"

To me, what offshore radio brings is a bloody good bit of
excitement and
interest. Presenters living together on board a ship in the middle of
nowhere produces a unique style of programming that got me completely
hooked as a teenager in the 1980's. It was as if there was some
sort of
connection with those on board and us the listeners on land. I'm
grateful to the Neil and his fellow shipmates for providing me and I
hope other folks with some wonderful memories...

From: Steve Martin.

I think most of us can echo those sentiments. The question is can
it all happen again?
I think probably not, others disagree. Only time will tell.

As a lurker and former listener these posts remind me that it's about time to say something important and I should have said it before.

THANKS

Some of the people on this list provided me with the best entertainment radio anyone in the UK has ever had. Not just,
uniquely, playing music that I wanted to hear but providing that buccaneering spirit that literally thrilled me. I so remember getting up early after the 1987 storm to see if Caroline was still on – and
so she was. That was just one of the moments. Who's that enthusiastic for any music broadcaster today?

So chaps, even if offshore doesn't return. They were glorious days
and I thank you all for a great time. I shall remember it for the
rest of my life.

All the best

Ian Bull

I agree entirely that AM radio is well past its sell by date and will not get a large audience like it used to.

The point is that the government are complete control freaks these days.
.................................................

Perhaps that is the case, more so they will not be concerned about all the many small internet stations who in the majority attract just a few listeners at a time.

Yes the government are control freaks and more so three at the top! in fact any internet campaign the website could be taken down in hours if they so wished.

We had a discussion about this very subject a couple of months back on here. I saw this story on the BBC news website and there is a video report from BBC Northwest to explain all http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/8505314.stm

Not sure I understand John. How could a site in America, or China, be taken down in hours by the UK?

That is one of the reverse problems of the Internet, bogus sites can stay even if they pedal complete rubbish.
One of those pushing for change is the Prof of Media Studies at Brighton Uni.

Regards
Eric

Letters to the BBC and Arqiva on proposals for the joint release of capacity on Multiplexes B, C and D

The BBC and Arqiva are seeking to offer jointly to the market: (i) spare capacity which has become available on multiplex B ahead of digital switchover and (ii) new capacity that will become available on multiplexes C and D following digital switchover.

Digital switchover is happening region by region until 2012. In each region, when it happens, certain unused capacity on the BBC's multiplex B is used to broadcast high definition TV services, while certain new capacity on Arqiva's multiplexes C/D becomes available due to technical upgrades.

In these unique circumstances, pairing the BBC's diminishing spare capacity with Arqiva's growing spare capacity would enable two additional national TV channels to be broadcast in the near term rather than only after the completion of digital switchover.

The BBC and Arqiva have requested Ofcom's consent to start a joint sales process in respect of the paired capacity. Once the auction process is finished, the BBC and Arqiva will need separate consent for implementation of the joint arrangements.

Notice of Ofcom's decision on the proposed joint sales process is set out in the letters at the web links below.

http://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv/ifi/tvlicensing/letters/

I think you misunderstand my point slightly. I'm not for one moment suggesting a parity in seriousness of each story- no one with any sanity would argue the raid on the Ross was anything like as dreadful as the terrible Tragedy on the Thames. What I meant was the criminal scum who perpetrated the raid on the Ross would perhaps not have been too disappointed to see the Marchioness disaster take up so much copy that day. Sorry if I didn't make that clear in the original post. Regards,
Giles.

Here here Ian- couldn't agree more. I was 14 in 83' and hearing Caroline for the first time then was just magic. Reading Steve Conway's book brought back a lot of memories for me that had faded a little over the years as well as providing some fascinating insights into life on board and, the nightmare that went on right at the end when the ship was grounded on the Goodwin Sands. I'd never before grasped quite how serious things were that night. If you haven't read Shiprocked yet, I'd thoroughly recommend it.

Regards,
Giles.

It isn't, and never was a viable option because the clauses in the Act related to LICENSABLE transmitting equipment. It meant the ship to ship and ship to shore stuff, not public broadcasting band kit. The ship to ship/shore stuff had to have a valid licence issued by any country (third world or whatever) and it would be exempt from the powers of the Act to confiscate. If it wasn't licensed then it could be confiscated. This is all the 'loop-hole' actually said.

Yet, it was muddied for the anoraks and volunteers in order to try to give hope and buy time whilst headless chickens strutted around in a blind panic. It stopped anybody trying to do nasties with the ship, as they all believed it was only a matter of time before it would switch back on, and so was a very cohesive 'white lie'.

This is completely missing from commercial radio, but it seems to be brilliantly captured by both today's Radio 1 and 1Xtra where it is quite evident that everybody is having a good time and interacting with each other as one team stuck in one place! It's sadly missing from Radio 2 which seems even more sterile every time I check it out.

It doesn't conclusively 'explain' it though....!

Hallo everyone.
This posting in the Dutch language can now be read on http://www.bloggen.be/zeezenders Greetings of Nico from Gouda, the Netherlands.

Terug in de tijd: 9 februari 1967
Nadat Dorothy Calvert een rechtszaak tegen de Engelse staat verliest moet Radio City http://www.schriel.nl/radio/zenders/zeezender/radiocity/index.htm onmiddelijk stoppen met uitzenden. Het nieuws bereikt om 17u30 Shivering Sands http://www.offshore-radio.de/fleet/shivering.htm en om 23 uur beginnen de DJ's aan het laatste uitzenduur. Om 23u56 start DJ Tom Edwards http://www.tom-edwards.co.uk/ de laatste plaat "The party is over" en aansluitend nemen de DJ's afscheid van de luisteraars. De zender gaat definitief uit na het spelen van het Engelse volkslied.