Radio Caroline 1970s History 4

Radio Caroline 1970’s - History (4)

This all resulted in test broadcasts taking place on 389m on 13th May 1973, using a 10Kw transmitter with the original 50Kw transmitter being brought into use on 253m on 15th May 1973. Within two days both transmitters and frequencies were being used to broadcast simultaneously and at the end of the month individual test transmissions using the call signs Radio Caroline One (389m) and Radio Caroline Two (253m) were started.

By 4th June 1973 Radio Caroline was ready to start its dual service transmissions but, just as everything appeared to be settling down problems were experienced with the Mi Amigo's generators once again and on 26th June 1973 power was lost completely and both stations left the air abruptly.

With continuing technical problems forcing Radio Caroline to remain silent the organisation managed to obtain two new Deutz generators during early July 1973. Some remaining sections of the lattice frame aerial mast were also put in place at this time giving the structure a total height of 180'. The need to achieve this installation quickly was brought about because Ronan O'Rahilly had agreed once again to hire the Mi Amigo's facilities to another broadcaster. This time he had arranged a deal for a new Belgian station – Radio Atlantis - to be launched from the Mi Amigo, generating much needed income for Radio Caroline in the absence of any commercial advertising revenue of its own.

Radio Atlantis was launched on 15th July 1973 and broadcast in Dutch and Flemish for 13 hours a day. DJs from Radio Caroline had been pressing Ronan O'Rahilly to reintroduce an English language service in addition to the output from Radio Atlantis. This eventually occurred at 8.00pm on 24th July 1973 when Andy Archer announced the start of a new English language station - Radio Seagull. This new station was to broadcast 'progressive' music on 389m throughout the night until Radio Atlantis recommenced its transmissions the following morning.

The main aerial which had been erected during the summer of 1973 collapsed du Mi Amigo October 1973 after the mast collapse ring a storm on 1st October and had to be replaced by a temporary system. However,A failure of the temporary aerial system, which itself collapsed on 18th October 1973, effectively put an end to all transmissions from the Mi Amigo for a time.

This aerial collapse delayed the planned start of a new station - Radio Mi Amigo, which had paid to take over the airtime previously used by Radio Atlantis. In order to fulfil the lucrative contract with Radio Mi Amigo a new aerial mast was hurriedly obtained and partially erected on board the Mi Amigo during late October and early November 1973.

The final section of the new 165' mast was put in place by Christmas Eve and test transmissions were able to commence later that day. On Christmas Day 1973 DJs on board the Mi Amigo presented live programmes without any station identity and similar tests took place until New Year's Day 1974 when Radio Mi Amigo took to the air.

1974

Radio Seagull was reintroduced on 7th January 1974 at 9.00pm following the closure of Radio Mi Amigo. The station began to attract a significant specialist audience, but without any prior announcement, on 23rd February 1974, the broadcasts began as usual but under the call sign Radio Caroline. However, regular listeners were not too concerned about the change of name because the progressive music format of Radio Seagull was continued.

A landmark in offshore radio history, Radio Caroline's 10th Birthday , was celebrated on 14th April 1974 (Easter Sunday) with a special four hour programme. Presented by all the English DJs on board the Mi Amigo the programme featured interviews with the station's first two DJs - Simon Dee and Chris Moore recalling their experiences of launching Britain's pioneering all day music station as well as recordings of some early programmes.

With the progress of legislation through the Dutch Parliament during the spring and summer of 1974 to finally outlaw offshore broadcasting Radio Caroline and Radio Mi Amigo announced that they would continue broadcasting after the new law came into effect. The Dutch government announced in mid August that its legislation outlawing offshore radio broadcasting would come into effect at the end of the month. Although little, if anything, could now be done to stop the new law coming into force a rally was organised in London n 19th August to show support for the stations off the Dutch coast.

Radio Caroline again prepared to defy all official action against it and go into illegality as it had done in 1967 in the face of similar British legislation. The station closed its office in Holland on 1st June 1974 and started to use Radio Mi Amigo's Spanish postal address instead. Programme hours for Radio Caroline were gradually increased, first at the beginning of June to 8.00pm-6.00am and then in August from 7.00pm-6.00am, with frequent hints from DJs that there would soon be an all-day English Service.