Start of Independent Local Radio (ILR) in Britain

Mainland Britain's first licensed  commercial radio stations began broadcasting in October 1973, both in London, breaking the BBC's 50 year radio monopoly.

First on the air was LBC a news and information station which launched on 8th October at 6.00am on 719kHz (417m) medium wave and 97.3mHz FM. A week later, on 16th October at 5.00am the music station, Capital Radio, was launched on 557kHz (539m) medium wave and 95.8 mHz FM.

Within twelve months of the two London based stations starting to broadcast other ILR stations were launched in Birmingham (BRMB), Glasgow (Radio Clyde), Manchester (Piccadilly Radio), Tyneside (Metro Radio), Swansea (Swansea Sound) and Sheffield (Radio Hallam) and the ILR network gradually spread throughout the country.

HOLD Noun - cavity in a ship below deck where cargo is stowed. Also the area used to house transmitters on many radio ships.

          Back                                                                           Next

7