Birmingham Race Riots: Full video reportMain Players
Radio Luxembourg (1930s - 1992)
First aired in the 1930s, Radio Luxembourg was the first to contest the BBC Light Programme by bringing over new sounds from the USA, such as Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra. It also built its audience by broadcasting in the evenings, when the BBC chose to end its broadcasts.
Radio Caroline (1964 - 1990)
This station first came on air on Easter Sunday of 1964 from the vessel named Caroline and managed a good three years of broadcasting to a younger, more underground demographic, before being towed to shore in 1968. Nevertheless, they managed to keep going back, and to this day Radio Caroline survives, on land, on digital radio.
Radio Jackie (1970s - 1985)
Introducing the Top 40 chart format to the South West of London, Radio Jackie provided the latest popular music all broadcast from the back of a cab office in London.
Laser 558 (1980s)
Using mainly American DJs, this offshore station broadcast to Europe from aboard a vessel called the Communicator. The station was quick to attract listeners but also quickly faded, and eventually shut down in 1986.