Radio Luxembourg - 1992-12-30 - Last 1.5 hours of the last transmission on 208 meter

[@antonellosantoru1525]

It was a great time, nostalgic memories of the youth. I' m 63 now. I spent so many nights listening to it, now everything is over.I have my old BRION VEGA's radio, but I'm still crying................ Ciao from Sardinia.

[@altfactor]

I've heard a story that in the fall of 1962, George Harrison of the Beatles was at home on Liverpool, England late one night, listening to Radio Luxembourg at 1440 kilohertz/208 meters when he heard them play the group's first single, "Love Me Do". He screamed so loudly that it woke up his whole family, and when they realized Radio Luxembourg was playing "Love Me Do ", the rest of the family joined in the screaming!

[@hudois]

Wow...seriously fab story...love it!! 😄👍❤

[@gennadymikhanosha4999]

As I'm listening now to the last 1.5 hour of RL broadcast I almost choke up with sweet memories! The big noise even reached eastern Ukraine in the early 70s! I was a student in Kharkov State University 1969-1974 and used to listen to 208 on Soviet made transistor radio "Okean". Wrote down Top 20 list every week and shared it with rock fan friends...

[@Kokacoma]

I 'm Listen this great stration from 1978 to 1984 couple years of it in Germany when i was sevice in ГСВГ

[@sz05ry]

46 / 5000 Fordítási találatok Almost the whole of Hungary listened to Luxi.

[@helentucker3317]

had radio with ear piece 1973-1979, in bed, mis-spent youth, best years of music catch up. Thank god for radio Luxembourg. We loved ya 😈

[@26tm9999]

+helen tucker Hahaha Ive just mentioned this on a cb radio forum, being a kid having the ear piece in and under the sheets so my parents couldnt hear it lol, school in the morning I was always knackered.

[@Bogdan-bj5yl]

I was listening ”to the great 208” since 1980. I still miss it...

[@natalieisacheerio4455]

Miss this great radio station so much used to listen to it late at night in bed 🎶🎶🎶👌

[@markymarkinthehouse]

in this day of multi streaming tv and radio its hard to believe that once upon a time radio ruled and the great 208 was there for me at 55 now i have fond memories of late night Luxy and the great 208 fading in and out on my little transistor radio growing up to the great bob Stewart and the other greats the rhythm of nightlife in great Britain etc and this just gets them old memory cells a going cheers to the grand duchy and the forever great 208

[@daves8429]

Listened to this station, when I lived in Germany.... Early eighties. Loved the feeling I got when listening!

[@PoctaTomasoviM]

This brings a tear to me eye every time I listen and when John Catlett speaks I as good as loose it - Radio Luxembourg will never die whilst I can get to a microphone.

[@anthonyperkins7556]

John Catlett offered 3 scenarios to CLT management, a) Spend a huge budget on TV / Radio advertising in a bid to further market the station directly to partner radio stations, satellite radio services and CATV networks, b) Leave the station as it is, and c) close it completely. And guess which option CLT management chose? Yes you guessed it. I would have advertised R Lux English Service on RTL's TV services in English plus on free to air European Astra English language satellite TV channels distributed to UK and European viewers and on UK commercial radio stations. This to me would have helped got the station more noticed.

[@PoctaTomasoviM]

@@anthonyperkins7556 Not exactly the way it was, but CLT wanted it closed for a long time - can't argue with there commercial stance

[@anthonyperkins7556]

@@PoctaTomasoviM In the late eighties CLT went on an aggressive European expansion policy as they were looking forward to the future. They eyed up setting a daytime service for Scandinavia but didn't quantify what that would be, they also looked into a classical music radio station delivered via satellite to Holland's CATV networks with an eye to expanding that to other Western European CATV networks in time, and they also looked into setting up a TV channel in Spain. They also set up A252 from Ireland targeting the UK from powerful LW transmitters on 252 kHz. The Scandinavian project, as we know, became RTL International in Wegener PANDA 🐼 1 encoded stereo 7.38/7.56 MHz, delivered via Astra 1A on the RTL Vèroniquè channel, the classical music station became Opus Radio from Switzerland delivered in glorious Wegener PANDA 🐼 1 encoded stereo via Teleclub's transponder 7.74 / 7.92 MHz via Astra 1A. The Spanish TV channel became Telecinco. In 1989, the German Service started pressuring CLT (Compagnìe Luxembougeois Dè Tèlèdiffusionè) for night-time use of 1440 kHz MW and they kept up the pressure on Radio Luxembourg's holding company, until a number of negotiations resulted in the English Service wanting to give up MW for a satellite and shortwave future at the end of 1991. However, at the back end of 1991, RTL didn't renew employment contracts of the existing DJs and staff in the English Service and stopped all the adverts and sponsorship that brings in the money, which was a very silly retrograde step and was one of the coffin nails that was responsible in sealing Radio Luxembourg's fate. Later on in 1992, RTL management was kicked out and replaced by CLT management moving in, these people were no broadcasters, but were money people and auditors, whose job it was to cut costs and make savings. So they turned the spotlight on all of RTL's operations and guess what they chose to axe? Radio Luxembourg English Service.

[@rogerdarthwell5393]

@@anthonyperkins7556 I really love what you write all over KZbin, if one day you ever make a blog with everything that you write I would read it over and over again!

[@PoctaTomasoviM]

So do I and an still HONOURED to be mentioned

[@curtisunit]

I didn’t even cop on to 208 until Long after it was gone. I’ve been listening to recordings of the old shows that people make here and share. I am absolutely addicted. The jingles were amazing. The DJs were amazing. Great to read stories from people here. I remember what it was like to have a cassette deck on record pause as a kid waiting to run like my life depended on it to catch a song once it started. Songs sounded great on radio. I was a bit young to have gotten into radio lux but now I’m sorry I missed it.

[@baronmeduse]

I feel bad that I took it for granted while it was there. I listened to it a lot over the years and then not for stretches of time. When the final broadcast was put out I hadn't listened for a while, but I did tune in.

[@hfranke07]

I sat there listening to the last broadcast...... and I cried.

[@PeFo54]

I still remember tuning in to the evening listening to Tony Prince and the gang. I became member in Club 208 back 1976 and still have several club magazine from that time. The signal in Gothenburg ,Sweden was not so good with lot of fadings,. I camped in Marnach near the transmitter back 1992, and the transmitter was so strong (1,2 MWatt) you didnt have to tune in your radio . Radio 208 was on every frequence and on every band. Probably not very healty

[@Isszarya]

Wonderful memories and great Am for ever

[@67lionsoflisbon37]

Listening and absolutely remembering fondly to the Station of the 80s, my 80s of the Bob Stewart 3AM closedown. Thanks to all.

[@mostynhistorypreservations993]

im glad im not the only one who recorded the death throws of terrestrial 208

[@lubomirkrampl4242]

Srdecna vdaka. Pocuval som vas pocas dvoch rokov vojenciny 1975 - 1977 v Prahe. A samozrejme predtym aj potom az do konca vasho vysielania. 👍👋👋❤️

[@whiff1962]

Living in a basement room at my parents, outside Frankfurt, Germany, when I listened to this last broadcast. I loved it when the jingle would play, RA-DIO Luxembourg!

[@wastl700]

1979, with my girlfriend in bed, we tuned her radio clock to 208m ... Every evening at 9 pm...What a great time... She married my best friend . Tears in my eyes!

[@vinnyvincent2862]

You had a lucky escape ! From a Fake Girlfriend and a Fake Friend . ✌

[@rainysunday6186]

In the late 70s in the U.S. Navy, I was on board ship and anytime we did a Mediterranean cruise. I had the midnight to noon duty and we always tune in radio Luxemburg.

[@None12445]

Sad sad day 😭 ....but now we have UDJ Radio 😊 Thank you for that Tony

[@Agbartabar]

kochałem ta stacje nocne słuchania Luxu

[@nerijusmikstas728]

Super radijo stotis buvo !,👍

[@JerryCarr909]

When I was stationed in Germany 76-78 This station saved us🎉

[@pdrg]

Gosh I'd forgotten how awful reception was! I caught the sweetspot of time when you could listen to Atlantic 252 in the day and Luxembourg at night

[@mattdean644]

Reception may’ve been awful but it wasn’t a barrier to enjoyment for me. We have crackle free digital radio now but I’d trade it all to go back to the days when radio used to fade in and out…!

[@anthonyperkins7556]

Manx Radio in the IoM on 1368 kHz 219 metres Medium Wave and 89.0 97.2 and 103.7 Mhz FM Stereo carried the final 2 hours of Radio Luxembourg from Astra. I heard the final 2 hours in Accrington Lancashire North West England on a wavy fuzzy 1368 kHz taken over by BBC Radio Lincolnshire on the same frequency from time to time.

[@ChytryPan]

omg.. my youg era.. ty for everything

[@surefmeurope5766]

if i remember correctly this was rebroadcast on signal radio

[@cub19]

Thanks for the great post!

[@MIRDA58]

Super vzpomínka.....

[@frankfoduw-ci8rr]

Its too sad, why they close the best pop rock radio in europe ???

[@owen671]

If RTL started up an english service on internet radio based on the old radio luxemburg I think it would do very well. I would love to be able to listen to it on my smart speaker. Medium wave AM is just no good anymore as there is just too much interference.

[@halvardlund4782]

Maybe it is time to start up again ? Greetings from Norway

[@knuttas1]

Listen always at 208 when I was young, I'm 66 now. 73 DE SM3SAY!

[@varmoss.kalleadolfsson3662]

tänk när man satt o rattade in RL och hörde all denna ljuvliga musik. härligt. Är det någon av oss gamlingar som inte har lyssnat.

[@trolden61]

Nej er der ikke

[@blaisecastleman2330]

Under communist repressions this broadcasting was the remedy which was keeping us alive. Eternal sorry from Hungary.

[@joeobrien196]

Blaise Castleman how are you enjoying freedom?

[@joeobrien196]

Blaise Castleman did it live up to your expectations?

[@joeobrien196]

Blaise Castleman I too miss Radio Luxenburg!

[@marisemarisemarise]

under global circumctances we are loosers

[@Tampo-tiger]

You are going to be fantastic winners@@marisemarisemarise! While the rest of Europe is drowned in a sea of islamisation, burqas, FGM, honour killings, dirt, filth, diseases and barbaric cruelty, Hungary has patriotic politicians who are not prepared to see it happen in your country. Bless you and very good luck for the future.

[@chrispearce6024]

Neil Sedaka also being the final song on Portsmouth's Radio Victory

[@Ken_Casanova]

Ach zee 80s😊 Teenage Years. I Fall into sleep with 208 every night. Never forget

[@georgejeaton]

55:43 Steve Williams on the last day of Radio Luxembourg.

[@deppo_zweifler9029]

The sad day radio died. The radio has lost its magic. There are no more radio DJs. Unfortunately, a radio station like 208 would no longer be successful today. The listeners have changed; they don't expect an exciting program, but only an accompanying background noise that can be heard with one ear

[@myopenmind1]

from the time when air was invisible and toothpaste only came in white

[@SolarRadioFM]

Amen !!!

[@stigetholen8460]

I miss you so much

[@austinbourke9292]

I know all things must pass but why o why are they always replaced by an inferior model

[@anthonyperkins7556]

The RTL Der Golden Oldiezender wasn't a patch on the English Service

[@lubomirkrampl4242]

👋👋👋1975 - 1977 📻👮Radio Luxembourg 🇸🇰🇨🇿

[@jonasmazylis8032]

Good station.....

[@rainertiefel4455]

The closing of 208 was 1991 not 1992 ! The SATELLITE-Service closed in 1992 !

[@Candolad]

Yes, you're right. The 1991 close was the 208/1440 closedown and therefore, the original. The satellite service took over from 208/1440, but only lasted a year.

[@anthonyperkins7556]

The station properly closed in 1992, broadcasting across Europe and the UK on the Astra 1A satellite channel 13 11.391Ghz / H 7.38 and 7.56 MHz Wegener 🐼 1 stereo also broadcast to North America on 15350 kHz Shortwave in the 19 metre band from a directional 50kW Shortwave transmitter at RTL Centre d'emision in Junglinster Luxembourg.

[@chrispearson3333]

I think the very last night of broadcasting was also returned for one night only to 1440 / 208 MW AM

[@jensdamsgaard9634]

...and when I read your comment now - 6 years later -, I almost choked up knowing what happened in Ukraine. Hope you are still alive and kicking, mate

[@jurgensickinger7098]

Dieses Programm kann man heute noch hören auf 6160 kHz und 3745

[@adriancalin8688]

Good music on ears

[@amaritag9411]

Every day the ended with a song. In the year 1984 I really want to know what song I'm searching this for year. Knows anyone this? Sorry for this bad Englich.

[@marisemarisemarise]

so few we are (86)

[@marisemarisemarise]

i was at the funeral on a local radio transmitting Big Noise In Europe we switched to sweet nothing lately

[@williamhudson8702]

I had a small transistor radio and listen to Caroline at day and for years listen to 208 all I can say is fetch it back and we can enjoy real music like it should be love you all

[@marisemarisemarise]

and RNI, too :))

[@jurgensickinger7098]

Und jetzt wieder auf Kurzwelle 6160 khz

[@adriancressy8363]

any youtube links showing the transmitter site and on the air?

[@steeviebops]

1:28:12 - I can hear the BBC World Service in the background.

[@milisav23567]

Why have they turned off radio luxemburg?

[@anthonyperkins7556]

RTL got rid of 1440 kHz / 208 metres MW 1,200,000 watts end of 1991, because of the poor reception and fading problems it suffered with, they then thought they could last the course into the future transmitting via the Astra 1A Satellite to Europe and the UK on channel 13 11.391 Ghz / H partially scrambled PAL 7.38 / 7.56 Mhz in stereo and via a 50 kW transmitter at RTL Centre D'Emision Junglinster beamed to Canada 15350 kHz / 19.50 metres Shortwave, but later on in 1992, the parent company CLT started started moving in from banking and business backgrounds and started turning the spotlight on the various RTL owned radio stations throughout Europe and looking at their profits and operating costs, and they questioned how many were listening to Radio Luxembourg via the Astra 1A satellite transmission, and the answer was that very few actually were, so in September 1992 decided to close the shortwave and satellite service in 30th December 1992 and on that very night they brought back MW 208 metres / 1440 kHz at the full 1200 kW erp for one final hurrah and at midnight UK / 1am CET, the English Service was all over.

[@anthonyperkins7556]

@Dereck-tv it was relayed on some CATV networks in the UK and Continental Europe from the Astra 1A satellite in stereo via FM frequencies to subscribers. RTL is based in Luxembourg and wouldnt spend on FM transmitters in the UK, but if they had and used the Astra Satellite stereo relay to feed those transmitters, that would've helped. Also you're not entirely correct, the station was losing money, and listeners, over the years with a poor MW signal and falling advertising revenue.

[@arthurvasey]

@@anthonyperkins7556 I reckon that, had they opened up FM transmitters in the U.K., like they did in Europe, they might have benefited from the following: A clear signal, day and night; All-day broadcasting in English - the European versions could broadcast services in their own languages and not be forced to hear foreign voices - assuming other countries followed suit;; Advertisers are paying for their products to be advertised - a bit hard to hear what’s being advertised when the signal is fading out - if a hi-fi product is being advertised, it can be demonstrated properly; With more hours on air, there is scope for more presenters - and they can feature music from all their years on air (Ovaltineys, anyone? Or Horace Batchelor’s pools thing?), and not restrict themselves to the charts - new and old stuff alike; People who have the common sense to realise that you can’t use a hi-fi on medium wave and expect stereo sound would probably have picked Luxembourg as their choice of station, as Radio 1 was largely on medium wave in the daytime! Relaying it on local commercial radio, like the BBC local radio stations used to do with Radio 2 at night wouldn’t’ve been feasible, as they would either all have to take the service to make it national or some people would miss out (look at Radio Radio - The Superstation as an example of quasi-national radio - not all the stations took it) - also, local commercial radio liked to boast about not packing its listeners off to some remote, dusky stranger in London - no - they pack us off to some remote, dusky stranger in Luxembourg instead! Also, the adverts - Radio Radio - The Superstation (the bits I have heard on stations I couldn’t get in my part of the world - Somerset) were able to source the ads locally and collect revenue locally and not miss out on bits of the programme to make way for advertising breaks - carefully timed to fit the slot - Luxy couldn’t do that! Such a thing would also require a satellite link - ILR used good quality landline links for the IRN news - yes - I know that’s a tautology - fine for news, but hopeless for music - anyone who remembers early broadcasts of the Network Chart on any stations other than its source station, Capital, only heard a poor quality mono broadcast - they later established a satellite link!

[@trevordance5181]

@@anthonyperkins7556 Radio Luxembourg wouldn't be allowed to open FM, or AM transmitters come to that in the UK as broadcast transmitters within the UK were strictly controlled by the UK government. Only BBC and later independent IBA controlled stations were allowed. That is why Luxembourg had to broadcast from where it did and why the pirate ships of the 1960's had to broadcast from international waters.

[@john111257]

my power pack was dead in the morning,

[@adriancalin8688]

What jingle

[@JSGaming01]

What was that German thing after the beeps

[@anthonyperkins7556]

JS Gaming RTL Radio Der Golden Oldie Zender

[@jurgensickinger7098]

Und auch auf Kurzwelle 3795 khz

[@jurgensickinger7098]

Der Sender sendet auf 1548 khz und mit der Senderbezeichung Goldratio London

[@FrankBruening]

So geht Hörfunk 👍

[@jurgensickinger7098]

Nicht 3745 khz sonder auf 3795khz

[@domwigley62]

can you get me a DVD copy of this?

[@joeobrien196]

Dom Wigley I suppose that being audio it would be CD I too want a copy.

[@domwigley62]

Ebay served me well, i bought one yesterday for just under £10

[@colincressey1457]

yes i can [e-mail]

[@domwigley62]

@@colincressey1457 Ah i have it on CD now thanks anyway

[@MichaelJantzen42]

What is that last song they played just before going off the air?

[@zaggy3110]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/qYile6OIZa2afdE

[@MichaelJantzen42]

@@zaggy3110 Thank you very much :).

[@anthonyperkins7556]

Marion Montgomery Maybe The Morning

[@adriancalin8688]

Europacentralagata mam suparat

[@taofanarchy96-renzomaracas14]

With guest apparence of Aunty on 1:28:12

[@gw2666]

Die mucke(the music) was (war) in the night better

[@adriancalin8688]

NU mascos taicamiu ma abandonat

[@adriancalin8688]

Toti timpitidin paris sa invete engleza de la radios

[@adriancalin8688]

Cité craciuni singurcu fratele la comunisti