UK Commercial Radio Timeline 1980 1984

A visual history of the UK's commercial radio network told primarily through the logos and jingles of its stations. This video looks at 1980 through to 1984 and the expansion of legal, regulated and publicly available commercial radio in the United Kingdom.

[@dvidclapperton]

Radio Tay the way it used to be was a classic. I used to pick it up on 102.8 mHZ FM out of area.

[@11carbuff19572011]

Lovely hearing from the late & great Ed 'Stewpot' Stewart on what was Radio Mercury launching in his birthplace of Reigate, Surrey. The legendary figure that was an icon to millions as Mr. Junior Choice.

[@tvradiotimelines]

Yes indeed - he really was one of the best!

[@johnf5817]

The demise of local radio is such a shame. I spent hours on phone-ins on Essex Radio as a teenager taking part in competitions, games and general silliness (Thanks for everything, Timbo!) in a way that just doesn't happen now Heart have taken over everything. Does anyone else remember when there was an ILR Song Contest, hosted by Nicholas Parsons? Essex Radio's entry won, sung by Terry Davis, one of the presenters.

[@tvradiotimelines]

As a massive Eurovision fan, I had no idea that an ILR Contest ever existed; I would have LOVED that!

[@johnf5817]

It was a one-off as far as I know, in 1983 (give or take a year) with performers in an auditorium and votes coming in from panels in each ILR location, so quite ambitious technically. I remember Terry Davis left after his performance of "The Number One Song" which caused an issue when he won and was expected to perform again. The Essex Radio team played the song down the phone line (I don't think it was a satellite link up) so what listeners around the country made of it I don't know, particularly as the version they played was "The 1431 Song" with Essex Radio themed lyrics, always played at closedown (!)

[@tvradiotimelines]

@@johnf5817 Fabulous!

[@dvidclapperton]

If only people did not wish "I wonder what Capitsl Radio is like". A case of be careful what you wish for coming true as Capitsl is UK wide on FM now apart from a few hours local Monday to Friday, local news, local ads and local sport perhaps at weekends. Just got to hope even that doesn't suddenly completely disappear as well.

[@laotian12innumberverse6]

Moray Firth Radio just celebrated their 40th anniversary yesterday, also, congratulations on passing 500 subscribers!

[@tvradiotimelines]

Thank you!!!!! 🎉🎉🎉

[@robertcomer2767]

With the collection of about 25 records that are on constant repeat

[@tvradiotimelines]

@@robertcomer2767 25??? More like 15!

[@robertcomer2767]

@@tvradiotimelines Sorry I miss counted some of those 15 twice 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@zetametallic]

I like it when the station closes that the logo falls down. Nice touch!

[@tvradiotimelines]

Thank you - I appreciate the feedback!

[@laotian12innumberverse6]

We got some more catchy jingles here! (The Gwent Broadcasting one was my favourite)

[@tvradiotimelines]

They really DON'T make 'em like that any more! My faves are Northsound and West Sound - although Festival City would also probably be up there too if the sound quality was better!

[@ntmdisco]

Radio Wyvern. that brings back memories. Hereford 314m/954 khz 95.8FM. Worcester 196m/1530khz 96.2FM.

[@richiehoyt8487]

Unfortunately North Sound was hampered somewhat by their own jingle which mentioned concepts unfamiliar to Aberdonians, like fun and laughter - and promptly trumped that by invoking the especially mysterious concept of 'sunshine'; a somewhat nebulous quality, similar in respects to 'The Force' of the Star Wars films...

[@tvradiotimelines]

🤣🤣🤣

[@samotoole7239]

That North Sound jingle is awful, it reminds me of a bad show performed by the entertainment staff at a holiday camp. Radio Aire also isn't great.

[@tonybatley6101]

@@samotoole7239 Aire did have 1 or 2 that were abit better than that one.

[@antenachile]

Centre Radio 7 September, 1981 - 6 October, 1983

[@robertcomer2767]

Amazing to think the IBA could let radio stations like Centre close but did nothing about the disaster of LWT and TV-am when they come on air and took years to sort themselves out

[@tvradiotimelines]

Yes - different priorities, I guess!

[@robertcomer2767]

@@tvradiotimelines Well if anyone can remember back to 1983, TV-am was a car crash to watch and the press publicity while the IBA sat back without a clue of how to intervene. Another organisation back then that pretended it did something

[@danielvojtik6331]

btw.did you have any whole country covering private commercial rádio?

[@tvradiotimelines]

Nationwide UK-based commercial radio did not start until Classic FM began broadcasting on 7 September 1992 - although before that there were stations like Radio Luxembourg and, of course, the 1960s offshore pirate stations that targetted parts - if not all - of the UK

[@danielvojtik6331]

@@tvradiotimelines many thanks for reply...good to know and compare

[@jimbo6059]

AHH The sign off music from Radio Mercury, how i miss my local station, now it is the dreadful heart southern,

[@tvradiotimelines]

I was not in Mercury's transmission area at the time but I DO know what you mean!

[@oliverleonard7730]

I wish Southern and Invicta hadn't become Heart - More Radio and KMFM are good stations but nothing can replace the originals.

[@christopherdugan644]

Simply love that opening bed, does anyone know what it is?

[@tvradiotimelines]

I am not sure what its "official" title is but it was the basis for the CBC Cardiff jingles.

[@christopherdugan644]

@@tvradiotimelines thankyou very much, definitely gives me something to look for. Also, thankyou for the content really brought some fantastic memories back from the golden age of ILR.

[@tvradiotimelines]

@@christopherdugan644 It really is MY pleasure! Take a look here: www.aircheckdownloads.com/uk-airchecks/cbc-cardiff/1980s/station-launch-mark-williams-apr-11th-1980-535

[@SOSOwner]

0:45 So Birmingham was served by as many as 3 ILR stations by 1980...

[@tvradiotimelines]

Certainly, people in Birmingham could get quite a few stations - although I am not sure the good citizens of Coventry, Wolverhampton, and the West Midlands in general would agree that "their" stations "served" Birmingham.....😱

[@christopherhulse8385]

With a good radio, it was possible to hear 6 ILR stations in Birmingham - BRMB, BEACON, MERCIA, WYVERN, SEVERN SOUND AND SIGNAL.

[@NelvanaFan1971]

1985-1990 next

[@tvradiotimelines]

It may take a while but it is on the way!

[@antenachile]

First cool video lol

[@2Steppa2]

No Saxon Radio?

[@laotian12innumberverse6]

6:33

[@2Steppa2]

@@laotian12innumberverse6 Thanks I must have been skipping over it being a shorter clip.

[@DJDeryn]

love west sound

[@tvradiotimelines]

I mentioned in a response to another post that my favourites are Northsound and West Sound - although Festival City would also probably be up there too if the sound quality was better! Strange that they are all Scottish!

[@dvidclapperton]

There was centresound for a brief period in 1990. It had some great jingles that sound very classic. There was never an Eastsound or a Southsound sadly. . I could hear wastsound from Ayr on 290 or 1035kHZ on my AM radio st the time during daylight hours where I lived but outside the reception area (but when it got dark Northsound also on 1035kHZ came in but fading in and out alternating with Westsound ruined it), but there was a lot of background processing noise forcing me to turn up the volume to max so that I could hear the output at a decent volume. Great stuff though sadly missed now.

[@Atlantis_Mapper]

what next?

[@tvradiotimelines]

No surprises - I will at least see out the 1980s!

[@todaysouthwest]

Radio Mercury the best

[@zetametallic]

I liked Radio Mercury and also the Devon Air jingle. My local ILR station growing up was Radio City (Liverpool) my dad worked as an engineer there from 1981-1982.

[@tvradiotimelines]

It certainly had a great theme tune!

[@joseph85delaney]

Ireland's not in the UK tho....

[@tvradiotimelines]

Very true - which is why no Irish Republic stations are featured. Take your point though!