Vibes FM, Lightning FM closed.

[Bob]

I liked Vibes FM.

Subject: OFCOM NEWS RELEASE: OFCOM TACKLES ILLEGAL BROADCASTING


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

OFCOM TACKLES ILLEGAL BROADCASTING

3 November 2005

Ofcom today announced the results of an operation to take off air illegal broadcasters operating in Greater London.

The operation began on the morning of Saturday 29 October to deal with the large number of London pirate radio stations that illegally broadcast over the FM radio band without a licence under Section 1 of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949.

The operation has led to:

* 53 illegal broadcasters' radio transmitters seized;
* 17 transmitters and aerials disabled;
* 43 mobile and land line telephone numbers linked to illegal broadcasting operations gathered for further Ofcom investigation to trace the subscribers; and
* nine letters of warning sent to night clubs that have advertised events on illegal radio stations.

Illegal broadcasting causes interference to the radios used by critical safety of life services such as the London Fire Brigade and National Air Traffic Services (NATS). The problem is most acute in London which accounts for more than 50% of the estimated 150 illegal broadcasters operating in the UK.

There is a direct link between some illegal broadcasters and serious crime. Ofcom raids on the studios of illegal broadcasters have uncovered drugs and weapons, including firearms. In some cases the cash raised through advertising events at nightclubs is used to finance the purchase of drugs for sale at these events.

Illegal broadcasting also causes interference to legitimate radio stations, denying hundreds of thousands of listeners the opportunity to hear their favourite programmes.

Robert Thelen-Bartholomew, Ofcom's Head of Field Operations, said: "Illegal broadcasting affects safety of life services and has links with serious crime. Ofcom will continue to pursue and prosecute those involved in this criminal activity."

Ofcom has a duty under Section 3 of the Communications Act 2003 to secure optimal use for wireless telegraphy of the electro-magnetic spectrum.

The Ofcom operation has resulted in 44 London illegal broadcasters going off air since the start of the operation. Between 25 October and 1 November (four days into the operation) Ofcom's unmanned monitoring station in London recorded a 57% drop in the number of illegal broadcasts being made.

The operation involved 18 Ofcom field operations staff working with 32 Metropolitan Police officers.

John Anthony, London Fire Brigade Assistant Commissioner, said: "Pirate radio transmissions interfere with, and sometimes entirely disable, the communications systems the London Fire Brigade relies on. The interference makes it more difficult for the fire fighters to go about their daily business of protecting Londoners."

Tim Doncaster, Head of Radio Investigations at NATS, said: "Unauthorised broadcasts on or close to frequencies used by air traffic controllers can interfere with the passing of vital information between air traffic controllers and pilots. They can also affect the navigation aids used as landmarks. NATS has very strong working relationship with Ofcom who act promptly to take enforcement action when any interference with air traffic control is detected."

Paul Brown, Chief Executive of the Commercial Radio Companies Association, said: "Commercial Radio provides properly regulated, socially responsible content to its 31 million listeners. Pirate radio broadcasters pay no copyright or licence fees yet they take revenue from commercial radio stations all of whom fulfil the terms of detailed licence conditions and who generate jobs and revenue in their transmission areas. CRCA therefore welcomes today's announcement of Ofcom's London initiative."

The illegal broadcasters targeted by the Ofcom operation include:

* Afrique FM, Tottenham & Wood Green, 2 transmitters seized
* Baseline FM, Lewisham, 1 transmitter seized
* Blues FM, Peckham, 3 transmitters seized
* Bounce FM, Streatham, 2 transmitters seized and 1 transmitter disconnected
* Déjà vu, Bow, 1 transmitter seized
* Force FM, Harold Hill, 1 transmitter seized
* Freeze FM, Harrow, 1 transmitter seized
* Fresh FM, Erith, 1 transmitter disconnected
* Galaxy FM, Peckham, 2 transmitters seized
* Genesis FM, Rotherhithe, 2 transmitters seized and 1 transmitter disconnected
* Have it FM, Bow, 1 transmitter seized
* HFM, Rotherhithe, 1 transmitter disconnected
* House FM, Clapton, 2 transmitters disconnected
* Itch FM, Whitechapel, 1 transmitter seized
* Kool FM, Wapping, 1 transmitter disconnected
* Lightning FM, Brixton Hill, 3 transmitters seized
* Lush FM, Acton, 1 transmitter seized
* N Power, Honor Oak, 2 transmitters seized
* Naija FM, Plumstead & Wapping, 1 transmitter seized and 1 transmitter disconnected
* Nitro FM, Tulse Hill, 1 transmitter seized
* On Top FM, Kennington & Stockwell, 1 transmitter seized and 1 studio raid
* Powerjam, Battersea, 1 transmitter seized
* Ragga FM, Edmonton, 1 transmitter seized
* Rasta FM, Kennington, 1 transmitter seized
* Rhythm FM, Dalston, 1 transmitter seized
* Rinse FM, Wapping, 1 transmitter disconnected
* Rude FM, Holloway & Crouch End, 4 transmitters disconnected
* Select UK FM, Rotherhithe, 2 transmitters seized and 1 transmitter disconnected
* Shine FM, Clerkenwell, 1 transmitter seized
* Silk FM, Norwood, 1 transmitter seized and 1 transmitter disconnected
* SLR, Tottenham, 2 transmitters seized
* Subjam, Wood Green, 1 transmitter seized
* Supreme FM, Leyton, 1 transmitter seized
* Surprise FM, Peckham, 1 transmitter seized
* Sweet FM, Edmonton, 2 transmitters seized
* Touch FM, Whitechapel, 1 transmitter seized
* Unidentified, Stockwell, 1 transmitter seized
* Unknown FM, Edmonton & Holloway, 2 transmitters seized and 1 transmitter disconnected
* Vibes FM, Brixton Hill, 3 transmitters seized
* Vision FM, Limehouse, 1 transmitter seized
* Wax FM, Plumstead, 1 transmitter seized
* WBLS, Tottenham, 1 transmitter disconnected
* Whoa FM, Elephant and Castle, 2 transmitters seized
* Y2K, Holloway, 1 transmitter seized

Ends.

NOTES FOR EDITORS AND CSEs

Ofcom is the independent regulator and competition authority for the UK communications industries, with responsibilities across television, radio, telecommunications and wireless communications services.

For further details please visit www.ofcom.org.uk.

CONTACT

Ofcom Media Office
[email protected]
(+44) (0)20 7981 3033

 

[Mrs Magpie]

They haven't mentioned Mrs M's inability to listen to Radio 4 on FM because of Vibes FM which I hated with a pure and deadly loathing and which forced me to buy an expensive DAB set. (OK it was dressed up as a Christmas/Birthday present for Blind Lemon, but actually it was so i could listen to The Archers without interference from 'shouts going out').

As long as pirate stations keep away from other station frequencies they don't bother me, but this one....

 

[Giles]

I'm very doubtful over OFCOMs claims that FM pirate radio "interferes with communication between aircraft and air traffic control" and the Fire Brigade's radios.

The "public" FM band is from 87 - 108 MHz. This is what everyone's radios can tune into, so pirate stations, like legitimate stations, broadcast between those two frequencies.

It would be entirely pointless for Vibes FM to broadcast on the air band, unless they had a "shout goin' out" to the pilots of various airliners circling over Heathrow! Or the L.F.B.

I think that this is one of those "guilt trip" thingies used to try to get the public behind law enforcement activities that the public otherwise wouldn't be sympathetic to.

And this quote is ridiculous beyond belief:

"In some cases the cash raised through advertising events at nightclubs is used to finance the purchase of drugs for sale at these events."

Drug dealers don't need to "raise money" through committing lesser crimes. Drug dealing is incredibly lucrative in its own right. The one characteristic of any bust of a middle-level dealer or above is that they recover huge sums of cash money.

I remember hearing some similar twaddle about how people buying fake designer-label clothes on market stalls were "funding drug dealing" a couple of months back, and this is just as silly.

I'd have more respect for their activities against illegal radio stations if they didn't come out with all this nonsense about drugs, guns, aircraft safety etc, and just said, honestly, that they closed them down because they don't have a licence to broadcast.

Giles..

 

[rennie]

i liked vibe fm!

 

[Isambard]

What utter shite comment too from the commercial stations bod!

 

[rennie]

They haven't mentioned Mrs M's inability to listen to Radio 4 on FM because of Vibes FM which I hated with a pure and deadly loathing and which forced me to buy an expensive DAB set. (OK it was dressed up as a Christmas/Birthday present for Blind Lemon, but actually it was so i could listen to The Archers without interference from 'shouts going out').

As long as pirate stations keep away from other station frequencies they don't bother me, but this one....

ok ok fair enufff but vibe fm's sunday sessions were fantastic. I know we'll miss it!

 

[Pieface]

Vibe was funny buy did crash into other stations sometimes and they could not keep off the jingles

V-V-V-V-VIBE FM!
V-V-V-V-VIBE FM!

etc etc on and on - hilarious but also quite annoying

I liked their music mind.

 

[Divisive Cotton]

It will be interesting to see how long it takes for all those stations to come back on air

 

[rennie]

the worst was Fiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiire! Fiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiire.

 

[DJWrongspeed]

It does make you wonder, Vibes & Lightning have been broadcasting for years without any problems, I think this is just a big PR operation, they'll all be back b4 long. As for

"Commercial Radio provides properly regulated, socially responsible content to its 31 million listeners. Pirate radio broadcasters pay no copyright or licence fees yet they take revenue from commercial radio stations all of whom fulfil the terms of detailed licence conditions and who generate jobs and revenue in their transmission areas."

Where are the artists who object to being played on the non-PRS pirates? and as for "socially reponsible content" well that is a moot point frankly. There's more life and joy in 3mins of KoolFM say than a years worth of Heart(Hurt) FM. Prior to the introduction of the community radio bill the legal FM landscape was in a dire state. Well you know where I stand. Resonance104.4FM

 

[Isambard]

Too right DJWrongspeed.

The commercial statons are worried about their profits and that alone.

Community stations are good, I listen a fair but is there the danger that legalising some statoins brings them ito "the system" and they go downhill?

Look what happenened to the oriignal pirates who became BBC establishment DJs in the 1970 and how commerical radio was supposed to change the landscape but they are just corprates now playing the same shite.

 

[Fruitloop]

socially reponsible content can suck my balls

 

[Bob]

They haven't mentioned Mrs M's inability to listen to Radio 4 on FM because of Vibes FM which I hated with a pure and deadly loathing and which forced me to buy an expensive DAB set. (OK it was dressed up as a Christmas/Birthday present for Blind Lemon, but actually it was so i could listen to The Archers without interference from 'shouts going out').

As long as pirate stations keep away from other station frequencies they don't bother me, but this one....

I do have sympathy with you. Honest. For one thing I really like Radio 4 in the mornings. But I did also like Vibes FM. Maybe we could get them raided by people who could retune their equipment?

Or maybe they had a crossover marketing strategy to Radio 4 listeners.

 

[Pieface]

the worst was Fiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiire! Fiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiire.

and every club night they promo'd had a clothing policy of "Dress to Impress!"

 

[Aitch]

As you can see under my name I had just managed to get myself a slot on Nitro, played twice and now this happens! BOLLOX

 

[rennie]

As you can see under my name I had just managed to get myself a slot on Nitro, played twice and now this happens! BOLLOX

Boooo. bad luck, eh?

 

[Mrs Magpie]

Or maybe they had a crossover marketing strategy to Radio 4 listeners.

If so, it was a dismal failure.

 

[Mrs Magpie]

As you can see under my name I had just managed to get myself a slot on Nitro, played twice and now this happens! BOLLOX

You deserve better...you'd do a great breakfast show. I'd even tune in and I don't like music in the mornings.

 

[Aitch]

Hahahaha ME? doing a breakfast show? I'd never be there and if I ever did get there I wouldnt be able to speak. No no the later the better.

Hello everyone btw <waves and kisses>

 

[chio]

I'm very doubtful over OFCOMs claims that FM pirate radio "interferes with communication between aircraft and air traffic control" and the Fire Brigade's radios.

The "public" FM band is from 87 - 108 MHz. This is what everyone's radios can tune into, so pirate stations, like legitimate stations, broadcast between those two frequencies.

It would be entirely pointless for Vibes FM to broadcast on the air band, unless they had a "shout goin' out" to the pilots of various airliners circling over Heathrow! Or the L.F.B.

El Cheapo transmitters, such as most pirates use, can put out spurious transmissions on frequencies a long way from the intended broadcast as well as the original frequency. Often, they're what are known as harmonics, emissions on multiples of the original frequency - say a dodgy transmission on 100.0MHz (yes, I know that's Kiss FM!) will put out signals on 200, 400 etc.

However, these iffy transmitters can spuriously emit signals pretty much anywhere - and that includes the air band or emergency service frequencies. Expensive transmitters used by legitimate stations have to comply with various regulations and have extremely good filtering to stop this happening.

(edit: most of these stations are run by pretty canny people and will be back on air within a couple of weeks, if that.)

 

[chio]

"Commercial Radio provides properly regulated, socially responsible content to its 31 million listeners."

Is commercial radio's definition of "socially-responsible content" another 60 minutes of today's biggest music mix? Twelve minutes an hour of facile adverts for car dealers and window companies? Dodgy DJs who can't get over talking about themselves, plugging their sponsor and telling us all how fab! the latest Robbie dirge is?

Commercial radio's had an absolutely disastrous time in this quarter's figures, and many of those listeners are turning off radio altogether. Where the hell has the creativity gone from the medium?!

</offtopic>

 

[Isambard]

TBH Chio, you've hit the nail on the head, People are REALLY turned off commercial stations and this is OFCOM working to increase their profitability.

I bow to your superior knowledge on the transmitters but surely quality would have gone up to avoid this with advances in electronics? I strongly suspect that its at least partly just a bollocks excuse. Like "if you buy Polish cigs off a bloke in the pub you are funding al-Qaida!"

 

[top_biller]

There are some heavyweight stations on that list, not just the amateurs. Kool FM is about 14 years old, Shine FM is one of my favourites especially at breakfast-time, House FM played quality music, Itch FM was the only pure hip hop station, Rude FM....the list goes on.

Gonna be a quiet weekend in London town.

Bob, or someone else (not sure on the board etiquette for re-threading) you should post this thread in the music forum too, there's been a Kool FM/pirate station nostalgia thread in there for a while and it would definitely be of interest.

Edit to add: the pirate-ites have already spotted the press release and roundly condemned it.

 

[pootle]

Boo! To Itch FM going down! Like Top Biller says, it was a quality hip hop radio station

Does the pirate's kit get confiscated forever? I mean, sound systems at squat parties etc don't get confiscated forever do they?

 

[Giles]

Boo! To Itch FM going down! Like Top Biller says, it was a quality hip hop radio station

Does the pirate's kit get confiscated forever? I mean, sound systems at squat parties etc don't get confiscated forever do they?

I think that they *do* get permanently confiscated. As do sound systems sometimes, if the police are feeling mean.

Sometimes squat party people hire their kit, so the police have to give it back, on the grounds that it's unfair on the hire company to keep the equipment that they own, because they didn't know where it was going to be used when they hired it out.

I'm also sure that I heard somewhere that pirate stations use a microwave link from their actual studio where the DJ is, with all the equipment and records, to the transmitter location, so if OFCOM and the police home in on their signal, they only lose the transmitter.

More info here

Giles..

 

[Mrs Magpie]

PM on Radio 4 are doing a feature about this which will be available to listen to again.

 

[JWH]

Vibes FM - OK content (ignoring the seepage to other frequencies, or whatever) - but them and their fucking jingles!

 

[brixtonvilla]

Not sorry to see Vibes go off Radio 4, but sorry to see it go, ISYWIM.

 

[magic.d]

viiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiibes fm gone? - oh no, please not!

everytime i'm in london i do bring a radio with me and record as much as possible from the pirate stations. always a nice souvenir when i'm back in my little hometown. i've got tons of tapes from back in 95......and since i've got a md player it's very easy to cut out the jingles and record 3 hours in one go.

galaxy radio was/is very entertaining as well with all this rasta-reasoning an' ting. i really do hope they all come back - from an outsiders point of view it would be a loss to the very special london culture.

always remember certain sunday mornings, sitting in chocs flat, coming down and listening to some roots /studio one reggae while the moderator wished all the rastacommunity members a nice and sunny good morning. makes me sentimental......

 

[chio]

moderator

presenter