Broadcast area | London |
---|---|
Frequency | 9A (London DAB) |
Programming | |
Format | Soul, jazz-funk, house |
History | |
First air date |
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Links | |
Website | www |
Solar Radio is a London-based radio station, which originally started life as a pirate radio station. Solar broadcasts primarily soul to London on DAB and online. [1]
Solar (originally short for Sound of Londons Alternative Radio) first broadcast as a pirate radio station in October 1984, and was founded by DJ Tony Monson, who later joined Kiss FM. [2] Solar ceased broadcasting in October 1988 as an unlicensed operator.
On 1 June 1999, Solar returned through satellite broadcasting, initially broadcasting on Astra 19.2°E, and then Astra 2 (used by Sky TV) from 9 August 2000 where they stayed until 31 May 2019. From 29 October 2015, Solar also commenced broadcasting on the Trial London DAB MUX. [3] [4]
Presenters on Solar include Tony Monson, Clive Richardson (from the original 1984 roster) Gary Spence, Steve Hobbs, Mike Gee, Lisa I'Anson, Ralph Tee, Ian Jons, John Osborne, Louie Martin, Kid Batchelor, and Steve Johns. Robbie Vincent has occasionally guested on the station.
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Pirate radio in the United Kingdom has been a popular and enduring radio medium since the 1960s, despite expansions in licensed broadcasting, and the advent of both digital radio and internet radio. Although it peaked throughout the 1960s and again during the 1980s/1990s, it remains in existence today. Having moved from transmitting from ships in the sea to tower blocks across UK towns and cities, in 2009 the UK broadcasting regulator Ofcom estimated more than 150 pirate radio stations were still operating.
Radio X is a British national commercial radio station focused on alternative music, primarily indie rock, and owned by Global. The station launched in 1989 as a pirate radio station named Q102, before being renamed Xfm in 1992. The station became a legally licensed London-wide station in 1997, and in 2015 began national broadcasting under the name Radio X.
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Eruption Radio is a London-based radio station that broadcasts online and on DAB playing house, breakbeat and happy hardcore, and drum and bass as well as other genres. Eruption Radio originally started life in February 1993 as Eruption FM, a pirate radio station broadcasting from Waltham Forest, East London, broadcasting until February 2012.