Offshore radio refers to the practice of radio broadcasting from ships or fixed maritime structures, usually in international waters. The claimed first wireless broadcast of music and speech for the purpose of entertainment was transmitted from a Royal Naval craft, the HMS Andromeda, in 1907. The broadcast was organized by a Lieutenant Quentin Crauford using the callsign QFP while the ship was anchored off Chatham in the Thames Estuary, England. The majority of offshore broadcasters have however been pirate radio stations using seaborne broadcasting as a means to circumvent national broadcasting regulations, for example the practice has been used by broadcasting organisations like the Voice of America as a means of circumventing national broadcasting regulations of other nations.
Offshore pirate stations have operated off the coasts of Belgium, Denmark, Israel, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden, The United Kingdom and even (on rare occasions) The United States. See Pirate radio for full details.
See also
- Marine Broadcasting Offences Act
- Laser 558
- Radio Caroline
- Radio Northsea
- Radio Essex
- Radio London
- Radio Nord
- Radio Sutch, which became Radio City (pirate radio station)
- Radio Veronica
- Swinging Radio England
- Voice of America
- Voice of Peace (Israel)
- The Boat That Rocked
External links
- All abouth Offshore Radio - website dedicated to the offshore stations.
- The Broadcasting Fleet (Attempts to provide a comprehensive list of all ships and offshore structures used for broadcasting)
- Offshore Music Radio - website dedicated the music and radio presenters of the offshore stations.
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