en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pirate_radio_in_the_United_Kingdom
1 correction found
The first British pirate radio station was Radio Caroline
Radio Caroline was the first famous offshore pop pirate station, not the first British pirate radio station overall. Political pirate stations such as Radio Free Scotland were already broadcasting in Britain years earlier.
Full reasoning
This statement is too broad. Radio Caroline began in 1964, but it was not the first British pirate radio station overall.
Credible historical sources show that Radio Free Scotland was already operating years earlier:
- A Dundee City Council historical page quoting a November 1963 report says that "Radio Free Scotland has been operating for the last half dozen years" — which places its activity well before 1964.
- A History Workshop article on British protest broadcasting states that "Earlier forays into broadcasting... came from Radio Free Scotland and Radio Ceiliog in the 1950s."
So if the article means the first British pirate station of any kind, the claim is incorrect. A more accurate formulation would be that Radio Caroline was the first major British offshore pop pirate station, or the first in the famous 1960s offshore wave — but not the first British pirate radio station full stop.
3 sources
- November 1963 | Bygone News (Dundee City Council)
Post Office engineers have the equipment for tracking down such broadcasting, but, despite the fact that Radio Free Scotland has been operating for the last half dozen years, no action has been taken.
- Radical Object: Covert Broadcasts and the Nuclear Disarmament Campaign | History Workshop
Earlier forays into broadcasting through the television ... had come from Radio Free Scotland and Radio Ceiliog in the 1950s.
- Scottish Nationalism History
1956 (24 Nov.) – Radio Free Scotland commences broadcasting on BBC TV’s sound channel, later on the medium wave.