15th March 1982
BBC Radio Jersey takes to the air
Jersey and Guernsey were each assigned a radio frequency for local use, and asked to decide how they would like to use it. It was by no means certain that either island would invite the BBC to occupy the slot but, eventually, both did. Jersey’s local station went on air one day in advance of its neighbour. It was opened by the then-chairman of the BBC Board of Governors, George Howard and was based on St Helier’s Rouge Bouillon, but moved to Parade Rose in 1994.
It launched with a staff of four, including Peter Gore, whose voice was the first to be heard on air. Initially, much of its output was a simultaneous broadcast of other services produced on the mainland, but over the years this evolved so that more of the daily content was locally produced. Various policy and budget changes meant that the balance needed to be continually adapted according to the BBC’s resources.
FREE Jersey history newsletter
Don't miss our weekly update on Jersey's fascinating history. We promise never to sell your data to anyone else, and there's a super-easy unsubscribe link on the bottom of each email so you can leave whenever you want.
Other events that occured in March
Jersey Railway services restart
- Jersey once had a railway running the length of the south coast, from Corbière to Gorey Pier. It was later amalgamated with its rival.
- Read more…
Jersey footballers misbehave in Guernsey
- Guernsey beat Jersey in the 1909 Muratti final after the Jersey footballers apparently had too good a night out the previous evening.
- Read more…
The States votes to build Corbière Lighthouse
- The States of Jersey had been discussing the idea of building a lighthouse at Corbière for 15 years before the project got the go-ahead.
- Read more…
Another Mother’s Son has its cinema première
- Louisa Gould’s story was turned into the film Another Mother’s Son, which was written by Jenny Lecoat and had its London premiere in March 2017.
- Read more…
