Advertising Booked With Radio Ships

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30442, 16 May 1964, Page 13

Advertising Booked With Radio Ships

(Special Correspondent N.Z P.A.)

LONDON, May 15.

Radio experts from 17 European nations, meeting in Strasbourg, have recommended a ban on all pirate radio stations operated from ships or aircraft beyond national frontiers.

They recommend that governments should refuse companies permission to buy publicity “time” on broadcasts from such stations. In Britain the Government has shelved a bill to outlaw the radio ships, Caroline and Atlanta, which are operating beyond the three-mile limit off the Essex coast. It has been announced that more than £400,000, worth of advertising time has been booked with Radio Caroline. Advertisers include one of the major football pools, a company marketing blankets, and a restaurant chain.

A powerful “lobby” in London is pressing for commercial radio stations on land to be permitted in the Conservatives’ election programme.

A committee of backbencher M.P.s has suggested that there should be two or three experimental stations in Britain to test the public reaction.

The sponsors claim that the

success of Radio Caroline has proved that there is a large public demand for programmes of this type. Several companies have been formed to open commercial radio stations.