Sixty years as the 'nation's station'

Thank YOU for 60 years!

Today marks 60 years of Manx Radio - the first legal commercial radio station in the British Isles.

The national public service media provider of the Isle of Man, it broadcasts from its own studio complex at Broadcasting House in Douglas.

To mark the big day, Manx Radio's John Moss has produced a series of podcasts, programmes and features, which are available HERE.

HISTORY

Manx Radio first went on air in June 1964 - although not before a licence was secured from the UK authorities - a tall order in the days of pirate radio.

Indeed, the eventual granting of a licence meant that the station went live almost ten years before legal commercial radio was licensed in the United Kingdom.

When the station went on air, it was on FM only (89.0 MHz in stereo) and broadcasted from a caravan parked on a hilltop in Onchan.

(The Manx Radio caravan)

In 1964, the station gained its first medium wave or AM channel - 188 metres - and the first commercial was broadcast, for a Douglas jeweller’s shop.

The year 1965 saw the Onchan caravan abandoned for studios on the Douglas seafront.

In October 1969, the radio station moved to its current home in Broadcasting House, a former Royal Navy radar training establishment built during the Second World War, on top of Douglas Head. 

You can read more about the history of the station HERE.

(The old Manx Radio studios)

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE

To celebrate sixty years of Manx Radio, the public service broadcaster is making a number of changes going forward.

While old friends hang up their headphones, some new voices will be appearing on the airwaves, and the station is launching a brand-new station - Manx Radio Gold.

A number of shows will be getting a shake-up, like a new bigger Manx Radio Breakfast show, which will be spearheaded by Ben Hartley from 6-9am with Sian Cowper on news, and Early Breakfast's Chris Williams moving to an all-new Morning Show from 9am to midday.

(The Manx Radio Breakfast team - the show is one of several which will sound different in the coming weeks, and is getting an updated timeslot)

Over on Manx Radio Gold, Andy Wint will be hosting his own Breakfast show effort, with the greatest hits playing 24/7.

You can read about all the upcoming changes HERE.

Thank you for 60 years!

Think you know Manx Radio? Listen again from 1st July.