1988 in British radio

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This is a list of events in British radio during 1988.

Events

• May - Simon Mayo takes over from Mike Smith on the Radio 1 breakfast show.
• 1 September - The Radio 1 'switch on' day. With 65% of the UK now covered by the station's new FM frequency, the pop group Bros fly around the country in a helicopter to encourage listeners to switch over.^[1]
• 4 October - Launch of GEM-AM, the result of a split between Radio Trent's FM and medium wave frequencies.
• 7 October - After 18 years on air BBC Radio London closes at 7 pm. Test transmissions begin immediately for its replacement, BBC GLR which is launched on 25 October.
• 4 December - Ocean Sound create two new radio stations as part of the relaxing of ILR licensing rules. Aimed as a direct competitor for BBC Radio 1 Power FM becomes the UK's first 24-hour non-stop chart hit music station, using the 103.2FM frequency. The Gold AM replaces Ocean Sound on medium-wave. It is a pacey, lively radio station playing a mixture of music from the '60s and '70s. Ocean Sound continues its full service operation on the 96.7FM and 97.5FM frequencies.

Station debuts

• 3 October - BBC Radio Gloucestershire
• 4 October - GEM-AM
• 25 October - BBC GLR
• 4 December - Power FM The Gold AM

Closing this year

• 7 October - BBC Radio London (1970–1988)

Births

• 9 January - Glyn Wise, Welsh television/radio personality - runner-up, Big Brother 2006

References

1. "Radio 1 History - Transmitters". Radio Rewind. Retrieved 18 February 2010.