John Whitney (IBA) talks on 1984 Heathrow Conference

Radio's first regulator, the turquoise IBA, based just near Harrods, was a tough one for radio. Emerging from its Independent Television Authority days, the IBA was lumbered with a troublesome new pregnancy in the form of independent radio. The TV rules were transferred across to radio wherever possible, in a climate where not everyone was yet utterly sure whether this commercial radio was going to be a good thing at all.

The family of infants was duly spawned from 1973-76; and there were more births in the early 80s. The period had its issues: a fledgling, incomplete network competing against the BBC for audiences; and against powerful established rivals for advertising in a time of industrial strife. What was seen as a picky, expensive regulator did not help.

Eventually, frustrations boiled over and the chairmen of the independent radio 'contractors', as they were, gathered together on 23rd June 1984 at a Heathrow hotel to debate the grievances. Having arrived at six resolutions, a letter from this 'Heathrow Conference' was duly hammered out on the Remington two days later and despatched with a 12 1/2p stamp to Brompton Road.

Discussions ensued with the regulator and Government, not without challenge along the way, and eventually some concessions were ceded.

Here, John Whitney, who was DG of the IBA at the time (and who had been the first MD of Capital) tells of that period.