LBC - Launch

Apart from the coloured shirts, platform shoes and bright purple flairs, the early 70s were dark days. Serious industrial unrest and power cuts were not the best economic backdrop for the tardy launch of UK commercial radio. The fact that the medium had become a political football just added to the pressure. 60 stations were planned, although only 19 were to get to air before a review was called.

Having beaten off four rivals for the franchise, LBC was the first station in the network, charged with disseminating news and information to London. The station broadcast from Gough Square on the now familiar 97.3 FM frequency, albeit most listeners were still choosing Medium Wave; and here, the station occupied a temporary frequency of 417m. The press reported the station, with Canadian Investor, Selkirk, had running costs of £1m a year. Michael Cudlipp was Chief Editor at launch, former Deputy Editor of The Times, although his tenure was short: “We’re not going to be trendy or gimmicky”.

LBC came on air on 8th October 1973. The opening jingles, by Robert Farnon, sounded almost as menacing as the economic crisis. This station sounded serious. David Jessel was first on-air; and the news read by Australian Ken Guy.