Downtown launch

I can still do a Harold Wilson impersonation. Sad, but true. Actually, it’s an impersonation of Mike Yarwood doing an impersonation of that Gannex-clad Prime Minister.

The day of his surprise resignation, 16 March 1976, was the same day that Downtown Radio launched in Belfast. It was the first commercial station in Northern Ireland.

The station faced not only the challenges of all early commercial radio launches: industrial turmoil; sceptical advertisers and politicians; and over zealous regulation, but also the backdrop of the Troubles in the area it served. It was widely recognised that Downtown performed skilfully in an era where anything less could have had serious repercussions. The likeable John Rosborough played a key role, not least as he graduated from installing the studios at the outset; to managing the programmes. Which he did for over two decades.

In time, the station extended beyond Greater Belfast, eventually putting the Downtown brand on the AM in Belfast, whilst elsewhere on FM; with the Belfast FM becoming Cool FM. #radio