RNI - Election 1970

Dramatic days. Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep. Not often did UK radio stations get jammed by official sources; but it happened from April 1970 in the case of the most colourful pirate station of all - RNI (Radio Northsea International). A loud tone, transmitted from Kent, was transmitted to obliterate the happy seventies songs from RNI. It had been said, with some evidence this time, that RNI's transmissions were causing interruptions to important legitimate broadcasters.

                                                                                                         The station campaigned against Labour in the 1970 General Election; something any official licensed station would not have been able to.  The station believed that a Conservative Government would be more sympathetic to commercial radio.  This was an interesting election: after almost a decade of Labour rule, it was the first one in which 18 year olds were allowed to vote.  To add fuel to the fire, RNI also changed its name five days before the election to the more emotive Caroline brand.  It's important to remember that, back in the days of a young Radio One on AM only, and no land-based commercial radio, the influence from a pop pirate offshore was significant.

Against the odds, the Conservatives won the election. The jamming continued; albeit this was then also the Government which tabled the legislation in 1972 to licence commercial radio at last.