[omnidirectional]

Roger Davis has announced on Big L that they will return to 1395 on or around the 1st of November, sponsored by www.kbcimport.com.

Big L, which appears to have more lives than a cat, will be rebuilt "slowly but surely".

Where will this leave Mike Read's One Gold? Roger has said Big L will be broadcasting on 1395 21 hours per day (IE. not 7pm-10pm, as per usual).

Confirmation: http://friendsofbigl.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3954

[mickthemunch]

Has anyone told Erwin?

I've been listening to the last half hour of Roger Davis' show. I like the music he's playing - refreshing change from the same-old same-old you hear elsewhere.

[overline]

Originally Posted by mickthemunch

Has anyone told Erwin?

He'll never believe it.

[KennyKeen]

So they are both going to start using 1395 from the 1st Nov...

[overline]

Originally Posted by KennyKeen

So they are both going to start using 1395 from the 1st Nov...

It’s all a bit of a shambles isn’t it?

[TeaCosy]

Originally Posted by KennyKeen

So they are both going to start using 1395 from the 1st Nov...

BigL playing songs by the One Gold Septet? But seriously, BigL back to full programming would be great!

[Spot]

Originally Posted by KennyKeen

So they are both going to start using 1395 from the 1st Nov...

AM stereo.

[RadioRob]

Originally Posted by Spot

AM stereo.

Or maybe one of them will be coming from Albania (joke, it's a joke).

[overline]

Originally Posted by TeaCosy

BigL playing songs by the One Gold Septet? But seriously, BigL back to full programming would be great!

But, the questions that must be asked is how deep are the pockets of whoever is throwing money at it this time and how long can it survive this time around?

Being realistic, it has failed twice now, and I can’t see it being third time lucky.

[Martin Phillp]

I wouldn't get too excited, it'll probably be the same as it is now, one live show a day from Roger with the possibility that Friends of Big L forum member Chirpy will also present one show a week, with the rest with generic links throughout the day.

Good luck to Roger, Big L and KBC for the latest attempt of making 1395 viable.

[overline]

I tend to agree Martin, I can’t see anyone being daft enough to finance it to the level it was before with the big names, although I suspect they may have a few more volunteer presenters onboard rather than year old voice-tracks.

The trouble is without proper programmes it’s likely to have even less listeners than the pervious two occasions.

[omnidirectional]

I imagine it will be a much smaller operation this time, with no big names. A few presenters will probably return, surely Ray Anderson at least.

The 'anorak' audience it attracts will be perfect for the new sponsor since they appear to specialise in radio equipment.

The Big L website has been updated for the first time in about a year with the news:
http://www.bigl.co.uk/news

[Martin Phillp]

They seem to have the right strategy this time round. Trying to cater to anyone and everyone despite a poor AM signal was never going to work.

Now if those anoraks purchase some of the products the sponsor is selling, they might be in with a chance of keeping 1395 on with minimum overheads.

[TeaCosy]

Originally Posted by overline

But, the questions that must be asked is how deep are the pockets of whoever is throwing money at it this time and how long can it survive this time around?

Being realistic, it has failed twice now, and I can’t see it being third time lucky.

Yes, I can't fault your thinking there. I do very much like the quirky nature of the station and the degree of unpredictability in it's music and will enjoy it while it lasts. Hopefully the station's previous mistakes will not be repeated, although its haphazardness is part of the attraction and I still suspect if more people heard it, they would like Big L. British love for the underdog would also play a part. But will they hear it?

[Martin Phillp]

Originally Posted by TeaCosy

But will they hear it?

It will be even harder this time round, they have no satellite option and of course the AM signal will be great in Holland, but anorak quality in the UK, so the target audience will be UK and Dutch anoraks, fans of offshore radio and British ex-pats in Holland along with Anglophiles in the US who listen online.

[KnobTwiddler]

Originally Posted by Spot

AM stereo.

That's a good idea, Big L on the left channel and One Gold on the right channel.

[pje1979]

Great news.

[TeaCosy]

Originally Posted by Martin Phillp

It will be even harder this time round, they have no satellite option and of course the AM signal will be great in Holland, but anorak quality in the UK, so the target audience will be UK and Dutch anoraks, fans of offshore radio and British ex-pats in Holland along with Anglophiles in the US who listen online.

Fans of offshore radio? But Big L almost never mentions offshore radio or anything that would appeal to proper anoraks (in the Andy Archer sense of the word). There's no talk of ships or forts or aerials or generators or any such thing, and so many of their past jocks have been ex BBC not ex pirate. The only connection with anything offshore or unlicensed is in the name Big L, but it's not played on. People seem to listen for the music, as do I, and the signal is always romping in on the internet

Won't the target be Europewide, especially during hours of darkness, from KBC's viewpoint? There would be plenty of truckers able to hear the MF signal and perhaps likely to become a loyal audience, and truckers are good at networking.

I may be talking nonsense there but am sure that the station's main attraction is its music, not it's name or talent or anything to do with anoraking.

[airwaves]

How much more confusing can this get!

I hope they have thought about this and devised a better way of keeping the transmitter operating, otherwise the same problems will surface.

[suffolkblue]

not a lover of big L the music is rock and roll etc if played well known tracks i whould tune in so i wish them well but sadly not my thing im hoping another station starts that day aswell so should get interesting

[Martin Phillp]

Originally Posted by TeaCosy

I may be talking nonsense there but am sure that the station's main attraction is its music, not it's name or talent or anything to do with anoraking.

If the Big L brand had nothing to do with anoraking, why is KBC, a company which specialises in radio anorak equipment sponsoring the new venture?

While the new Big L will attract oldies music fans who have a wider pallet of musical knowledge than the tight playlists of Gold and daytime Radio 2, it will attract anoraks, some who were around in the 60s and remember what the brand name was from 64-67 and others who'll wish to attempt to listen to a Dutch signal, those listeners are potential customers to KBC.

We've had the debate on whether Big L under Anderson/Vezey had any connection with Radio London of the sixties and wish not to re-debate the same thing.

[TeaCosy]

Originally Posted by Martin Phillp

If the Big L brand had nothing to do with anoraking, why is KBC, a company which specialises in radio anorak equipment sponsoring the new venture?

I'm not sure how you are defining "anorak" but I wouldn't think radio hams or truck drivers using radio to facilitate their work have much in common with zitty kids getting seasick while trying to scrape a bit of rust off Mi Amigo for a souvenir.

While the new Big L will attract oldies music fans who have a wider pallet of musical knowledge than the tight playlists of Gold and daytime Radio 2, it will attract anoraks, some who were around in the 60s and remember what the brand name was from 64-67 and others who'll wish to attempt to listen to a Dutch signal, those listeners are potential customers to KBC.

With respect, that's just you being narrow minded, Martin. I doubt many people today remember much about the 1960s Radio London. Offshore radio in the UK means Radio Caroline to most people nowadays because that's the one that stayed in the media's eye for years and years. People all around the world have heard of Caroline. Mention Kenny Ev and they'll think of his tv show. Mention Cashman and they'll think of his Groovy Baby jingle on R1. Stewpot - Children's Favourites. And so on. Radio London dropped out of people's consciousnesses decades back, not least because it only existed for a short time anyway and then another major station called itself Big L for a while and then the BBC started their own Radio London. "266? No, it was 206 wasn't it?"

We've had the debate on whether Big L under Anderson/Vezey had any connection with Radio London of the sixties and wish not to re-debate the same thing.

We? You say you're not interested in a supposed connection that you brought up. That doesn't make sense. I thought we were talking of Big L today, not the other year. You don't want to discuss Chris Vezey but you mentioned him?

[hanssolo]

It has just been announced on-air that new parts will be ordered next week to get the transmitter working again

Strange as it seems the last time the tx stopped was it ran out of diesel as bigl stopped paying transmission company Broadcast Partners the support contract??
Broadcast Partners picked up the container with the TX and generator back to it's depot.

Either they (Bigl/KBC) have resigned a contract with a reluctant Broadcast Partners, who Andy Sennett has said are not professionally keen to start it again with no chance of a decent AM daytime signal to the UK, or found someone else who can rig up the Dutch mast with a supportable 20kw AM TX and a internet feed?
or it's wishful thinking!
or as "aja" says in the Onegold thread says

Personally I think this is just a spoiler announcement by BigL to distract from One Gold as, from what I hear, there has been a "communication breakdown" between One Gold and the proposed overnight service from BigL/KBC

I notice someone connected with bigl have no need for a powerful AM tx anymore which is now on ebay (in another thread)

[TeaCosy]

Originally Posted by hanssolo

Strange as it seems the last time the tx stopped was it ran out of diesel as bigl stopped paying transmission company Broadcast Partners the support contract??
Broadcast Partners picked up the container with the TX and generator back to it's depot.

There could be any number of reasons for buying parts. Could be changing the antenna, signal processing, or most likely buying the bits to install a link to get the programming to the transmitter. Why does it have to be something suspicious?

Either they (Bigl/KBC) have resigned a contract with a reluctant Broadcast Partners, who Andy Sennett has said are not professionally keen to start it again with no chance of a decent AM daytime signal to the UK, or found someone else who can rig up the Dutch mast with a supportable 20kw AM TX and a internet feed?

It might be better to quote exactly what he wrote.

I notice someone connected with bigl have no need for a powerful AM tx anymore which is now on ebay (in another thread)

I don't think there was ever any intention to use that transmitter for Big L when they already have one of similar power. I don't think your 'someone' ever had a need to actually use that unit, which seems to have a sad history.

[tommytempras]

Won't they ever learn?