I remember my parents bringing the bells in with Radio Clyde on its launch night. I think it lasted about ten minutes then went back to the usual Hogmanay drunken performances.
*Radio Clyde opened in the middle of a global economic crisis but was an immediate success – soon capturing more listeners in its area than all the BBC’s stations put together – and making money.*
*In fact, the shortages and strikes that dogged the UK that winter actually helped as television had to close down by 22:30 to save electricity.*
*But Radio Clyde was not just Scotland’s first local station – it was the only radio station at the time which was entirely Scottish in character.*
*BBC Radio Scotland did not exist. Instead BBC Scotland “opted out” of Radio 4 for individual programmes.*
*”All of a sudden you could hear Glasgow voices on the radio,” Tony said.*
*”The power restrictions meant those accustomed to watching TV when they went to their beds put on the radio instead and became accustomed to tuning in.*
​
*”It was a perfect storm. All the things you would want to come together at the right time came together at the right time.”*
Oddly enough, BBC Scotland spurred on by Clyde’s success, eventually caught up and beefed up its radio and TV production. The 1970’s and early to mid 1980’s was an amazing period for Scottish productions telling Scottish stories without the say so of the Network bosses.
I haven’t listened to Clyde since the 90’s and the global Bauer buy out that extinguished any aspect of local interest outside of a 5 minute opt out for local news until the adverts started again…
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I remember my parents bringing the bells in with Radio Clyde on its launch night. I think it lasted about ten minutes then went back to the usual Hogmanay drunken performances.
*Radio Clyde opened in the middle of a global economic crisis but was an immediate success – soon capturing more listeners in its area than all the BBC’s stations put together – and making money.*
*In fact, the shortages and strikes that dogged the UK that winter actually helped as television had to close down by 22:30 to save electricity.*
*But Radio Clyde was not just Scotland’s first local station – it was the only radio station at the time which was entirely Scottish in character.*
*BBC Radio Scotland did not exist. Instead BBC Scotland “opted out” of Radio 4 for individual programmes.*
*”All of a sudden you could hear Glasgow voices on the radio,” Tony said.*
*”The power restrictions meant those accustomed to watching TV when they went to their beds put on the radio instead and became accustomed to tuning in.*
​
*”It was a perfect storm. All the things you would want to come together at the right time came together at the right time.”*
Oddly enough, BBC Scotland spurred on by Clyde’s success, eventually caught up and beefed up its radio and TV production. The 1970’s and early to mid 1980’s was an amazing period for Scottish productions telling Scottish stories without the say so of the Network bosses.
I haven’t listened to Clyde since the 90’s and the global Bauer buy out that extinguished any aspect of local interest outside of a 5 minute opt out for local news until the adverts started again…