The Dutch mediumwave transmitter on 1395 kHz that has been carrying the programmes of UK-based commercial station Big L has been switched off. There has been no official announcement of its closure by the station, but only Sky channel 0190 and the station’s website are now being announced. According to a report on the listeners’ support website Friends of Big L, presenter Mike Read said this morning it was for “environmental reasons”.
We understand that the transmitter site at Trintelhaven is powered by a diesel generator, and operating costs must have increased enormously due to the high price of oil. The choice of music is distinctly odd today. On the so-called ‘Happy Hour’, one of the songs played was Surround Yourself With Sorrow!
Bookmark to:
43 comments so far
1 Raymond Woodward August 1st, 2008 - 16:14 UTC
“environmental reasons” as in we can’t pay the power bill I guess.
Now if we could could just get WRN to take back their Sky Digital EPG slot …
2 Bert August 1st, 2008 - 16:42 UTC
A sad day. Hope they’ll be back soon, although the last time they went off the air it took them some time to return. I don’t have sky 190 or internet in the car, so…
3 Steven Allan August 1st, 2008 - 16:57 UTC
Well one thing is for sure. Hardly anyone will miss it because hardly anyone was listening.
4 Raymond Woodward August 1st, 2008 - 17:01 UTC
Well my tap shoes are all polished and I’m ready and waiting to dance on its grave …
5 ruud August 1st, 2008 - 17:24 UTC
Of course the BigL bashing goes on.
But we must not forget that they had the highest energy bill of them all.
The site has no grid and all power has to be diesel generated. And this is much more expensive than running a TX linked to a power line. Certainly if you do that in a company with a bulk contract.
The outragious increase in oil prices killed the AM outlet, AM is not easy by itself, and such a setback is killing.
Another problem is the position of the site, BigL wants to move to a better place, but nobody wants an AM mast in his backyard.
Well nobody wants a motorway in his backyard, but surprise, there are motorways.
So there can be AM masts as well, we all sometimes have to accept an environmental irritation. (I prefer AM masts over motorways in my backyard).
But the government does nothing to facilitate AM masts and plan those things in. They even take them down as with the 1008 K mast in Lopik. The only thing the government does is charging you with high spectrum fees and take your frequency back if you cannot get or keep it on the air. (An immenent danger for 1395 now…….)
In the old days when there was only public broadcasting on AM the masts simply were erected where they had to be. Because this was a government operation. No complaining, did not help.
6 haweeha August 1st, 2008 - 17:46 UTC
The number of stations listed with a thin line across the text on Herman’s site has, sadly, been increased by one today
7 Overline August 1st, 2008 - 19:49 UTC
Good points ruud, but you have to remember they have few listeners in the UK and therefore very little advertising revenue to pay the fuel bill - increases or not.
8 RNI2020 August 1st, 2008 - 20:20 UTC
Several months ago the same happened, source then also for environmental reasons.
Inside information told me that the source is a sailingyachtharbour that is located at 300 feet from the antenna.
From the BigL asntenna comes a lot of voltage that created then burnspot on the decks of several yachts ( via their metal masts ).
Looking at the season Iam pretty sure that it is this time the same problem. Broadcast Partners is responsible for the transmitter so also for the damage on the yachts sourced by the high volage that comes from the antenna.
Iam sure that in several days the signal is back ( vacationseason ends ).
For those that believe the rumour about high fuelprice is the source….BigL has a contract, based on a period of 12 months each and at a fixed price.
9 Joe August 1st, 2008 - 22:47 UTC
Sadly in Europe today rather than praise someone for having the guts to try and change the situation, as Big L has done, we have those who would rather sit back - probably work in the public sector or draw their Social Security Benefits and denigrate those who worked damned hard to make a success of a very difficult situation.
Personally I’m impressed by what they have tried to achieve and i think they deserve support not ridicule.
10 haweeha August 2nd, 2008 - 6:52 UTC
@Joe: quite right! 1395 was the only station playing oldies that was available on the average car radio in the Netherlands. It is always easy to comment from your arm chair. I hope BigL manages to get it re-located, even if that is a very feint possibility.
11 Mike Barraclough August 2nd, 2008 - 9:35 UTC
Melanie in Westcliff on Sea on the musicradionews.co.uk forum says that Mike Read\’s exact words were:
“Well regretfully because we have environmental issues and various location problems in Holland with the AM transmitter, at midday we’re going to be temporarily closing that down; we don’t know how long for but we hope to be back as soon as possible, louder, bigger, brighter and better. We’ll be remaining online around the world at bigl.co.uk 0190 on Sky, but for now 1395 AM at midday will be closing down.”
The announcement was made five minutes before the transmitter went off.
12 Andy Sennitt August 2nd, 2008 - 10:55 UTC
Despite what RNI2020 says, it looks as if they have given up on the current site. A message from someone identifying as #6 (who appears to have inside information) posted on the Music Radio News forums says “What they have done is switch off to save money, in the short term, to enable them to last long enough until the new site is finally through the red tape stage.”
My question is “what new site”? As Ruud has told us, it’s virtually impossible to get planning permission for a transmitter site in the Netherlands these days, especially high power mediumwave. And I have not seen any local newspaper reports suggesting any such application is in the pipeline, Which means that maybe it hasn’t even got that far. And when it does, expect lots of controversy and delays.
A few years ago, using a ship with its own generators would have been the obvious solution, but given the hight price of oil, broadcasting from a ship suddenly seems a whole lot less attractive
13 Martin August 2nd, 2008 - 12:04 UTC
Nothing to say it could be via another medium such as DAB.
14 ruud August 2nd, 2008 - 13:18 UTC
Just to give a little spark of hope for the BigL 1395 fans, there is one option left I have found, BigL and Broadcast Partners are fully aware of this option, and are working hard on this. But no guarantees whatsoever, there are a lot of nasty hurdles out there.
15 DAVID August 2nd, 2008 - 14:21 UTC
a friends of bigl member reported he hear a test tone for 10 min at 1pm (UK time)
but was it comeing from Trintelhaven
16 KetteringPete August 2nd, 2008 - 15:15 UTC
Well stated, Joe, nice to read a considered, constructive and sensible offering. Your comment stands out. We have to put the past behind us and support a station for the present. There is only one station for the present - Big L.
Ten minute test tone from same direction also heard in Northants, David
17 Andy Duncan August 2nd, 2008 - 17:07 UTC
I suspect that Big L and Broadcast Partners, may be in discussions with Belgian authorities regarding their possible use of the now vacant 540 kHz frequency.
Certainly a move of the 50 Kw Nautel transmitter from it’s present position at Trintelhaven to Belgium for use on 540 kHz, would greatly improve signal coverage into the UK market.
18 Andy Sennitt August 2nd, 2008 - 18:07 UTC
I was under the impression that Flemish Media Law doesn’t allow commercial stations to use AM frequencies. Laws can be changed, of course. But a 50 kW transmitter on 540 kHz should certainly have much better coverage of SE England than 20 kW or so on 1395 kHz. Incidentally, on the website of Broadcast Partners, Big L on 1395 has been listed as a “regional” station. That means one that doesn’t even adequately cover the whole of the Netherlands - and they’re right!
19 MikeSharpia August 2nd, 2008 - 18:40 UTC
They will have to broadcast on 1395 soon, because there are 3 advertisers ( FSB, KBC import and Trucks Magazine) who have an interest that Big L is using the 1395 transmitter, because they are all selling to the truck drivers. I can’t imagine that they stay on board if they don’t switch on the 1395 transmitter.
20 RNI2020 August 2nd, 2008 - 20:25 UTC
BigL shall return very soon, I guess a higher mast is the best solution against the so called envoirment thing.
On the other side….my personal opinion is that authorities that plan a sailing yacht harbour at such a close distance of a transmitter site are not the most clever persons, i mean this spot has been in use since the early 90’s ( HFM, Veronica, Q Radio and BigL )or….they planned this harbour just because of the 99% for sure coming complains about burnspots on yachtdecks and if the transmitter spot has to be closed coz of this reason they can sell the ground for a high price per M2 to someone that has plans to build a restaurant.
But a higher antenna mast of, for example 300 FT, gives BigL a better reception in the target area plus….it reduces the environment complains to 0.
21 Eroc August 3rd, 2008 - 9:23 UTC
…and not to forget about us AM-listeners and music-fans in Germany. I myself grew up with 208 in the sixties, later listened to Caroline and other pirates using sometimes really adventorous antenna-constructions. The AM-dial is getting more and more empty these days. When Arrow Classic Rock 675 and German Truck Radio 702 and 855 closed down recently it was a very sad day for good old AM-radio and Big L remained as the only hope besides AFN Europe to prevail that very special radio- and music-feeling.
There are (still) millions of cars out there with AM-radios, and there are millions of listeners who hate this sizzling overscrewed FM-sound, overloaded with silly commercials. Big L always was a pure relief and Big L on AM is absolutely necessary. My demand: 1.200 kWs on 1440 like 208 back then. And then enhanced bandwith up to 12 kHz. The transmitter site in the Grand Dutchie is waiting. Where are those sponsors with the big purses?
- Eroc
22 haweeha August 3rd, 2008 - 10:04 UTC
@RNI2020: the harbor was there first. There has been a restaurant for ages. The transmitter on the Communicator did not cause as much interference because it was a bit more to the southeast. So about five times further away from the dock.
The main problem is that nobody in city councils or anything is interested in AM transmitters anymore. I’m sure that if the same spot had a huge wind turbine that caused massive noise pollution to the same yachts, they would simply close the harbor.
23 Heinfried Zoeller August 3rd, 2008 - 13:12 UTC
Why is the Big L transmitter diesel powered ?
What was it’s original purpose?
Thank you for answering
24 ruud August 3rd, 2008 - 14:16 UTC
@Andy
This Flemish law banning commercial stations from AM seems a little strange to me.
As far as I know, European law says that channels not used by pubcasters MUST be allocated for comercial broadcasters. This is how we got frequencies availble in this country, and untill now the Dutch has folluwed that rule (except for LW 171, that acoording to officila documents is available for comm br. You can even use SW)
Obviously the Flemish autorites are trying to keep frequencies away from commercial broadcasters since they are tied to pubcaster VRT (this makes the control over frequencies by European governments questionable, they are tied up with pubcasters)
The 540 site is quite remote from the coast (Wavre) and use of the Wolvertem site would be much better.
I found that 1188, another belgium chann el is rather clear, was used with 5 kW in Kuurne, but can do a lot more following ITU regulations, so that would be another option. Kuurne is very near the coast (only 1197 Virgin gap-filler Hoo might be a problem)
25 Giles August 3rd, 2008 - 18:54 UTC
Not only Hoo Ruud, there’s also another filler for Virgin Radio in Cambridge on 1197 that would make 1188 reception difficult across a large part of East Anglia as I’m sure you know.
On another note, I can’t understand, in these days of bland syndicated music radio here in the UK, why anyone would knock what Big L has at least tried to achieve. ‘Dance on its grave’ was a line from another correspondent here- maybe I’ve missed something, but what has Big L ever done, apart from got off its collective armchair and had a damn good go? May I very politely suggest this is a whole lot more than most of the station’s knockers have ever done. Good luck to Big L and here’s to hoping for a swift return to AM.
Regards to all,
Giles.
26 Martin August 3rd, 2008 - 19:47 UTC
There are a few frequencies they can use, but it all comes down to construction
costs of building a new transmitting station.
The best hope Big L might have is to co-site with a existing transmitting site
be it here in the UK or in Europe.
I suppose they could attempt to reallocate 279 KHz from the Isle of Man and
make use of Orfordness or a similar site. But they will need to work with
Ofcom on that one, and also find the funds up front.
Giles. That correspondent you talk about is well reknown for being rude and
negative. Just ignore him.
27 DAVID August 3rd, 2008 - 20:15 UTC
what do you all made of this http://members7.boardhost.com/PirateRadio/msg/1217790855.html
28 MikeBarraclough August 4th, 2008 - 8:52 UTC
David, the message you have referred to was not posted by Shaun Brown:
http://members7.boardhost.com/PirateRadio/msg/1217802746.html
29 Bert August 4th, 2008 - 9:25 UTC
I would welcome a return of Bigl, preferably on 1395 since that is the clearest channel we have around here. It’s always the same when we go on holiday. After 23:00 local time 1395 comes in with a booming clear signal (whether it be in south Sweden, Brittany or Naples) whereas 540 (when it was still on air), 675, 828, 1008 and 747 all suffer from interference.
Get a new site (Heinenoord near Rotterdam maybe, home of 828, it’s closer to the UK), pump up the power and get the Albanian station to shut down between 18 and 23 hrs.
Oh well, we always have KBC-radio 22:30-00:00 (MET) on 6055.
30 Andy Sennitt August 4th, 2008 - 11:27 UTC
It looks as if Big L is, at least for the time being, resigned to being essentially an Internet station. A new post from Roger Davis on the Friends of Big L website says “To Add the Big L media player to your site please click on link below and follow instructions. ” http://friendsofbigl.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3246
This also makes me wonder whether the satellite service will be the next thing to stop. They needed it to feed 1395, but now they can manage without it.
31 Roy Sandgren August 5th, 2008 - 8:32 UTC
I suppose in the end, that Bigl will get a fixed power line to the site. This will save nearly 70-80% of powercosts. Even Sirus satellite is searching to terrestial relays,couse there are the listners.
32 Caroline August 5th, 2008 - 13:31 UTC
Look for the official website of BigL today.
They will be back on 1395 MW as soon as they can.
I hope the reception in Holland will be better then.
33 Andy Sennitt August 5th, 2008 - 13:54 UTC
Yes, but look how non-committal it is: “It will be returning as soon as it can”. As if the transmitter is some sort of wayward offspring that has disappeared to “find itself”
And ” we hope to improve the signal….”. No definite promise, just an expression of hope. They’ve been hoping to do that for three years already. That suggests to me that they don’t have a definite plan at the moment. I see nothing in the statement on the website that adds to the clarity about what is going on.
34 ruud August 5th, 2008 - 17:13 UTC
The new site willl give better reception in some parts of the Netherlands, but will be worse in other parts. SW will be better NE, worse.
Again, there is an option, but there are some hurdles to be taken, red tape is the problem, no technical problems.
35 Big L listener August 5th, 2008 - 18:27 UTC
Red tape and, of course, money.
36 Steven Allan August 5th, 2008 - 19:09 UTC
Ruud, are you telling us that there really is a new site and that you know where it is ? Please, tell all !
Re your comment about reception in the Netherlands, I do not think that Big L is interested in the Netherlands. If it were, then all it has to do is go into Dutch and they need not move the transmitter.
37 Andy Sennitt August 5th, 2008 - 20:19 UTC
If that is the case, then the last thing Ruud would do is divulge details prematurely in this Weblog. Part of being successful in business is knowing when to keep things confidential. When we have some definite news we will publish it here.
Ruud’s comment about reception in the Netherlands was addressed to Caroline, who lives in the Netherlands.
38 Caroline August 6th, 2008 - 15:56 UTC
It’s quiet today, just like Big L.
This website is nearly a look (a)like of Big L.
No comments means no reception.
Where are all those popgroups who earn lots of money in the sixties, thanks to the pirate stations at sea, such as RC and WRL..
Why don’t they support Big L with their millions right now, to keep the sixties alive.
The same goes for RC, because with only supportersgroups in pocket, the horizon is close by.
Anyway, so far I still can listen to RC and Big L on SKY. for free, just as in the sixties e.v.. athough the reception of RC was far much better and in stereo, when she was broadcasting on the ASTRA-satellite in 2001/2002.
39 Andy Sennitt August 6th, 2008 - 16:06 UTC
It’s like a lookalike of Big L if you only look at this page. But we have nearly 10,000 media news items and over 6000 comments from all over the world in the archives from the past five years if you get bored
40 haweeha August 6th, 2008 - 16:34 UTC
@ Caroline: Caroline and BigL are available in stereo on the internet. Streams can be accessed via their respective websites.
41 DAVID August 6th, 2008 - 20:25 UTC
caroline also gets some of it money for the webshop site & radiocaroline innovations website when it was runing. but it looks like that one has stoped working.
42 Caroline August 7th, 2008 - 0:28 UTC
Thank you Andy, Haweeha and Davidid for your comments.
I\’m not stupid. Ofcourse I can listen to RC in stereo, but the internet (or laptop) is not my way of listening to radio at home everywhere. I\’\'m listening to RC since 1964 and even then the quality of sound was far much better then, particularly on 259 and later on 819 AM
But nonetheless, I still get no answer to my question: Where are the comments from The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, The Who with all their millions of money, etc, etc. —– and what about Cliff Richard.
They are still partly alive, earning and spending, aren\’t they.
43 Brian Greene August 7th, 2008 - 1:20 UTC
there are two Big L\’s in TuLLamore 567kHz and its 50KW and reaches the UK. what a shame its even an option. RTENL were to rent 567kHz to UCB but they failed to get licenced.
Leave a Comment