Introduction

This is a project that I have been researching for some time. In fact for over 22 years I have been living it! My good friend Hugh Mitford Raymond suggested that I write a series of articles for the Riviera Times on the subject. Its editor Claire Lathbury commissioned three short articles. It proved difficult to chronicle more than an outline history in the space available. Here are slightly expanded versions that will be further expanded over time to become a comprehensive history. If you have worked, listened or have an interest in English language radio on the Riviera then please contact me with your memories, corrections, suggestions and photos.  Mark Dezzani

 Part 1 : Beaming Riviera Sunshine Abroad

We begin in the 1930s with commercial radio pioneer Captain Plugge. Radio Cote d'Azur was one of a string of continental stations he established or hired airtime from to send sponsored programmes into Britain to break the BBC's monopoly. The first part of our story covers the 1930s to the 1970s when all of the English broadcasters from the Riviera were targeting an audience outside of the region thanks to the long distance propagation of medium wave signals at night.

 Part 2 : Italy Calling The Cote d'Azur

Staff from a scuttled pirate radio ship exploit Italy's new found radio freedom in the 70s to launch the Riviera's first local English language station by sending an FM signal from across the border. The 1980s sees a mini explosion of English language stations when France 

Part 3 : Riviera Gold

Two operators and three radio stations now compete for the growing international audience living on the Riviera. Riviera Radio is owned by a US media group and Radio International is under US management. This third & final part looks at English radio on the Cote d'Azur through the 90's until today and looks at the prospects for the future.