Brighton Fip radio bloke pulled off air - Radio

Mr. X · 06-04-2007, 11:58

Quote:

A French radio station that developed a massive cult following in Sussex has been taken off the air after being raided by communications watchdogs.

Paris-based station Fip built up a massively dedicated and diverse range of listeners in Brighton through the last decade after a mystery male fan grew so smitten with it he set up his own antenna to broadcast the station for the city from his home in Hanover.

Sad news

A couple of complaints about the closure to the paper:

http://www.theargus.co.uk/search/dis...ng_for_fip.php
http://www.theargus.co.uk/search/dis...e_and_well.php

Inkblot · 06-04-2007, 12:16

Shame. Being able to listen to FIP in the car was one of the cool things about visiting Brighton. The signal stayed solid quite a way along the coast.

Jab · 06-04-2007, 12:33

This is a real shame, especially since its been operating for so long, with a dedicated following.

Whoever complain, is acting like a bit of a ****, wonder why they felt the need.

Speaking of FIP, when i was in Paris i thoroughly enjoyed listening to it, is the only way to listen to it, on the dodgy internet stream? only 64k so it doesnt sound so good.

Jab

Inkblot · 06-04-2007, 12:39

Have you tried the mp3 stream? It shows up as 80kbps on my Mac and doesn't sound too shabby.

MartS · 06-04-2007, 15:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jab

Whoever complain, is acting like a bit of a ****, wonder why they felt the need.

Or just blame The Argus for printing a letter from a member of the great unwashed which prints the frequency of A) An illegal radio station that is B) Re-broadcasting the output of a FIP (presumably) without it's permission.

Ofcom are not stupid...

iain_smith · 06-04-2007, 15:51

I must admit I did register a complaint to the licensing authority but I cetrtainly didnt want the station to be shut down completely,just make sure it wasnt unfairly competing with properly licensed stations thats all.I'm sure the station can be granted a license if its so popular and be back up and running soon.

Dykeolicous · 06-04-2007, 16:09

Try here for listening to Fip on t'interweb

Mr. X · 06-04-2007, 16:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by iain_smith

I must admit I did register a complaint to the licensing authority but I cetrtainly didnt want the station to be shut down completely,just make sure it wasnt unfairly competing with properly licensed stations thats all.I'm sure the station can be granted a license if its so popular and be back up and running soon.

Why did you do that?

This was a popular public service that was pulling in listeners who'd probably not otherwise be listening to the radio -- certainly, your average Fip listener isn't likely to suddenly change to Southern FM or Magic because their station's been pulled!

At present, I've got a satellite dish that can pick up Fip at a decent-sounding quality.

Westward · 06-04-2007, 16:53

No matter how popular a station is, you cannot continue with a situation where a station is broadcasting on FM without a UK licence.

Ofcom could just as easily have been alerted by the licenced commercial stations in the area (GCap Media and Juice) and they would have been forced to act.

I think that Ofcom should recognise the popularity of this service and allow a community station of this type to be set up in the Brighton area, using the frequencies within the BBC sub-bands that were used by FIP.

Mr. X · 06-04-2007, 16:57

Hopefully the new community station Radio Reverb will go some way to filling the gap left by Fip -- judging by the apparent popularity of the French service, if they've got any sense they'll try and replicate its music mix! But it won't be the same -- they'll have to fill hours with boring public-service stuff about health to please the funders.

Powerplay · 06-04-2007, 17:32

If they want to hear the station someone should tell the folk of Brighton they just need to put up a small satellite dish on Astra 19.2 E, then they can have FIP back, plus all the other French networks and its all free.

Only downside of course is not being able to listen in the car.

iain_smith · 06-04-2007, 17:40

I'm sure I wasnt the only person who complained!

Inkblot · 06-04-2007, 17:46

I can understand anyone who complains about a pirate causing interference to licensed stations, and maybe if the programmes are outside accepted standards of taste and decency, but I can't see the point of complaining just because a station's on the air. Particularly when the programmes are in French... it's not as if there's a highly competitive market for French-language radio in the Brighton area, is it?

Powerplay · 06-04-2007, 17:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by iain_smith

I'm sure I wasnt the only person who complained!

Why did you complain, was it causing you any distress?

sausages · 06-04-2007, 17:50

Iain, seeing as it was happily on air for ten years, you probably were the only one that complained...

GaryC · 06-04-2007, 17:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by iain_smith

I'm sure I wasnt the only person who complained!

you probably were.

do you spend all day taking pictures or people dropping litter? calling the benifit fraud hotline when you see a single mum having a bloke stay a few nights; ring in shopping the neighbours during a hose pipe ban?

I never normally get wound up on forums, but really - get a life.

Gerry1 · 06-04-2007, 17:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by iain_smith

I must admit I did register a complaint to the licensing authority but I cetrtainly didnt want the station to be shut down completely,just make sure it wasnt unfairly competing with properly licensed stations thats all.I'm sure the station can be granted a license if its so popular and be back up and running soon.

Were you jealous of FIP's popularity because you're involved with a failing ILR station, or do you just have a lot of time on your hands and nothing better to do?

podbod · 06-04-2007, 17:59

Shows how hypocritical the whole pirate situation is, if thats the first time fip brighton has been raided in a decade???

Ray Cathode · 06-04-2007, 18:10

The fact that FIP was popular shows just how crap the rest of the disc spinners in Brighton are

Mr. X · 06-04-2007, 18:17

I think it's possibly been tolerated in the past because the Ofcom inspectors are quite impressed with the cunning of the bloke -- he broadcast it on two frequencies used by FIP in northern France

iain_smith · 06-04-2007, 18:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Powerplay

Why did you complain, was it causing you any distress?

ok I admit I have never been a big fan of the French for personal reasons bbut I assure you that wasnt the only factor involved

iain_smith · 06-04-2007, 18:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by GaryC

you probably were.

do you spend all day taking pictures or people dropping litter? calling the benifit fraud hotline when you see a single mum having a bloke stay a few nights; ring in shopping the neighbours during a hose pipe ban?

I never normally get wound up on forums, but really - get a life.

You think its ok forpeople to defraud welfare system and deprive people genuinely in need of money?..and do you really want to see your streets covered with litter?

Mr. X · 06-04-2007, 18:40

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. I didn't start this thread for it to turn into a boring political "debate" about "scroungers" and other irrelevant tosh lifted from the pages of the Daily sExpress. I hate to be "forum police", but in case you hadn't spotted the title, it's a RADIO forum........ !

Gerry1 · 06-04-2007, 18:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by iain_smith

OK, I admit I have never been a big fan of the French for personal reasons, but I assure you that wasn't the only factor involved

So what were the other factors? Perhaps you were afraid that someone somewhere might have been enjoying themselves? Don't keep us in suspense - tell us the big secret!

If you're so keen to be a zealous enforcer, why not join the Specials and become a Hobby Bobby ? You can then strut around all day in your boots and uniform, hassle people to your heart's content and get a big thrill from feeling terribly important.

iain_smith · 06-04-2007, 19:24

ok I'll write to OFCOM withdrawing my complaint if that'll do any good.Satisfied?

06-04-2007, 15:51	#6
iain_smith Banned User Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 1,101	I must admit I did register a complaint to the licensing authority but I cetrtainly didnt want the station to be shut down completely,just make sure it wasnt unfairly competing with properly licensed stations thats all.I'm sure the station can be granted a license if its so popular and be back up and running soon. Last edited by iain_smith : 06-04-2007 at 16:03.

06-04-2007, 12:16	#2
Inkblot Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: West London Services: Sky+; ADSL; Apples'n'iPears Posts: 13,112	Shame. Being able to listen to FIP in the car was one of the cool things about visiting Brighton. The signal stayed solid quite a way along the coast.

06-04-2007, 12:33	#3
Jab Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Fleet Services: Broadband, Wii, PC, PS2, Sky, Freeview Posts: 328	This is a real shame, especially since its been operating for so long, with a dedicated following. Whoever complain, is acting like a bit of a ****, wonder why they felt the need. Speaking of FIP, when i was in Paris i thoroughly enjoyed listening to it, is the only way to listen to it, on the dodgy internet stream? only 64k so it doesnt sound so good. Jab

06-04-2007, 12:39	#4
Inkblot Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: West London Services: Sky+; ADSL; Apples'n'iPears Posts: 13,112	Have you tried the mp3 stream? It shows up as 80kbps on my Mac and doesn't sound too shabby.

06-04-2007, 16:09	#7
Dykeolicous Forum Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: I ♥ Fandabidozia Services: ♀♀ &Janette Krankie Lookalike £3.27ph. PM for further details Posts: 2,371	Try here for listening to Fip on t'interweb

06-04-2007, 16:53	#9
Westward Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Bristol Posts: 4,700	No matter how popular a station is, you cannot continue with a situation where a station is broadcasting on FM without a UK licence. Ofcom could just as easily have been alerted by the licenced commercial stations in the area (GCap Media and Juice) and they would have been forced to act. I think that Ofcom should recognise the popularity of this service and allow a community station of this type to be set up in the Brighton area, using the frequencies within the BBC sub-bands that were used by FIP.

06-04-2007, 16:57	#10
Mr. X Banned User Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: On top of a hill Services: analogue, BT Broadband, 3 Mobile Posts: 3,608	Hopefully the new community station Radio Reverb will go some way to filling the gap left by Fip -- judging by the apparent popularity of the French service, if they've got any sense they'll try and replicate its music mix! But it won't be the same -- they'll have to fill hours with boring public-service stuff about health to please the funders.

06-04-2007, 17:32	#11
Powerplay Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 20 miles N.W. of London, UK Services: Broadband, Sony ST-SB920 Tuner, MW loop, Digital TV Posts: 2,352	If they want to hear the station someone should tell the folk of Brighton they just need to put up a small satellite dish on Astra 19.2 E, then they can have FIP back, plus all the other French networks and its all free. Only downside of course is not being able to listen in the car.

06-04-2007, 17:40	#12
iain_smith Banned User Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 1,101	I'm sure I wasnt the only person who complained!

06-04-2007, 17:46	#13
Inkblot Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: West London Services: Sky+; ADSL; Apples'n'iPears Posts: 13,112	I can understand anyone who complains about a pirate causing interference to licensed stations, and maybe if the programmes are outside accepted standards of taste and decency, but I can't see the point of complaining just because a station's on the air. Particularly when the programmes are in French... it's not as if there's a highly competitive market for French-language radio in the Brighton area, is it?

06-04-2007, 17:50	#15
sausages Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 807	Iain, seeing as it was happily on air for ten years, you probably were the only one that complained...

06-04-2007, 17:59	#18
podbod Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 120	Shows how hypocritical the whole pirate situation is, if thats the first time fip brighton has been raided in a decade???

06-04-2007, 18:10	#19
Ray Cathode Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Guildford / Crystal Palace Services: Freeview; FreeSat HD; FTA DSAT; DAB; FM; DAT45 + MRD; Log Periodic; TD88 Posts: 7,590	The fact that FIP was popular shows just how crap the rest of the disc spinners in Brighton are

06-04-2007, 18:17	#20
Mr. X Banned User Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: On top of a hill Services: analogue, BT Broadband, 3 Mobile Posts: 3,608	I think it's possibly been tolerated in the past because the Ofcom inspectors are quite impressed with the cunning of the bloke -- he broadcast it on two frequencies used by FIP in northern France

06-04-2007, 18:40	#23
Mr. X Banned User Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: On top of a hill Services: analogue, BT Broadband, 3 Mobile Posts: 3,608	Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. I didn't start this thread for it to turn into a boring political "debate" about "scroungers" and other irrelevant tosh lifted from the pages of the Daily sExpress. I hate to be "forum police", but in case you hadn't spotted the title, it's a RADIO forum........ !

06-04-2007, 19:24	#25
iain_smith Banned User Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 1,101	ok I'll write to OFCOM withdrawing my complaint if that'll do any good.Satisfied?