Frequency 279 kHz Format Contemporary | First air date None | |
Broadcast area UK, Isle of Man, Republic of Ireland,
parts of mainland Europe Owner Isle of Man International
Broadcasting plc | ||
MusicMann 279 was the working title of a proposed longwave radio station broadcasting from the Isle of Man to the UK, Republic of Ireland, and parts of mainland Europe. It was rumoured that the on-air name would be Caroline 279 after the former pirate radio station. The station has been mooted for many years, but due to a variety of technical and legal problems has been delayed several times, and now seems unlikely to launch.
History
The company involved in setting up the station (Isle of Man International Broadcasting plc) was headed by Paul Rusling.
A lot of publicity surrounded the project with reports that veteran presenters such as Emperor Rosko, Mike Read, Barry "Berlingo" Mung, "Ugli" Ray Teret and Mick Luvzit (both heard on Radio Caroline North in the 1960s), and at least one Manx Radio personality would be on the station from launch. Other publicity surrounded the proposed crossed field antenna of 20 m in height which at one time was to be situated on a custom-built platform or a ship to be located close to Radio Caroline North's former anchorage in Ramsey Bay. However in November 2006 the Company announced it was trying to recover a deposit of £300,000 from Kabbary Antenna Technology after non-delivery problems with the crossed field antenna for the new station. The station has been referred to as the Long "Wait" Radio Station by the newspaper IOM Today. Rusling eventually left the company in January 2007, reportedly owing to a dispute with the other board members. In October 2007 the station's websites went offline, suggesting that the station will not now be launching and that the Company has finally ceased operations. No evidence to the contrary has emerged since then.