Radio Luxembourg (DRM)


Radio Luxembourg is the name of a commercial radio station on Digital Radio Mondiale. Begun in 2005, it has broadcast in many languages in conjunction with a television service operated from the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.

History

Radio Luxembourg in English from 1933 to 1939 and from 1946 to 1992 was an important forerunner of modern commercial radio in the United Kingdom. It was an effective way to advertise products by circumventing British broadcasting restrictions that were in place at the time. The English-language station broadcasting from the Grand Duchy closed down at the end of 1992.

The DRM service

In 2005 the parent RTL company stated that the AM transmissions would not resume but that a full-time English service would begin on Digital Radio Mondiale. During August of that year, the parent operating company of Radio Luxembourg conducted digital test broadcasts to Great Britain on 7145 kHz using DRM. This culminated in the soft re-launch of Radio Luxembourg in English at 07:00 BST on September 12, 2005.
For a time Radio Luxembourg was heard at 7295 kHz DRM, but RTL has now discontinued DRM broadcasts on 7295 kHz throwing the future of the DRM station into doubt, although local DRM broadcasts are still on air in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.
Radio Luxembourg can also be heard with a live stream with a classic rock playlist. Its presenters include Lisa V, Benny Brown and Enda Caldwell.
Radio Luxembourg was hoping to broadcast in English on one of the two new digital national DAB services in the UK during 2008, if National Grid Wireless Limited won the licence. However, National Grid Wireless failed to win the license, so the long-term future of English transmissions must now be in serious doubt. The station continues as an online service for the moment, although the service has not been updated with any new audio programming since 31 December 2007.