Pirate radio in France

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An introduction to the subject of Pirate Radio can be found under that heading.

[edit] France (History of Pirate Radio)

In France, a strong pirate radio movement emerged in the late seventies and early eighties, in two waves.

[edit] First Wave

The first wave was a political movement based mainly within French territory. Most of these stations were short lived. The first wave included

• Radio Verte
• Radio Ivre
• Radio Active in Lyon 1976,
• Radio Lorraine Coeur d'Acier in Nancy 1978,

This led to the creation of Radio Riposte by the PS in 1979 and the arrest of François Mitterrand and Laurent Fabius. Some of these stations persisted until 1981 when they became legal Radios Libres.

[edit] Second Wave

The second wave was a more commercial movement largely coming out of the French Riviera following the legalization by a Supreme Court decision of private radio stations in Italy. Several stations began emitting in French from Italy. While these stations were legal in Italy, the French considered them illegal. These stations include:

• Azur 102 (1977-1984),
• Radio Continental (1977-1979) broadcasting from Bordighera,
• Radio Vintimille Internationale (1977-1981) broadcasting from Ventimiglia,
• Radio K (1981-1982), late and more political, broadcasting from Bussana di Sanremo.

All these stations went bankrupt after the election of François Mitterrand and the legalization of private radio stations in France.