LASER558

LASER558 was originally a pirate radio station that broadcast from the M.V. Communicator in international waters of the North Sea starting in May 1984, just a few kilometers away from Radio Caroline. It could be heard in London and large parts of the UK. The concept focused on music instead of presentation, with many tracks per hour and little talk, which attracted a large audience.

The British Department of Trade and Industry attempted to shut the station down, accusing it of drawing ten million listeners away from the BBC and commercial stations. It was followed on the same ship by LASER Hot Hits, which also remained on air for only a short time.

Today, LASER558 is licensed by Ofcom and adheres to the music format of its early years. The program is available via DAB, online streams, and smart devices, and six of the original DJs are presenting again. It is complemented by the spin-offs LASER558 AM, LASER558 Classic, and LASER Hot Hits.