Henri Radio

Henri Radio was a Belgian pirate station that had been broadcasting a radio program in German from Henri-Chapelle in Wallonia on the frequency 103.4, later 103.6 MHz since the 1980s . Later, in the course of legalization, the station was assigned the frequency 104.9 MHz by the Belgian authority RTT and broadcast part of the program in French.

history

Broadcasting began in 1983 in a rear building on Rue Nishaye 24. The broadcast was initially continuous tapes with non-stop music. From February 1984, moderated programs appeared. A directional antenna was used , which radiated the program with horizontal polarization towards Germany. The signal from Henri Radio could be received as far as the Ruhr area and the Bergisches Land. Transmission frequencies were 103.6 MHz and from 1986 104.8 MHz, most recently 104.9 MHz. Long before it became common practice in German-speaking, Henri Radio included the frequency in the station name and was temporarily on air as "Henri 105" after the frequency change to 104.8 MHz.

Chet Reuther (Reuthers Radiorandale), Frank Herbers (Herbys Showtime) and Wolfgang Jörissen (Wolfgang's gambling den) were among the moderators from the very beginning. A little later, Axel Costard joined the group, who was to have a decisive influence on the station with the media program “Radiomix” and the special interest program “Funk Special” and with other spontaneous contributions.

Between 1983 and 1987 the broadcasting was unlicensed, but was tolerated under the Belgian conditions at the time (the free radio stations were tolerated from 1980). In 1987 Henri Radio received recognition as a non-public broadcaster from the French-speaking community of Belgium and was assigned the frequency 104.9, which, however , had to be shared with Radio Oldyshop from Welkenraedt . Since this would have deprived the station of its livelihood, broadcasting was stopped in 1987. Plans to resume broadcasting at the Gemmenich site ( Tour Baudouin ) could not be realized for legal reasons.

The 104.9 MHz frequency is used today by the Radio Contact group, which broadcasts the “Contact 2” program in French from the Welkenraedt site. Former employees of the station include Conny Ferrin (ex 104.6 RTL , Radio Regenbogen ), Frank Gazon ( Radio NRW , Deutsche Welle , WDR 4 , WDR 2), Johnny Best (Radioszene.de), Stefan Kramer (later Radio Telstar Offenburg ) and Frank Herbers ( WDR 2 -Regionalnachrichten, formerly NE-WS 89.4).

See also Tour Baudouin / Baldwin Tower in Gemmenich, Plombières