A community radio service begins broadcasting in Waterford.
After months of planning, a 13 week community radio project goes to air in Waterford.
This is Waterford Community Radio going on air for the first of a run of 13 weeks with programmes for the Waterford people made by Waterford people.
The RTÉ initiative differs from previous undertaking in community radio as it requires a longer term commitment from local volunteers who will make and present programmes.
Executive producer of RTÉ community radio, Padraig O'Neill explains that RTÉ has been experimenting with community radio long before pirate stations came into existence. RTÉ is doing everything it can within the terms of the broadcasting act to bring local radio to local people. He believes that establishment of proper local radio service would fill the vacuum that has been filled by illegal broadcasting. This Waterford trial requires volunteers, Padraig O'Neill says that if there was full time community radio station, it would require a paid skeleton staff to maintain the service.
RTÉ provides the hardware for the transmission but the Waterford people have full editorial control over what is broadcast. The station will run for 13 consecutive Saturday mornings.
In this project, the local people have total editorial control over the service.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 8 March 1983. The reporter is Michael Ryan.
