History - Laser 558

DTI PRESS CONFERENCE

The DTI took the unprecedented step of holding a press conference on Wednesday 16th October. The DTI wanted to explain why they were taking the action they were, at two venues in Maidstone and Chelmsford. With all the adverse publicity about the cost, £25,000 a month, and the lack of effect, the DTI explained to ‘hand picked' media representatives why they had to force the offshore stations off the air.

Laser closed down for the night at the normal time of 01.00 on the 19th October. What was unusual was the transmitter was turned off, and stayed off for nine days.

Laser returned at 06.00 on the 28th. The return to the air brought with it a new batch of commercials including a Jethro Tull album and Pleasure Box fashion fair. There were also a number of special offers such as a Bleeper Key ring, Fighterwatch, Home Security, Curtain and Carpet cleaning, Personal Hi-Fi and Furniture stretch covers. All of the offers were available from a mailbox at the International Business Centre, Mortimer Street, London W 1.

On Thursday 31st October, a new DTI ship arrived near the radio ships, as a replacement for the "Dioptric Surveyor". The "Gardline Tracker" was ironically the sister ship to Laser's Communicator (ex. Gardline Seeker).

The Gardline Tracker was on hire from Gardline Surveys Ltd of Lowestoft.
At the end of October 1985, the line-up read 05.00 Craig Novack, 09.00 John Leeds, 13.00 Jeff Davis, 17.00 Jay Mack, 21.00 Chuck Cannon until 01.00 close.

The Daily Mail for 2nd November 1985 carried a report saying that Laser were almost bankrupt and the next day, the Mail on Sunday, published a centre spread about the station, giving details of their London offices and suppliers in Kent.

That all was not well with Laser, became clear early in the morning of Tuesday 5th November, when Craig Novack, relayed several coded messages reading "All Yankee three are zero, uniform, repeat, uniform, November, repeat November, Romeo two repeat, Romeo two - Channel 16 listening ".

This message was repeated at 15 minute intervals during the morning. Weather conditions had worsened and the presenters were heard less and less.

At 12.22 during the record "Oh Sheila" by Ready for the World, Laser 558 went off the air.
 

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