Northern Star International Broadcasters AS.

Project and Company History (1981)1994-2000:

 


 


Revised 281208

 


Abbreviations/Key Players:

 

FD: Dept of Defense

FBT:The Norwegian Defence Construction Service(NODECS)

(SL:Central, SV: Regional Southwest, Sola)

FTD: Telecoms service of the Defense

KD:Dept of Culture and Heritage

KK: Cultural Committee, Stortinget

SMF: License Authority

NRK: Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation.

DIR: Economic director NRK

SD: Dept of Communications

P&T: SD/Post&Telecommunications Authority(akaSTF: Statens Teleforvaltning, Teledirektoratet)

Norkring AS, owned jointly by NRK and Telenor ASA

FiD: Dept of Fisheries

Teracom AB

Northern Star/NSIBC AS: Northern Star InternationalBroadcasters AS(aka C-am, Radio Stella Maris,)

WBC: Business Data Ltd., trading as WorldwideBroadcast Consultants

KKL: Kristelig Kringkastingslag

 

1981:

 

161081: The newspaper Vrt Land writes about a large Christian stationto be built in the Faroes on 531 kHz AM. Shortwave to be added later. TransWorld Radio and Norea Radio is involved. There has also been an earlier effortin 1973 involving the Billy Graham organization.

 

1982:

 

0282: Founder of NORTHERN STAR is asked by KKL for his advice on thepossible coverage and use of 531 kHz, 200 kW from Akraberg in the Faroes. It issuggested that the station should be called ARL, Atlantic Radio Lighthouse.

 

1983:

 

190683-: Founder of NORTHERN STAR is granted 3 months leave from churchministry to study the use of radio for Christian use. Visit to leading Irishand UK commercial radio stations follows: Radio Nova, Sunshine Radio(bothDublin), Royal County Radio(Navan), ERI, South Coast Radio(both Cork) and RadioHallam(Sheffield). Meetings with leading radio personalities: Spangles Maldoon,Tom Hardy, John Clarke, Robbie Dale, Daffy Don Allen, Robin Banks, JohnnyLewis and Keith Skues.

 

1983-1986:

 

NORTHERN STAR: Attempts to start a process for commercial radio inNorway, including letter to Minister of Culture Lars Roar Langslet, but we haveto wait until 1988 before this happen, and then only on local FM stations.

 

1991:

 

110491- Founder of NORTHERN STAR takes up work on a late-night show atKystradioen in Bergen. C-AM format is born.

180691: As Bergens Tidende writes about the close-down of the DeccaSystem in 1997 in favour of Loran-C, site possibilities arise for AM BroadcastStations in Norway.

021291: NRKs Troms-Langnes 10 kW Longwave station, 153 kHz is closed,towers felled and the remainder of station later turned into a museum.

 

1993:

 

0793: Norway s National Commercial station P4 Radio Hele Norge(FM)starts test transmissions.

0793: Feasibility study: Perpectives on Christian Broadcastingdelivered to KKL.

 

1994:

 

250894: NORTHERN STAR: Application to FTD Oslo for the take-over ofDecca-sites after the closedown of the Decca-system January 1997.

040994: NORTHERN STAR: Contact with KKL andKystradioen about the use of Decca-sites to AM-transmission.

311094: NORTHERN STAR: Contact with FiD for thetake-over of Decca-sites.

 

1995:

 

020195: NRKs Oslo 200 kW Longwave station, 216 kHz isclosed at 1348 UTC. The two 220 metres towers and the station itself are soondestroyed.

270495: NORTHERN STAR: Contact with Trans World Radio aboutthe use of Decca-sites.

121295: FTD Oslo: Ties up the take-over of Decca-sites tobroadcasting:

"Eventual private use of some Decca-stationsfor broadcasting will generally take place after a price estimate has been set.It is however a precaution that the buyer himself applies for a broadcastlicense before a take-over..."

 

1996:

290196:Letter to WBC/Worldwide Broadcast Conultants in Hull, East Yorkshire, UK,about  the NORTHERN STAR-case.

020296: NORTHERN STAR:Notifies FTD Oslo about renewedinterest for Decca-sites.

050296: WBC in Hull, East Yorkshire, UK, takes up the NORTHERNSTAR-case.

110396: NORTHERN STAR: Conference with Racal Survey,Bergen about use of sites.

250696: WBC on behalf of NORTHERN STAR applies to FTDfor the second time about a broadcast license and for the go-ahead to useDecca-sites.(First application has disappeared somehow)

230996: NORTHERN STAR: Contact with FiD. FiD wants theDecca sites to be offered to other state bodies, eventually to be sold throughFBT.

2309-240996: NORTHERN STAR: First contact withSD/Statens Teleforvaltning/P&T. We definitely see possibilities,especially for 216...

081096: NRK DIR: Offer for hire of FredrikstadShortwave Station.

141096: NORTHERN STAR: Turns down NRK offer in ordernot to be engaged on too many fields at one time.

231296: NORTHERN STAR: Application to farmer owningground at Stavanger Decca-station at Hodne Beach in Klepp about continuedradio broadcasting from the site.

291296: NORTHERN STAR: Application to Mayor, FjellMunicipality about plans for continued radio broadcasting from SotraDecca-station at gotnes.

 

1997:

 

020197: NORTHERN STAR: Final decision to apply for abroadcast license.

030197: WBC reaffirms very strong interest in NORTHERNSTAR. Suggests 2 (directional)330 metres towers, about ¼ wavelengthapart with a null to the North East.

2001-and 230197: Decca-stations at Hodne Beach inKlepp, Rogaland,  and at gotnes inFjell, Hordaland, is closed down. NORTHERN STAR is present at gotnes.

030297: FTD Bergen requests cooperation with NORTHERNSTAR about continued use of the Decca-sites.

140297: FBT SL wants confirmation about interest forthe use of Decca-sites. Take over of Decca-sites is dependent on a broadcastlicense being allocated to NORTHERN STAR:

"We wish to draw your attention to the factthat the question of a broadcast license must be resolved before a take-over ofsites can take place..."

250297: NORTHERN STAR confirms interest to FBT SL fora take-over of  Decca-sites atgotnes and Hodne Beach.

270297: FTD Oslo: Decca-sites not needed by the statewill be advertised for sale.

0397: Trespassers at Hodne Beach Decca-station: Guywire is cut and parachuters jump from the tower.

090497: NORTHERN STAR: Application to Rogaland Radioabout possible use of some of their transmission sites, a.o. Bore Beach inKlepp.

110497: NORTHERN STAR confirms interest to FBT SL onceagain for a take-over of Decca-sites.

090497: NORTHERN STAR: Application to farmer,Consol-station/radiobeacon, Varhaug about possible use of the site.

160497: NORTHERN STAR: Farmer owning the ground of theDecca-station at Hodne Beach in Klepp accepts continued use of the site forradio broadcasting.

230497: GEC-Marconi i Chelmsford, Essex, UK, takes upNORTHERN STAR-case.(But: 230797: Closes down its factory!)

240497: NORTHERN STAR: A resource group for NORTHERNSTAR is established.

280497: NORTHERN STAR: 130-page applicationdocument and short version of same sent KD. NORTHERN STAR applies for one LWand one MW-frequency: 153, and 630/594 kHz with maximum(highest possible)power.

260697: KD: Preliminary reply to application: Wants tomake a study of the use of radio frequencies in Norway.
030997: Harris Broadcast, Quincy, IL, USA, takes up NORTHERN STAR-case. TomYingst, former VP and now Consultants, comes to gotnes after having openedIcelandic station on 189 kHz.

110997: NORTHERN STAR: Visit by Tom E Yingst, formerVP and Consultant from Harris at gotnes Decca-sender. Conference betweenNORTHERN STAR and Harris at gotnes. Yingst video-tapes the station andsuggests that the site is used for a 50 kW relay or sister of a larger station.

121097: NORTHERN STAR: First website commisioned.

021297: KD: Letter to SD(P&T) asking for theiropinion about future use of LW and MW frequencies in Norway.

 

1998:

 

0298: SD(P&T) issues its opinion about future useof LW and MW frequencies in Norway, with a positive recommendation of theNORTHERN STAR-case. It is thought that the recommendation includes that the oldOslo-Klfta-channel 216 kHz is moved North(for the use of the Norkring projectthere), and the Troms-frequency 153 kHz is moved south.

270498: NORTHERN STAR: Conference with SD(P&T) whereNORTHERN STAR is given 153 kHz with the power of 600 kW, day and night.Regarding MW one is not at the moment able to offer 630 kHz, but there is noobjection to NORTHERN STAR itself investigating if Swedish, Irish or othercountries AM-channels may be taken over by Norway. Several technicalspecifications around a coming license IS also discussed.

040598: NORTHERN STAR: Application to Irish and Swedish frequencybodies.

050598: FBT SV offers Fjell Municipality to take overthe Decca site at gotnes.

070598: NORTHERN STAR: Office of the Director ofTelecommunications Regulation in Ireland will consider giving NorwayAM-channels, but will wait for an application from SD(P&T).

150598: NORTHERN STAR gets a tip that the Decca-siteat Hodne Beach in Klepp is to be demolished. NORTHERN STAR at once files aprotest, per phone and fax the very same day. FBT SV maintains that there areno available frequencies.

160598: NORTHERN STAR: Application to FTD Bergen aboutmaintenance of Decca-sites.

300598: NORTHERN STAR: Application to TelenorKystradio(Maritim) about co-siting with their installations for NORTHERN STAR.

300598: NORTHERN STAR: Application to KleppMunicipality about possible sites around Jrens Reef.

300598: NORTHERN STAR: Application to H Municipalityabout possible sites around Jren.

040698: NORTHERN STAR: Teracom AB offers NORTHERN STARto use a Swedish MW-channel.

0698: FBT SV: The 136 metres tower at theDecca-station at Hodne Beach is felled under strange conditions in spite ofprotests from NORTHERN STAR. The farmer maintains a recreation center is to bebuilt on the site.

120698: NORTHERN STAR: Conference with Mayor of Fjellabout gotnes Decca-site.

220698: NORTHERN STAR: Written information submittedto Fjell Municipality.

300698: NORTHERN STAR: Offer to Fjell Municipalityabout co-use of the Decca-site at gotnes.

300698: NORTHERN STAR: Demand put forward to FBT SVfor access to all Decca-documentation and correspondence in the public domain.

300698: NORTHERN STAR: Application to FTD about theuse of other Defense radio stations than Decca-sites.

060798: Parachuters jump from the 136 metres tower ofgotnes Decca-sender.

080798: NORTHERN STAR: Application to FjellMunicipality about future maintenance of gotnes Decca-sender.

090798: NORTHERN STAR:Application to Minister ofCulture Anne Enger Lahnstein.

130798: KD: Private use of vacant LW/MW channels is amedia-political question that will be put in front of Parliament.( Stortinget)

280798: NORTHERN STAR: First contact with Members ofParliament.

030898: NORTHERN STAR: Application to FTD Bergen about futuremaintenance of gotnes Decca-sender.

030898: FBT SV turns down request for take-over ofDecca-sites with NORTHERN STAR, indicating they will not let private personsand small companies take over. In a telephone call 300798(the first time theytook contact) they say Remember, its a BIG mast! They also refuse to giveaccess to Decca-documentation and correspondence.

030898: NORTHERN STAR: Tip that a stop order fordemolishing of Decca sites is in force is received. Application to FTD Oslo ifthis is correct. Offer from NORTHEN STAR to cooperate if the Hodne Beach mastcan be put up again. No reply. A no-trespass sign is set up at gotnes  Decca-station.

280998: NORTHERN STAR: WBC/Paul Rusling gives a verypositive opinion of project in connection with visit i Hull, East Yorkshire,UK.

301198: NORTHERN STAR: Interim board formed for Northern Star International Broadcastersplanned AS, consisting of Per Henrik Gillesvik and Svenn Martinsen.

 

1999:

280100: NORTHERN STAR visits WXRL(AM) Radio inLancaster, NY

3001-020199: NORTHERN STAR: Participation at NationalReligious Broadcasters Convention '99 i Nashville, TN.

3101-010299: NORTHERN STAR has 2 meetings with DonSpragg, AM product manager, from Harris Broadcast in Nashville,TN.

020299: NORTHERN STAR has meetings with Americanbroadcast interests in Nashville, TN. Visits to Capstars WLAC(AM) WSIX(FM) andother area radio stations.

0302-040299: NORTHERN STAR is invited to visit HarrisBroadcast Communications in Quincy, IL. A tour is given of the FM and AMplants, and a meeting is held at the factory with 5 key members of the Harrisorganization present. 5 large investors may be interested.

150399: NORTHERN STAR: Invitation to meet thepolitical and administrative leadership at the Dept of Culture. The JuniorMinister is present. A political process in Parliament(Stortinget) lies ahead.Afterwards a meeting is held in Parliament.

050499: NORTHERN STAR: Application to CultureCommittee of Parliament about a meeting.

150499: FBT SV: Still refuse to have anything to dowith NORTHERN STAR.

210499: NORTHERN STAR asks Minister of Defence/FD tostop the demolishing of the Decca-station at gotnes.

300499: Fjell Municipality votes to buy the Decca-siteat gotnes. Many local politicians wants to build an elderly home there, inspite of NORTHERN STAR pointing out there are hundreds of metres of copper wirein the ground. FBT SV will itself demolish the transmitting mast andcoil-house.

110599: NRK Rst 675 kHz 20 kW is completed on thebasis of Rst Red Decca station.

200599: NORTHERN STAR: Meeting with Culture Committeeat Parliament.

280599: KD: Minister of Culture Anne Enger Lahnstein:Yearly speech to Parliament about Media Politics. No obstacles to private AMbroadcasting as long as there are available frequencies. A vacant Long Wavechannel is to be advertised.

010699 NORTHERN STAR: In a phone call toKD it is evident that the Dept is confident of a majority for private AMbroadcasting in the coming debate.
040699: Debate in Parliament about Media Politics
. There is amajority for private AM broadcasting and advertising of the long wavefrequency.

090699: FD turns down request of 210499. Refuse tostop the demolishing of the Decca-station at gotnes.

140699: NORTHERN STAR once again asks the Minister ofDefence/FD to stop the demolishing of the Decca-station at gotnes.

160699: KD asks SMF for proposals for a text forinvitation to, advertising of and conditions of the Longwave license.
080799: The interim board of Northern Star International Broadcasters (AS)appoints directors, Chairman and General Manager(CEO/Chief Editor)designates.

100700: WBC in Hull will undertakewriting a Business Plan(Forretningsplan).

210799: Parachuters jump from gotnesDecca-sender, once again.

260899: WBC in Hull accepts our price forproduction of a Business Plan(Forretningsplan).

020999: FD once again turns down request of NORTHERNSTAR. The Decca-station at gotnes is to be demolished before the end ofSeptember 1999.

090999: Trans World Radio addressesNORTHERN STAR about possible use of the Decca-station at gotnes for Christianbroadcasting to Northern Europe.

110999: NORTHERN STAR: Complaint to FD regarding thedestruction of the Decca-station at gotnes.

300999: FD: Maintains it is not possible to complainin the Decca case as the gotnes site case is a property sale to FjellMunicipality and not in the public domain. FBT SV will be the right departmentto access in this case in the future.

161099: NORTHERN STAR: Letter to FD regarding theattitude of FBT SV in the Decca case. The coming company will not spend moretime on this matter.

191099: FD: Wishes the coming Northern StarInternational Broadcasters AS good luck.

131199: At the gotnes Decca-site all lights haveclosed.

141199: At the gotnes Decca-site the countdownstarts. The demolishing company, FBT SV and Fjell Municipality meet at 1000 am.But at the end of the day the lights start blinking once again.

110899-221199: NORTHERN STAR: Capitalization ofcompany.

221199: Foundation of AS in Bergen at General Meeting:Northern Star International Broadcasters AS. Interim board and project leaderpositions are not to continue. Directors, Chairman and General Manager(CEO/ChiefEditor)are elected.

081299: At the Decca-station at gotnes the lightsclose. At 12.15 noon it is blown up and completely destroyed.
311299: Registration of AS in the Brnnysund General Register.

 

2000:

 

070100: Registration of AS in the Brnnysund CompanyRegister.

100100: NORTHERN STAR: Enquiries to KD, FD and P&Tabout the promised advertisement of the LW license.
130100: NORTHERN STAR: Tip that KD has sent the Long Wave case over to SMF forthe advertisement of the license. SMF has said that this will happen in a fewmonths.

140100: FD: No available transmission sites owned byDefence, FTD or FBT. Wishes once again Northern Star International BroadcastersAS good luck.

280100-290100: NORTHERN STAR: Start of production ofBusiness Plan at the offices of WBC in Hull, E.Yorks.

290100: WBC writes to Norkring AS on behalf ofNORTHERN STAR.

040200: KD: NORTHERN STAR may apply for the licensewhen it is advertised.

0602-080200: NORTHERN STAR: Participation at NationalReligious Broadcasters Convention '2000 in Anaheim, CA. Meetings with DonSpragg, Harris Broadcast, and US broadcasting interests.

010300: NORTHERN STAR: Phone call to SMF. They willadvertise the channel around Easter.

150300: NORTHERN STAR: Project is main feature ofinterview in Radio World International: Two efforts rejuvenate Norse AM.

220300: KD receives proposals from SMF for a text forinvitation to, advertising of and conditions of the Longwave license.

170400: KD sends now Longwave case to NRK, Norkring ASand Post&Tele for their current view regarding the advertising of the LWchannel in view of technical developments in (AM) radio.

040500: NORTHERN STAR:Application to Post&Tele toprocess the question of other(Swedish and Irish) AM frequencies.
060500: NORTHERN STAR: Meeting with GOD Invest AS at Geilo. Their share in ourcompany is referred to in their new prospectus.

070600:P&T: Very positive view regarding advertising of the LWchannel. Other prospective future use of AM in Norway includes regional AM asback up to DAB.

180700: KD: Declares it is going to advertise aprivate AM-license for 216 kHz.

270700: NORTHERN STAR: meeting with Harris Broadcast-John Mullally, International Account Manager – Europe at the GreatNorthern Hotel near Kings Cross in London.

080800: SMF: Advertises a private AM-license for 216kHz.

140800: NORTHERN STAR invites Norkring AS to cooperatein building of radio station.

170800: NORTHERN STAR receives the invitation to applyfor a private AM-license for 216 kHz.

180800-: NORTHERN STAR: Invitation to US broadcastconnections sent out.

280800: NORTHERN STAR: Meeting with weather serviceprovider in Bergen.

280800-:NORTHERN STAR: Enquiries and applications to20++ different state bodies, municipalities and private land owners about atransmission site for the radio station. FTD says by phone: If you only hadcome earlier, when we had the Decca stations! Our reply is that we wrote aboutthis 6 years ago. Jomfruland Decca is still standing.

090900-110900: NORTHERN STAR: Participation at IBC2000 at the RAI Centre in Amsterdam. Meetings with Harris and a largeinternational transmission services provider.
120900: Norkring AS offers NORTHERN STAR its services.

210900-220900: NORTHERN STAR: Production of BusinessPlan for Northern Star International Broadcasters AS at the offices of WBC inHull, E.Yorks. Plan is printed and delivered, and Contract of 280100 signed byboth parties.

250900: NORTHERN STAR: Preliminary agreement withSTORM Weather Center.

280900: NRK Ingy 153 kHz 100 kW is completed.

221000: NORTHERN STAR: Secures Non-disclosureagreement with US stock broker for coming gathering of full investment in thecompany.

241000: NORTHERN STAR:Process started towards TONO andGRAMO

271000: NORTHERN STAR: Meeting with Norkring AS inOslo about production of pre-project.

031100: NORTHERN STAR: Norkring AS formally engagedfor production of pre-project.

161100: NORTHERN STAR: Offer from FBT/S for 3 possiblesites in Lista area.

051200: Norkring AS delivers NORTHERN STARpre-project, calculations and coverage maps for 216 kHz, 1200 kW

051200: Preliminary agreement with CNN Radio News.

121200: NORTHERN STAR: Signed Non-disclosure agreementreceived from Emmis Communications Corporation, Indianapolis.

241200: NORTHERN STAR: Letter of Intent received fromCommunicorp Group Ltd.(Ireland)

271200: NORTHERN STAR board moves to apply for 216 kHzlicense.
291200: NORTHERN STAR applies for 216 kHz Longwave, 1200 kW.