Radio Victory was a commercial independent radio station that served the city of Portsmouth and the surrounding areas of Hampshire, England. Launched as a pirate broadcaster in early 1975, it obtained a legal licence later that year and began official transmissions on 14 October 1975, becoming the first Independent Local Radio (ILR) service for the Portsmouth region.
The station operated on both FM and AM frequencies, initially broadcasting on 95.0 MHz FM and 945 kHz AM. Its programming format combined contemporary music, news, and local features, targeting a broad adult audience. Radio Victory was owned by a consortium of local businessmen and operated from studios located in the city centre.
In 1986 the Radio Authority awarded the regional FM licence to a new entrant, Ocean Sound, which effectively replaced Radio Victory on the airwaves. Consequently, Radio Victory ceased terrestrial broadcasting that year.
A revived version of the brand has existed as an internet radio service since the 2000s, offering a mix of classic hits and local content under the same name, though it does not hold an FM or AM broadcast licence.
Key dates
- Early 1975: Began as a pirate station.
- 14 October 1975: Commenced legal broadcasting.
- 1986: Ceased FM/AM transmission after licence transfer to Ocean Sound.
Legacy Radio Victory is noted for being the first legal commercial radio outlet in Portsmouth and for pioneering local radio formats that later influenced other regional stations in the United Kingdom.
