Recently discovered documents reveal that, in 1972, offshore Radio Nordsee International (RNI) owner, Edwin Bollier, applied for membership of both the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

The EBU, established in 1950, is an alliance of over 100 public service media organisations, maybe best known for producing the Eurovision Song Contest and the ITU, formed in 1865, is responsible for information and communication technologies as an agency of the United Nations.

In RNI’s letter to the EBU and letter to the ITU of April 1972 Edwin Bollier said RNI is a “considerable ingredient in the world of broadcasting” and claimed 4-1/2 million listeners in Benelux alone and a further 3-1/2 million listeners elsewhere in Europe.

Unfortunately we don’t know what replies (if any) RNI received.