Laugh Radio

Laugh Radio was a test community radio station, launched in Melbourne, Australia on 30 March 1998. It broadcast ten test broadcasts during the 1990s, all but the last of which on 89.9FM. The format of the station was unique in that it broadcast comedy programming 24 hours a day. Similar stations exist today, but these are only broadcast through the internet. BBC7 broadcasts comedy along with other spoken word programming.

Laugh Radio's format was very similar to the in-flight comedy channels offered by several airlines - indeed, the Qantas in-flight comedy channel was until recently programmed by Laugh Radio's former managing director, Peter Tatchell.

While Laugh Radio's test broadcasts were successful and earned the support of many Australian comedy celebrities such as John Clarke and Elliot Goblet, the station did not succeed in its bid in 2001 to win a permanent community broadcasting licence from the Australian Broadcasting Authority.

Peter Tatchell is also now responsible for the Comedy website http://www.laughterlog.com/ where he is attempting to produce the most comprehensive collection of information on comedy from the 20th century anywhere on the internet. It is of course in the early stages...