PCJJ
Encyclopedia
PCJJ was a pioneering shortwave radio station operated by Philips Laboratories
of Holland
, a division of Philips Electronics.
The station went on the air on 11 March 1927 broadcasting on 9930 kHz in a transmission to the Dutch East Indies
with the words "Hello Dutch East Indies, this is PCJJ, the shortwave transmitter of Philips Laboratories in Eindhoven." PCJJ was soon broadcasting in English, Spanish, German and Dutch to a worldwide audience.
On 30 May and 1 June 1927, Queen Wilhelmina
spoke over PCJJ to her colonial subjects in the Dutch East and West Indies
.
PCJJ was likely the first shortwave radio stations in the world to provide distinct programming rather than a simulcast of domestic stations.
The multilingual Edward Startz joined PCJJ in 1928 and became its best known announcer. He created the light entertainment Happy Station show which became the world's longest running shortwave program and informally rechristened the station PCJ for Peace, Cheer and Joy.
In 1929, a sister station, PHOHI (also known as PHI) was established, using PCJJ's transmitters to broadcast in Dutch to the Dutch East Indies
(now Indonesia
) and Dutch West Indies while PCJ broadcast in English, Spanish and German to Europe and the rest of the world.
In 1933, the transmitters was relocated to Huizen
with studios in nearby Hilversum
.
Broadcasts from the Netherlands were interrupted by the German invasion in May 1940. PCJJ broadcast the events of the invasion for four days until Eddy Startz was arrested. The staff of PCJ tried to destroy the Huizen transmitters, but they were repaired by the Germans used for black propaganda
to India under the name ”The Voice of Free India”.
PCJJ resumed broadcasting in October 1945, as a result of the liberation of Holland. The two shortwave stations were nationalised and became Radio Netherlands Worldwide, the Dutch International Service in 1947 though PCJ programs such as Happy Station continued on the new station and the PCJ call letters were kept by Radio Netherlands for several years.
Philips
Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. , more commonly known as Philips, is a multinational Dutch electronics company....
of Holland
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, a division of Philips Electronics.
The station went on the air on 11 March 1927 broadcasting on 9930 kHz in a transmission to the Dutch East Indies
Dutch East Indies
The Dutch East Indies was a Dutch colony that became modern Indonesia following World War II. It was formed from the nationalised colonies of the Dutch East India Company, which came under the administration of the Netherlands government in 1800....
with the words "Hello Dutch East Indies, this is PCJJ, the shortwave transmitter of Philips Laboratories in Eindhoven." PCJJ was soon broadcasting in English, Spanish, German and Dutch to a worldwide audience.
On 30 May and 1 June 1927, Queen Wilhelmina
Wilhelmina of the Netherlands
Wilhelmina was Queen regnant of the Kingdom of the Netherlands from 1890 to 1948. She ruled the Netherlands for fifty-eight years, longer than any other Dutch monarch. Her reign saw World War I and World War II, the economic crisis of 1933, and the decline of the Netherlands as a major colonial...
spoke over PCJJ to her colonial subjects in the Dutch East and West Indies
Dutch Empire
The Dutch Empire consisted of the overseas territories controlled by the Dutch Republic and later, the modern Netherlands from the 17th to the 20th century. The Dutch followed Portugal and Spain in establishing an overseas colonial empire, but based on military conquest of already-existing...
.
PCJJ was likely the first shortwave radio stations in the world to provide distinct programming rather than a simulcast of domestic stations.
The multilingual Edward Startz joined PCJJ in 1928 and became its best known announcer. He created the light entertainment Happy Station show which became the world's longest running shortwave program and informally rechristened the station PCJ for Peace, Cheer and Joy.
In 1929, a sister station, PHOHI (also known as PHI) was established, using PCJJ's transmitters to broadcast in Dutch to the Dutch East Indies
Dutch East Indies
The Dutch East Indies was a Dutch colony that became modern Indonesia following World War II. It was formed from the nationalised colonies of the Dutch East India Company, which came under the administration of the Netherlands government in 1800....
(now Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
) and Dutch West Indies while PCJ broadcast in English, Spanish and German to Europe and the rest of the world.
In 1933, the transmitters was relocated to Huizen
Huizen
Huizen is a municipality and a town in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland.The name "Huizen" is Dutch for "houses" and this usage has been linked to the belief that the first stone houses in the region appeared here.-History:...
with studios in nearby Hilversum
Hilversum
is a municipality and a town in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. Located in the region called "'t Gooi", it is the largest town in that area. It is surrounded by heathland, woods, meadows, lakes, and smaller villages...
.
Broadcasts from the Netherlands were interrupted by the German invasion in May 1940. PCJJ broadcast the events of the invasion for four days until Eddy Startz was arrested. The staff of PCJ tried to destroy the Huizen transmitters, but they were repaired by the Germans used for black propaganda
Black propaganda
Black propaganda is false information and material that purports to be from a source on one side of a conflict, but is actually from the opposing side. It is typically used to vilify, embarrass or misrepresent the enemy...
to India under the name ”The Voice of Free India”.
PCJJ resumed broadcasting in October 1945, as a result of the liberation of Holland. The two shortwave stations were nationalised and became Radio Netherlands Worldwide, the Dutch International Service in 1947 though PCJ programs such as Happy Station continued on the new station and the PCJ call letters were kept by Radio Netherlands for several years.