Two Brighton brothers who risked prosecution running a pirate radio station have gone legal on the internet.

Gavin and Garry Riff illegally broadcast Decibel FM across Brighton and Hove between 1990 and 1998.

Now the station has been reinvented as DBFMradio.co.uk.

Moving online was a familiar path for former pirates and an easy decision to make for the brothers.

Gavin said: "You don't have to worry about being busted. I've noticed other stations on the net which have been pirates in the past."

The station's mix of jungle, house and techno music is played live for 12 hours every Saturday and through a computer mixer for the rest of the week.

It is played through audio 'streaming' technology, which means music is played 'live' through free software such as RealPlayer or Microsoft Media Player software rather than downloaded on to a computer as an MP3 file.

The brothers use a normal mixing desk to create their music.

Another free piece of software - WinAmp - gets the music on the web.

DBFMradio is advertised on directories of radio stations such as Shoutcast and any other site willing to carry its banner for free.

Gavin admitted the prospects for making money from his venture were slim.

But broadcasters attracted by the low costs of setting up a net radio station are taking the idea seriously.

Live commentary of all matches in next season's Scottish Premier League will be available on BBC and Scottish Premiership websites following a recent deal.

New dedicated internet stations are starting to emerge as serious media organisations.

Brighton-based Surf FM DJ Howard Ritchie lines up alongside former EastEnders star Joe Absolom and 911 singer Spike on Stormlive, a web-only operation.

www.DBFMradio.co.uk
www.shoutcast.com
www.stormlive.com