Radio Béziers : The Station That Boldly Proclaimed, “Drink Wine!”

Creating something from scratch, sometimes in the face of indifference or outright hostility, requires a rare blend of courage, persistence, and a touch of madness. That’s the mark of a true passion. Antoine Marie Joseph Bonnefous exemplifies it perfectly.

A Winemaker Takes the Microphone

Born into a prosperous winemaking family in Béziers, Bonnefous could have comfortably managed his estate and lived a quiet life. But he had an enterprising spirit.

In the early 1920s, in a city where rugby dominated, he founded a football team and became president-director of the Stade Olympique Biterrois.

Yet another adventure was fermenting in his mind: radio. Fascinated by this technology that connected the world through invisible waves, he dedicated himself entirely to it.

The Birth of the Radio-Club du Biterrois

On March 5, 1923, the Radio-Club du Biterrois was launched, headquartered in the Salle Guynemer. Enthusiasm exceeded expectations: nearly forty TSF enthusiasts joined immediately. TSF Moderne’s August 1923 report praised the club’s organization and the members’ dedication.

A provisional board was formed with the local postmaster as honorary president. On March 20, the official board was set:

• President: Raffin Ramery, fertilizer manufacturer
• Vice President: Maurice Guérin, industrialist
• Secretary: Antoine Bonnefous, insurance agent
• Treasurer: Lieutenant Sablayrolle
• Librarian: André Clareton, bookseller
• Members: Valette, electrical engineer, and Quezel, watchmaker

The club created a technical library, offered courses in radio signal reading, and focused on scientific experimentation with radio.

On April 3, the club affiliated with the Radio-Club de France, joining the national network of radio enthusiasts.

In May 1923, local newspapers invited the public to participate:

“Wireless enthusiasts in the region are urged to listen at 0750, 1140, and 1600 to a station operating on approximately 2100 meters wavelength with the callsign YA2. The station is testing its signal and would be pleased to receive reports on reception quality. Observations should be sent to Mr. A. Bonnefous, Secretary of the Radio-Club du Biterrois, 3 Rue du Capus, Béziers.”

Experimenting to Inspire

To promote his Ducretet radio store, Bonnefous had a simple yet visionary idea: show, in practice, what these devices could receive.

He converted his house at 22 Rue Viennet (with a secondary entrance at 3 Rue du Capus) into a public listening room. A large bamboo antenna on the roof allowed him to capture Radiola, the Paris station of the Compagnie générale de TSF, future Radio-Paris.

But listening wasn’t enough. Soon, he took the next step: transmitting himself.

In June 1925, he applied for a license to create an experimental transmitter. After favorable reviews from the Ministries of the Navy, Interior, and Air, the permit was granted on November 6, 1925.

It was valid for six months, with strict limitations:

“Technical trials at short distance. Modulation improvements. Auditorium acoustics.”

Broadcasting concerts or lectures was prohibited.

Despite these constraints, Bonnefous launched his first broadcasts in 1926. The experimental 100-watt station, installed by local electricians Jules and Camille Escaffit, transmitted under the callsign 8KH.

Jazz, Wine, and Local Culture

Jules Escaffit’s brother, Robert Pommier, organist at Sainte-Madeleine, became the station’s speaker and artistic director.

The studio was carefully prepared: soundproofed with mattresses filled with vegetable hair, striped velvet on walls and ceiling, and the antenna on the roof.

In March 1926, a small jazz ensemble played its first notes. The official inauguration followed in April. Radio-Béziers broadcast concerts, lectures, records, and programs dedicated to wine and the local market.

Radio-Béziers Program, April 18–23, 1926

• Monday, April 19, 9 PM: Piano concert “Lutetia” by Maison Capelle
• Tuesday, April 20, 9 PM: Concert with the Estudiantina Biterroise: mandolins, mandoles, guitars, and lute, conducted by Mr. Sénégas
• Wednesday, April 21, 9 PM: Special Radio-Béziers orchestra: piano, violin, cello, oboe, clarinet, flute
• Thursday, April 22, 9 PM: Lecture on the Occitan language and monologue by Gaston Vinas, laureate of the Académie des Jeux Floraux, followed by concert and singing
• Friday, April 23: 4 PM: Market report on wine and spirits; 9 PM: rehearsal, then concert, singing, and jazz
• Saturday, April 24, 9 PM: Piano concert “Lutetia” by Maison Capelle

Inside Radio-Béziers

Local newspapers described the station in detail:

“The auditorium, tastefully arranged by Camboul of our city, was fully padded with vegetable-hair mattresses, covered with striped khaki velvet curtains in blue and yellow. On the floor, a double Oriental carpet. Interior furnishings were simple: a Lutetia automatic piano generously provided by Maison Capelle, a small Esley organ from the same house, a Louis XV table, a few chairs, and a microphone on a small corner table. That was all.”

At the transmitter:

“A six-tube power amplifier: two ‘super ampli’ and four ‘Radio-Watt’ from Radiotechnique, powered by 240 volts for the plate and 4 volts for the filament. The amplifier was temporary; the permanent one would come from Ducretet.
The oscillator was a Hartley type from Maison Artis; measuring instruments from Ducretet; the generator was an Electrolabor at 3400 rpm, supplying 1400 volts for the plates and 8 volts for the filaments. The tubes were Metal E4M.
The antenna was a four-strand 12-meter prism type, mounted on pylons ten meters above the roof.”

By June 1926, Radio-Béziers was testing 75, 85, and 90-meter bands, below 4 MHz. A Friday 4 PM broadcast was added for the wine and spirits market report.

Growth and Professionalization

In December 1926, the station was relaunched with a 150-watt transmitter on 159 meters.

Every evening at 9 PM, a two-part concert was broadcast, punctuated by 10–15 minute talks. The station gradually found its audience, and the experiment matured, like a fine wine.

Bonnefous expanded programming to include:

• Market reports on wine, spirits, and flour
• Broadcasts of local winegrowers’ meetings
• Lyric, bullfighting, and religious events in Béziers

He partnered with Agence Fournier to provide daily news, creating a true local information service.

On February 27, 1927, Le Radiogramme praised Radio-Béziers:

“It organizes a true spoken newspaper, talks, lessons, and offers ten hours of concerts per week… Subsidized by the agricultural fair and promoting wine, it receives a warm welcome.”

At the request of the Béziers Agricultural Fair, the station even aired special programs advocating wine consumption.

Le Sommelier reported slogans heard on the air, striking from a modern perspective:

“Wine is the most hygienic drink.”
“Wine is an economical food.”
“One liter of wine contains 700 calories.”
“Let us widely spread wine consumption among men: we will improve health and reduce the scourges that plague humanity.”

La Gazette du village added:

“Radio-Béziers, subsidized by our agricultural fair, repeats daily: wine is a food for humans, one liter contains 700 calories, drink wine, etc.”

The station also provided free advertising for hotels including wine in meal prices and occasionally defended clients against exploitation.

Increasing Power and Listener Appeals

Ever ambitious, Bonnefous launched a subscription campaign to increase transmitter power.

By April 1927, it reached 480 watts, and by June, 700 watts, thanks to a partnership with the Compagnie des Lampes Métal. He also appealed to Fouga establishments to ensure funding and sustainability.

To respect legality and copyright, the team negotiated with composers’ societies. Some fees were calculated per hour of repertoire per day, others on timed tariffs.

This reflects Bonnefous’ meticulousness and his ability to combine technical passion with professional organization.

But the story of Radio-Béziers, which began like a fine vintage, would soon reveal more bitter notes…