Stranger Things Radio... AKA 'The Squark'... is a little bit brilliant
I really thought Carly Rae Jepsen’s Call Me Maybe was going to be my song of the summer (as it has been for the past 13 years now), but a Stranger Things promotional stunt has upended that.
Launching this week in the UK is WSQK, AKA ‘The Squawk’. It is a radio station from 1980s Hawkins, Indiana playing out on DAB in London, Global Player, and smart speakers.
I’ve been listening to it this morning, following a tip-off from friend of ABW
(check out his excellent Podnews email newsletter).What I really like about the station is that it is treated with just enough authenticity to take it from “oh, that’s a fun idea” to “This is actually fun and I’m enjoying this a lot.” The first reaction gets me listening once for about ten minutes - the second has me opening the app every day for a while.
Listen to the station and you’ll hear 80s bangers like Love Is A Battlefield, Echo Beach, Africa, Girls on Film, etc. You’ll also hear fake radio ads for business’ in Hawkins, news bulletins on the hour, jingles, etc. The execution of it is really smart.
As per Radio Today:
Fans can take part in Rewind at 9, a segment where a reversed track challenges listeners to identify the song, while Talk to Tammy provides advice with a Hawkins twist. There is also Dial-A-Dedication, giving listeners the chance to get their message on air by submitting it through the Global Player website.
James Rea, Global’s Chief Broadcasting and Content Officer, said part of the project’s appeal is that “fans love the show’s nostalgia and energy, and this station bottles that completely”. James added that creating WSQK with Netflix “has been a joy”.
To capture an authentic sound, the audio is being processed through a vintage Inovonics FM250 unit dating back to 1983, the same type used widely by radio stations during the decade. This approach gives WSQK a period-accurate tone that matches the Stranger Things setting.
Obviously, I’m not based in London, so I have been listening through the Global Player app. I’ll be listening to this right through to the end of December when the link to the radio station signal breaks.
Locally in Sydney…
I wish I had known about the Stranger Things demogorgon breaking through at Sydney Harbour last night. It looked pretty cool:
There’s also a KFC “Hawkins Fried Chicken” restaurant pop-up in Sydney’s CBD (hidden in the currently disused Wynyard tunnel). I’m going to try and get along to check that out on Saturday.
Oh… and the show itself…
Silly me… I thought that the show was going to debut at the regular time, with its Wednesday release date. But no… I had neglected to read my very own newsletter from a few weeks back where I advised that the show is dropping in prime time in the US. That means that it’s actually 12pm AEDST local time here today (Thursday). I guess I can watch the first episode at lunchtime…
News Desk
Friend of ABW and former colleague Peter Andrews has announced his resignation from Australian multicultural broadcaster SBS after a 12 year run. Read: Linkedin
Plex is ready to start charging users for remote access with Roku users up first. RIP Plex… Read: Ars Technica
Mark Beretta is leaving Australian breakfast show Sunrise after a 22 year-run. Read: 7News
The infamously difficult Battletoads (which, yes, I have played it through to completion… ladies, please form an orderly queue…) and Kid Icarus: Of Myths and Monsters have been added to Nintendo Switch Online. Read: Polygon
Blue Ant Media will acquire Vancouver-based rival Thunderbird Entertainment Group as part of an CAN$89 million (US$63 million) cash and stock deal. Read: THR
A recent Jim Henson Company auction of items from Fraggle Rock, The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, Labyrinth, multiple Muppet productions, Jim Henson’s wardrobe and other personal items generated $2.6 million in total sales. Read: Deadline
That’s the newsletter for today.
Consider becoming a paid supporter of Always Be Watching.
Connect with Dan on Bluesky. Connect with Dan on Letterboxd. Connect with Dan on Linkedin. Email Dan @ alwaysbewatching.com or just reply to this email.
