Laser 558 was an offshore pirate radio station launched in May 1984 by business and broadcasting executives. Laser 558 used disc jockeys from the USA. It broadcast from the Panama registered ship MV Communicator in international waters in the North Sea. Within months the station had a large audience due to its strong signal and continuous music mixing current records with oldies. However, insufficient advertising starved the station off the air in late 1985. In 1986 an attempt was made to return as Laser Hot Hits, but the same problems arose.