University Radio York
Encyclopedia
University Radio York is a campus radio
covering the campus of the University of York
. It was the first legal independent radio station in the United Kingdom
.
to broadcast legally in the UK. The station was relaunched as University Radio York in 1969, featuring a guest broadcast by DJ John Peel
.
The station switched from its original 999 kHz induction loop system to a LPAM licence in 1999, and now broadcasts across the both of York University's Heslington and Heslington East campuses on 1350AM. The station has also conducted several RSL
FM
broadcasts across the whole of the city, the last of these being in 2008.
Initially the station's purpose was to broadcast lectures and educational material as well as popular music, however the output is now mainly entertainment-based, with additional specialist arts and speech programming. News was provided by The Student Broadcast Network
until its demise however, the station's long-running news programme York Report at 6pm is still a pivotal part of the evening schedule.
In 2008, URY broadcast 12 hours of US Presidential Election coverage.
/ BBC Radio 1
Student Radio Station of the Year award
for the first time in its history in 2005. This was also the first time the station had even been nominated for a Student Radio Award. URY's Programme Controller at the time, Matt Wareham, was also nominated for the Best Station Sound category in the same year, but did not receive an award.
As part of the prize for winning Student Radio Station of the Year, on 29 May 2006 URY was broadcast on BBC Radio 1
, taking over the 4 to 7am Early Breakfast slot usually occupied by JK and Joel
. The show was broadcast nationally on 97-99 FM and DAB, across the USA on Sirius Satellite Radio
and online through the BBC Radio 1
website. It was also made available by both URY and BBC Radio 1 on their websites.
At the same awards in 2008, Rob Watts won gold for best male presenter, URY Breakfast won bronze for best entertainment programme, Rob Watts interviewing Greg Dyke
won gold for best interview and The Technical Difficulties won the Kevin Greening
Creativity Award.
At the Student Radio Awards
in 2009, The Technical Difficulties won bronze for best entertainment programme, Joshua Chambers' interview: "Hilary Benn
on Binyam Mohamed" won gold for best interview and York Report won gold for best journalistic programming.
2010 was another successful year for URY at the Student Radio Awards
, where they picked up two accolades. For the second year running, the URY News Team were award-winning by getting Silver for Best Journalistic Programming and also CoCo Cole managed to win the Silver Best Female award.
Campus radio
Campus radio is a type of radio station that is run by the students of a college, university or other educational institution. Programming may be exclusively by students, or may include programmers from the wider community in which the radio station is based...
covering the campus of the University of York
University of York
The University of York , is an academic institution located in the city of York, England. Established in 1963, the campus university has expanded to more than thirty departments and centres, covering a wide range of subjects...
. It was the first legal independent radio station in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
About
Like most student radio stations, University Radio York is run entirely by volunteers, all students studying at the University of York. The station broadcasts 24 hours a day during university term time (a total of 30 weeks per year). The schedule is made up of a variety of shows including entertainment, news, speech, drama and music. With a new intake of students each academic year, the station's output can change significantly.History
URY was set up in 1967 by Mike Greasley, then a student of the university. The station broadcast for the first time that year as Radio York under a test licence, and was the first station independent of the BBCBBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
to broadcast legally in the UK. The station was relaunched as University Radio York in 1969, featuring a guest broadcast by DJ John Peel
John Peel
John Robert Parker Ravenscroft, OBE , known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey, radio presenter, record producer and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly from 1967 until his death in 2004...
.
The station switched from its original 999 kHz induction loop system to a LPAM licence in 1999, and now broadcasts across the both of York University's Heslington and Heslington East campuses on 1350AM. The station has also conducted several RSL
Restricted Service Licence
A UK Restricted Service Licence , is typically granted to radio stations and television stations broadcasting within the UK to serve a local community or a special event...
FM
FM broadcasting
FM broadcasting is a broadcasting technology pioneered by Edwin Howard Armstrong which uses frequency modulation to provide high-fidelity sound over broadcast radio. The term "FM band" describes the "frequency band in which FM is used for broadcasting"...
broadcasts across the whole of the city, the last of these being in 2008.
Initially the station's purpose was to broadcast lectures and educational material as well as popular music, however the output is now mainly entertainment-based, with additional specialist arts and speech programming. News was provided by The Student Broadcast Network
Student Broadcast Network
The Student Broadcast Network or SBN was a company who provided a sustaining service, news and advertising for Student Radio stations in the United Kingdom....
until its demise however, the station's long-running news programme York Report at 6pm is still a pivotal part of the evening schedule.
In 2008, URY broadcast 12 hours of US Presidential Election coverage.
Achievements and awards
URY won the Student Radio AssociationStudent Radio Association
The Student Radio Association is a representative body which supports and acts on behalf of the UK student radio community, comprising radio stations that are associated with or linked to a place of education...
/ BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
Student Radio Station of the Year award
Student Radio Awards
The Student Radio Awards is a UK awards scheme celebrating talent within the UK student radio industry, held annually since 1996 by the Student Radio Association and supported by BBC Radio 1....
for the first time in its history in 2005. This was also the first time the station had even been nominated for a Student Radio Award. URY's Programme Controller at the time, Matt Wareham, was also nominated for the Best Station Sound category in the same year, but did not receive an award.
As part of the prize for winning Student Radio Station of the Year, on 29 May 2006 URY was broadcast on BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
, taking over the 4 to 7am Early Breakfast slot usually occupied by JK and Joel
JK and Joel
Jason King and Joel Ross , known professionally as JK and Joel, are a radio show presenters and are best known for hosting the official UK chart on BBC Radio 1 between 2004 and 2007 and then presented on Virgin Radio UK, from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. at weekends and covering the breakfast and...
. The show was broadcast nationally on 97-99 FM and DAB, across the USA on Sirius Satellite Radio
Sirius Satellite Radio
Sirius Satellite Radio is a satellite radio service operating in North America, owned by Sirius XM Radio.Headquartered in New York City, with smaller studios in Los Angeles and Memphis, Sirius was officially launched on July 1, 2002 and currently provides 69 streams of music and 65 streams of...
and online through the BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
website. It was also made available by both URY and BBC Radio 1 on their websites.
At the same awards in 2008, Rob Watts won gold for best male presenter, URY Breakfast won bronze for best entertainment programme, Rob Watts interviewing Greg Dyke
Greg Dyke
Gregory "Greg" Dyke is a British media executive, journalist and broadcaster. Since the 1960s, Dyke has a long career in the UK in print and then broadcast journalism. He is credited with introducing 'tabloid' television to British broadcasting, and reviving the ratings of TV-am...
won gold for best interview and The Technical Difficulties won the Kevin Greening
Kevin Greening
Kevin Greening was a British radio presenter, who co-hosted the BBC Radio 1 breakfast show with Zoe Ball from 1997 to 1998.-Early career:...
Creativity Award.
At the Student Radio Awards
Student Radio Awards
The Student Radio Awards is a UK awards scheme celebrating talent within the UK student radio industry, held annually since 1996 by the Student Radio Association and supported by BBC Radio 1....
in 2009, The Technical Difficulties won bronze for best entertainment programme, Joshua Chambers' interview: "Hilary Benn
Hilary Benn
Hilary James Wedgwood Benn is a British Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament for Leeds Central since 1999. He served in the Cabinet as Secretary of State for International Development from 2003 to 2007 and as the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs...
on Binyam Mohamed" won gold for best interview and York Report won gold for best journalistic programming.
2010 was another successful year for URY at the Student Radio Awards
Student Radio Awards
The Student Radio Awards is a UK awards scheme celebrating talent within the UK student radio industry, held annually since 1996 by the Student Radio Association and supported by BBC Radio 1....
, where they picked up two accolades. For the second year running, the URY News Team were award-winning by getting Silver for Best Journalistic Programming and also CoCo Cole managed to win the Silver Best Female award.
Station Management
| Name | Date |
|---|---|
| Rob Stonehouse | November 2011 - Present |
| Darren Webb | November 2010 - November 2011 |
| Oliver Julian | November 2009 - November 2010 |
| Scott Bryan | June 2009 - November 2009 |
| Tim Wallace | November 2008 - June 2009 |
| Rob Watts | November 2007 - November 2008 |
| Hannah Green | November 2006 - November 2007 |
| Jo Ellis | June 2005 - November 2006 |
| James Haigh | November 2004 - June 2005 |
| Owen Murphy | November 2003 - November 2004 |