Xpression FM
Encyclopedia
Xpression FM is an award winning campus radio station for the University of Exeter
, England
. Formerly known as URE (University Radio Exeter), the station has been broadcasting since 1976 and is entirely run by students from the university.
on low power AM
. Hours of broadcast were originally 5pm until 10pm with BBC Radio One carrying as a sustaining service. In the late 1990s it was deemed that, due to remote location, URE was allowed to use a low-power FM
system. URE also became part of the Student Broadcast Network
. The station was renamed "Xpression FM 87.7" at the start of 2001.
University Radio Exeter was founded in 1976, under the stairs of Devonshire House on the campus of the University of Exeter. At that time, of course, the only means of broadcasting was very low power, using induction loop aerials to broadcast to Halls of residence. Initially the transmitter was installed in the studio. This meant feeding a coaxial cable, carrying the RF signal, just below ground level from Devonshire House to Lafrowda halls of residence. This probably only covered 500 people maximum but seemed to work adequately for around 6 months, until 6 months of gardeners' spade abuse had reduced the transmitter cable to shreds. A rethink resulted in the transmitters being moved to the halls of residence, with the feed from the studio to the halls using cables leased from British Telecom.
In the late 1990s the rules were changed and certain parts of the country were permitted to use a low-power FM system. As an indirect result of joining the Student Broadcast Network (SBN), money became available to convert to low-power FM. Thus, at the start of 2001, the posters for "URE 963" were taken down, and replaced with brand spanking new ones, emblazoned with the logo "Xpression FM 87.7".
At the 2011 Student Radio Awards
, Xpression FM won the gold award for Best Student Radio Chart Show.
as an overnight sustaining service and now broadcasts from the Exeter studio 24 hours a day.
The studio is link to two transmitters (situated on top of Lafrowda and Moberley) using a band 1 radio link. The station can be heard via a webcast
(provided by Xmedia Online) and through iTunes
radio.
frontman Thom Yorke
, is one of many famous alumni of URE and Xpression, a list that also includes the BBC's Jon Kay, James Pearce, Matthew Sydney and motorsport presenter Ted Kravitz
.
University of Exeter
The University of Exeter is a public university in South West England. It belongs to the 1994 Group, an association of 19 of the United Kingdom's smaller research-intensive universities....
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Formerly known as URE (University Radio Exeter), the station has been broadcasting since 1976 and is entirely run by students from the university.
History
Initiated by post-graduates, University Radio Exeter began broadcasting from Devonshire HouseStreatham Campus
The Streatham Campus is the largest campus of the University of Exeter. The campus is renowned for its beautiful landscaping and excellent views. The centre of the campus is occupied by teaching, administrative and service buildings...
on low power AM
AM broadcasting
AM broadcasting is the process of radio broadcasting using amplitude modulation. AM was the first method of impressing sound on a radio signal and is still widely used today. Commercial and public AM broadcasting is carried out in the medium wave band world wide, and on long wave and short wave...
. Hours of broadcast were originally 5pm until 10pm with BBC Radio One carrying as a sustaining service. In the late 1990s it was deemed that, due to remote location, URE was allowed to use a low-power 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"...
system. URE also became part of 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....
. The station was renamed "Xpression FM 87.7" at the start of 2001.
University Radio Exeter was founded in 1976, under the stairs of Devonshire House on the campus of the University of Exeter. At that time, of course, the only means of broadcasting was very low power, using induction loop aerials to broadcast to Halls of residence. Initially the transmitter was installed in the studio. This meant feeding a coaxial cable, carrying the RF signal, just below ground level from Devonshire House to Lafrowda halls of residence. This probably only covered 500 people maximum but seemed to work adequately for around 6 months, until 6 months of gardeners' spade abuse had reduced the transmitter cable to shreds. A rethink resulted in the transmitters being moved to the halls of residence, with the feed from the studio to the halls using cables leased from British Telecom.
In the late 1990s the rules were changed and certain parts of the country were permitted to use a low-power FM system. As an indirect result of joining the Student Broadcast Network (SBN), money became available to convert to low-power FM. Thus, at the start of 2001, the posters for "URE 963" were taken down, and replaced with brand spanking new ones, emblazoned with the logo "Xpression FM 87.7".
At the 2011 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....
, Xpression FM won the gold award for Best Student Radio Chart Show.
Xpression FM News
Xpression FM has its very own in-house news team. They produce student-focused news in the daily bulletins which are broadcast 10am-6pm, 7 days a week on the station. Fortnightly they have their specialist news show 'The Scoop' expanding on stories covered in the bulletins, as well as featuring exclusive interviews. The Xpression FM news team have had many successful broadcast journalists as part of their team. These include the BBC's Ruth Lovell and Dan O'Brien.Present Day
Xpression broadcasts live from Devonshire House utilising three studios for simultaneous presentation, production and training. In early 2009 the station stopped using XFMXfm
Xfm is a brand of two commercial radio stations focused on alternative music, primarily indie pop, and owned by Global Radio.-History:Xfm was created in London in 1992 by Sammy Jacob, who later co-founded NME Radio in 2008. Xfm subsequently expanded to a network of four stations; there are...
as an overnight sustaining service and now broadcasts from the Exeter studio 24 hours a day.
The studio is link to two transmitters (situated on top of Lafrowda and Moberley) using a band 1 radio link. The station can be heard via a webcast
Webcast
A webcast is a media presentation distributed over the Internet using streaming media technology to distribute a single content source to many simultaneous listeners/viewers. A webcast may either be distributed live or on demand...
(provided by Xmedia Online) and through iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
radio.
2011/12 Committee
| Position | Member(s) |
|---|---|
| Station Manager | Olli 'Little' Whittle |
| Programmes Controller | Lindsey Harris |
| Studio Administrator | Hannah Law |
| Heads of Music | Jack D'Arcy & Georgie Smith |
| Heads of Events | Jack Franklin & Charlie Wheeler |
| Head of News | Robin Chu |
| Heads of Production | Sam Hollis-Pack & Chris Morris |
| Head of Marketing | Gemma Astbury |
| Training Manager | Leonie Thomas |
| Head of Scripted | Vicky Galvin |
Future
The redevelopment of Devonshire House led to a studio move for Xpression FM. Instead of broadcasting from underneath Devonshire House the studios are situated at the back of the building. The new studios include two live-to-air studios, a third (larger) studio for recording live sessions and group projects, a newsroom, a technology hub and a CD wall.Alumni
RadioheadRadiohead
Radiohead are an English rock band from Abingdon, Oxfordshire, formed in 1985. The band consists of Thom Yorke , Jonny Greenwood , Ed O'Brien , Colin Greenwood and Phil Selway .Radiohead released their debut single "Creep" in 1992...
frontman Thom Yorke
Thom Yorke
Thomas "Thom" Edward Yorke is an English musician who is the lead vocalist and principal songwriter for Radiohead. He mainly plays guitar and piano, but he has also played drums and bass guitar...
, is one of many famous alumni of URE and Xpression, a list that also includes the BBC's Jon Kay, James Pearce, Matthew Sydney and motorsport presenter Ted Kravitz
Ted Kravitz
Ted Kravitz is a British Formula One pit-lane reporter working as part of the BBC's coverage.-Early career:...
.