Samiksha Jaiswal (Editor)

Bailrigg FM

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Frequency
  
24/7 on 87.7 FM

Format
  
Student Radio

Bailrigg FM

City
  
Bailrigg, Lancaster, United Kingdom

Slogan
  
The Original Student Sound

Affiliations
  
Student Radio Association Lancaster University

Owner
  
Lancaster University Students' Union

Bailrigg FM (formerly known as University Radio Bailrigg (URB) and Radio Bailrigg) is a student radio station at Lancaster University. It operates in a music format predominantly featuring pop, but also broadcasts news, drama, comedy, and entertainment. During evening and weekend hours, programming moves to specialist content where presenters are free (within reason) to play whatever they wish.

Contents

Bailrigg is one of the oldest student radio stations in the country, as well as being the first student station to broadcast on FM. It airs 24 hours a day, seven days a week, all year round. Bailrigg first broadcast on FM as part of a one-month, 25W Restricted Services Licence in March 1994 under the directorship of Paul Dale. It had previously applied for a licence in September 1993 but was turned down by the Radio Authority due to the launch of The Bay in March of that year.

It originally broadcast to the university on 312m Medium Wave using an inductive loop aerial system around the various halls of residence. Now listeners can tune in on campus on 87.7 MHz, or listen anywhere in the world using the station's live webstream. Bailrigg holds several large events throughout the year, including a seven-day Freshers' Week outside broadcast and coverage of the Lancaster University Students' Union (LUSU) sabbatical elections. During the Roses Tournament the station joins with University Radio York (URY) to provide programming across both campuses.

The station has received several national Student Radio Awards over the years, including Best Website, Best Station Sound and more recently Best Technical Achievement.

History

  • 1968 – Students at York University get permission to test-transmit programmes on Medium Wave, inspiring Lancaster to follow suit.
  • 1969 - After problems with an over-eager student starting his own pirate radio station, permission is finally given to proceed with the project.
  • 1971 - The initial aerial and studio equipment is installed.
  • 1972 - URB is forced off air by the government for transmitting without a full licence.
  • 1973 - A new antenna system is installed and URB gains a full licence from the government.
  • 1974 - Twin studios are built in Fylde College.
  • 1994 - First four-week 25W licence to broadcast on 87.7 MHz (under the name Bailrigg FM) is received. The broadcasts covered the City of Lancaster (including Morecambe). Reception was reported as far afield as Preston, Blackpool and Barrow-in-Furness.
  • 1995 - A second four-week FM licence is received, again on 87.7 MHz.
  • 1996 - URB gains a licence to broadcast all year round on the FM band, although on a smaller power output to cover the campus only. The station name is changed permanently to Bailrigg FM.
  • 1996 - Bailrigg FM is nominated for the Best Student Radio Station Award.
  • 2002 - Bailrigg FM is nominated for the Best Student Radio Station Award.
  • 2003 - Bailrigg FM wins Best Website award.
  • 2004 - Bailrigg FM is awarded an extended licence to transmit across Lancaster and Morecambe for a week as part of the university's 40th anniversary celebrations.
  • 2004 - Bailrigg FM wins Best Station Sound award.
  • 2006 - Bailrigg FM wins Silver for the Best Journalistic Programming.
  • 2006 - Bailrigg FM moves to new studios in Furness College.
  • 2007 - Bailrigg FM's Kenny Donohue wins Best Male Presenter.
  • 2008 - Bailrigg FM wins Bronze for Best Outside Broadcast.
  • 2012 - Bailrigg FM wins Gold for Best Technical Achievement, for the "Bailrigg Field Switchboard".
  • 2012 - Bailrigg FM is awarded £8,500 in funding from the University's Alumni Fund in order to purchase outside broadcast equipment.
  • 2013 - Bailrigg FM is awarded £65,000 in Capex funds from LUSU in order to renovate their studios. This will keep Bailrigg FM on air for at least another 5 years.
  • 2014 - Bailrigg FM wins Most Improved Station at the I Love Student Radio Awards.
  • Notable alumni

  • Richard Allinson
  • James May
  • Paul Cornell
  • Andy Serkis
  • James Masterton
  • Paul Dale
  • Louis Barfe
  • References

    Bailrigg FM Wikipedia