CSR 97.4FM
Encyclopedia
CSR 97.4FM is a community radio
station based in Canterbury
, England
. It is funded by the University of Kent
and Canterbury Christ Church University
, as well as their associated Student Unions. The radio station broadcasts from studios at both universities 24 hours a day, with live broadcasting from 7am - 12pm. Despite being primarily aimed at students it is not purely a student radio station.
started broadcasting legally on an AM licence which covered the University of Kent
campus only. Canterbury Christ Church University
also had a student radio station, C4, broadcasting on AM on a similar strictly contained basis.
When Restricted Service Licence
s (RSLs) became available both stations periodically took advantage of the scheme to gain city-wide coverage on FM, albeit only for short periods. Each station allowed the other some airtime during their RSLs.
Canterbury Christ Church University's first RSL broadcast occurred in 2002, under the then Station Manager, Jim Cohen. Test broadcasts established that most of the city could pick up the radio station as well as certain parts of the surrounding countryside. The RSL broadcast lasted 2 weeks and was generally considered to be a great success.
The two student union
s, which operated these radio stations, decided to make a single combined bid for the Canterbury community radio
licence and were successful.In order to apply for the license Canterbury Youth Student Media (CYSM) Ltd. was setup which has directors compromising of members of both universities and their unions and also the executive committee members. The station launched on January 15, 2007
On the 22nd July 2011 it was announced that the station was successful in the license extension application and will continue to broadcast for at least another 5 years until 2017.
.
Best Live or Outside Broadcast – 2010, Gold
Best Technical Achievement – 2010, Bronze
Best Live or Outside Broadcast – 2009 Silver
Best Specialist Show – 2007, Gold
CSR also hosts its own awards evenings. One annual awards evening which coincides with the committee elections. These are internally voted awards for different categories and can be won by any of the members of the station.
In 2011 CSR launched the John Pigeon Awards. During his career as BBC Head of Entertainment, John Pidgeon worked with top names in the media industry and helped launch careers along the way. Members are asked to write and produce a 20 minute script which is then judged by John Pigeon. A cash prize is given away at an awards ceremony which has been previously attended by Collin Anderson and John Holmes
Community radio
Community radio is a type of radio service, that offers a third model of radio broadcasting beyond commercial broadcasting and public broadcasting. Community stations can serve geographic communities and communities of interest...
station based in Canterbury
Canterbury
Canterbury is a historic English cathedral city, which lies at the heart of the City of Canterbury, a district of Kent in South East England. It lies on the River Stour....
, 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...
. It is funded by the University of Kent
University of Kent
The University of Kent, previously the University of Kent at Canterbury, is a public research university based in Kent, United Kingdom...
and Canterbury Christ Church University
Canterbury Christ Church University
Canterbury Christ Church University is a university in Canterbury, Kent, England. Founded as a Church of England college for teaching training it has grown to full university status and will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2012. The focus of its work is in the education of people going into...
, as well as their associated Student Unions. The radio station broadcasts from studios at both universities 24 hours a day, with live broadcasting from 7am - 12pm. Despite being primarily aimed at students it is not purely a student radio station.
History
Student Radio has existed in Canterbury since 1966, initially on an unlicensed basis. In 1967, UKC RadioUKC Radio
UKC Radio was the student radio station for the University of Kent at Canterbury between 1966 and 2006. It was operated as a student service by the University of Kent Students' Union....
started broadcasting legally on an AM licence which covered the University of Kent
University of Kent
The University of Kent, previously the University of Kent at Canterbury, is a public research university based in Kent, United Kingdom...
campus only. Canterbury Christ Church University
Canterbury Christ Church University
Canterbury Christ Church University is a university in Canterbury, Kent, England. Founded as a Church of England college for teaching training it has grown to full university status and will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2012. The focus of its work is in the education of people going into...
also had a student radio station, C4, broadcasting on AM on a similar strictly contained basis.
When Restricted Service Licence
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...
s (RSLs) became available both stations periodically took advantage of the scheme to gain city-wide coverage on FM, albeit only for short periods. Each station allowed the other some airtime during their RSLs.
Canterbury Christ Church University's first RSL broadcast occurred in 2002, under the then Station Manager, Jim Cohen. Test broadcasts established that most of the city could pick up the radio station as well as certain parts of the surrounding countryside. The RSL broadcast lasted 2 weeks and was generally considered to be a great success.
The two student union
Students' union
A students' union, student government, student senate, students' association, guild of students or government of student body is a student organization present in many colleges and universities, and has started appearing in some high schools...
s, which operated these radio stations, decided to make a single combined bid for the Canterbury community radio
Community radio
Community radio is a type of radio service, that offers a third model of radio broadcasting beyond commercial broadcasting and public broadcasting. Community stations can serve geographic communities and communities of interest...
licence and were successful.In order to apply for the license Canterbury Youth Student Media (CYSM) Ltd. was setup which has directors compromising of members of both universities and their unions and also the executive committee members. The station launched on January 15, 2007
On the 22nd July 2011 it was announced that the station was successful in the license extension application and will continue to broadcast for at least another 5 years until 2017.
Management
Management of the station is on three levels. The project is overseen by a board of directors whose members include representatives from CSR FM's funding bodies. A democratically elected committee are responsible for the day-to-day running of the station, including four executive positions (Station, Programming, Marketing, Technical) who represent the point of contact for their corresponding departments. The remaining committee positions are each associated to one of the departments. The committee consists mostly of student from the two universities. The committee is assisted by two full time members of staff, both under contract to the University of Kent Students' UnionUniversity of Kent Students' Union
The University of Kent Students' Union, officially known as Kent Union, is the student representative body for students at the University of Kent, England. Based around five elected full time officers , a Board of trustees, part-time student officers as well as 'lay' members of the local community...
.
Funding
CSR FM is funded by donations from four funding bodies:- The University of Kent
- Canterbury Christ Church University
- Kent Union
- Christ Church Students Union
Awards
Since CSR launched in 2007, both the station and it’s presenters, have been honoured with four prestigious Student Radio Awards.Best Live or Outside Broadcast – 2010, Gold
Best Technical Achievement – 2010, Bronze
Best Live or Outside Broadcast – 2009 Silver
Best Specialist Show – 2007, Gold
CSR also hosts its own awards evenings. One annual awards evening which coincides with the committee elections. These are internally voted awards for different categories and can be won by any of the members of the station.
In 2011 CSR launched the John Pigeon Awards. During his career as BBC Head of Entertainment, John Pidgeon worked with top names in the media industry and helped launch careers along the way. Members are asked to write and produce a 20 minute script which is then judged by John Pigeon. A cash prize is given away at an awards ceremony which has been previously attended by Collin Anderson and John Holmes