BFM (radio)

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The correct title of this article is bFM. The initial letter is shown capitalized due to technical restrictions.

bFM is a radio station which operates in Auckland, New Zealand on Schedule 7 (educational purposes) semi-commercial licence. The station is based in Auckland University’s student union building, and is owned by a trust in which the sole shareholder is the Auckland University Students Association, AUSA. The station operates as part of a loose grouping of student radio stations across New Zealand known as the b.Net, and broadcasts its signal to greater Auckland at 95.0 on the FM dial. It is the promoter of the b. Net New Zealand Music Awards (along with the other b. Net stations) and the popular Summer Series live events in nearby Albert Park.

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[edit] History

Founded in 1969, bFM was a pirate student radio station, broadcast from a boat - which ran aground in Auckland's Waitemata Harbour - and played illegally on speakers around the University. The iconic ‘b’ originally stood for "bosom" in honour of a capping week graduation stunt. It transferred from the AM to FM band (originally to 91.8FM) in the early 1980s, under the management of Debbi Gibbs, daughter of prominent New Zealand businessman Alan Gibbs - changing its name from Radio B to bFM at the same time. Its hours expanded and it eventually became a 24-hour station. Although the Breakfast and Drive hosts, and those of some specialist shows, are paid, most show hosts are volunteers. The distinctive 95bFM 'b' logo was designed by Johnnie Pain (at that time the bass player for Hallelujah Picassos, now in the Nudie Suits) in the early 1990s - he was asked by then station manager Liz Tan to design it.

The station has developed into New Zealand’s leading alternative music broadcaster, with 29,000 listeners, and in recent years has attracted considerable attention through its current affairs content. During the 2005 general election campaign, it was the station's news and editorial director Noelle McCarthy who conducted the interview in which National Party leader Don Brash admitted that he had forewarning of a controversial leaflet campaign conducted by the Exclusive Brethren sect. Brash and Prime Minister Helen Clark continue to be interviewed by McCarthy every week on the station's breakfast show, hosted by Mikey Havoc.

[edit] Radio Shows

The centrepiece of the bNews operation is The Wire, a music and current affairs show which airs every weekday from 12-2pm. The Wire hosts include Simon Pound (also a reporter for TV One's Agenda programme) and Noelle McCarthy. Daily "bCasts" (a stored mp3 audio file) are available on the station's website. A full schedule is available at the station's website, known as the 95bfm Bible.

[edit] The b Card

The station offers for a cost to their listeners a loyalty card, known as a b Card. The card enables listeners to be elligable for prizes and competitions operated by the station. They also have agreements with businesses allowing b Card holders to use discounts and special offers with the businesses.

[edit] Website

The station's website was finalist at the 2006 South by South West Web awards.

[edit] Nurturing Ground

The station has a long history of nurturing broadcast talent. Including  :

  • Mikey Havoc (Roberts)
  • Marcus Lush
  • Graeme Hill
  • Russell Brown
  • Jeremy Wells (also known as ‘Newsboy’)
  • Camilla Martin
  • Olivia Kember
  • Nick D
  • Andrew Hawthorne
  • Andrew Dickens
  • Jude Anaru
  • Hugh Sundae
  • Brent Impey, CEO of the commercial broadcast company Canwest New Zealand

[edit] Culture

A key part of the station's culture, and a feature distinguishing it from most commercial radio - is its award-winning creative department. It operates a creative policy that in most cases means it creates its own broadcast advertising, rather than using supplied agency material.

[edit] Breakfast Controversy

September 1, 2006 marked the last breakfast show hosted by Wallace Chapman. Chapman had been doing the radio show for the previous nine months. Rumours suggested that Mikey Havoc would be taking up the breakfast slot, having previously hosted it from 1996 to 2002. As a result of this news a site bring back Wallace was launched with an online petition, with the aim of showing support for the breakfast host and his show.

Chapman claims he had heard his job was under review, and rather than being pushed he would elect to quit. [1]

[edit] Notes and references

[edit] Breakfast Controversy

[edit] External links

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