BURST

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BURST (Bristol University Radio Station)

City of license	Bristol
First air date	1997
Frequency	Online
Format	Music & Speech
Owner	University of Bristol Union
Website	www.burstradio.org.uk

BURST (Bristol University Radio Station) is a student-run radio station, based in the University of Bristol, and a member of the Student Radio Association. It is broadcast online from the university's student union building, and occasionally via FM with a Restricted Service Licence. The station also holds an AM licence, and plans to begin broadcasting on the frequency in the near future.

[edit] History

BURST was born out of Fresh FM, a station run jointly by students from Bristol University and the University of the West of England (UWE) in 1995.

After Fresh FM ceased to exist, BURST FM was conceived by Bristol University students in 1997. When sufficient funds had been raised, a one month licence to broadcast on 106.6 FM was awarded for March 1998. Housed in St Paul's Church in Clifton, the station was a great success, and promised to pave the way for greater things.

However, the unavailability of further FM licences due to the launch of a new full time station (The Eagle, now renamed Star) prevented further broadcasts, so the BURST team concentrated on planning for the future and raising funds, through a series of highly successful club nights. In early 2000, space for a new studio was allocated within the Union building, and finally BURST could invest in new equipment for its new home. Speakers were installed within the Union building, and broadcasts mounted for during Fresh (Bristol University's freshers' week) 2000. At the same time, a grant from the Alumni foundation allowed BURST to stream programming onto the internet around campus.

An application was made for a further FM licence for Autumn 2000, the subsequent award of this meant that BURST was back on 106.6 FM from its new permanent home. This broadcast was a huge success, and an application was made for another one-month licence in Summer 2001. This licence was also awarded, as well as a subsequent one in November of 2001.