Belfield FM
 | |
| City of license | Dublin |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | UCD, Belfield, Dublin |
| Slogan | "Radio that turns YOU on!" |
| Frequency | 107.8FM, Online |
| First air date | 1990 |
| Format | Student Radio |
| Language(s) | English, Gaeilge |
| Owner | Independent |
| Webcast | |
| Website | www.belfieldfm.ie |
Belfield FM is University College Dublin's student radio station. The station began broadcasting in 1990. It was initially run as a part of the UCD Students' Union , under the remit of the entertainments office, before becoming an independent entity within the Students' Union. As a result of cost cutting measures, Belfield FM disaffiliated with the SU at the end of the 2011/2012 college year[1] and is now run independently within the UCD Societies Council framework. The station forms part of UCD's student media Network, along with The University Observer, The College Tribune, and the Campus Television Network. The station is run by six volunteer staff and over 150 contributors who work on the production, research, and hosting of the station's radio shows.
As of January 2013, the station broadcasts live from "Studio One" overlooking the concourse in the UCD Student/Sport and Fitness Centre. In addition, the station maintains production facilities in the form of "Studio Two", also located in the Student Centre and "Studio Three" in the James Joyce Library. Belfield FM has had some presence on campus for the past twenty years; however, since 2008 with its move into the library tunnel, the station has been operating on a full-time basis. The 2011/12 academic term saw the station broadcast on FM for one hundred days within term. This is the longest FM run the station has ever achieved.
Programming
The station broadcasts programming from 12:00 until 22:00, Monday to Friday. The late start is to accommodate students who may be in classes or lectures, the great majority of which take place before lunch time. A number of flagship shows air on a daily basis, including 'Beatsan'pieces', a talk show, 'The Alternative Lunch', a music show, 'News on Belfield FM' and station's sport show, 'Across the Line' which in addition to regular news, reviews and updates on all manner of sport also commentates on UCDAFC's League of Ireland home games. The station also runs special interest programming, which makes up the majority of the station's output. Special interest shows air throughout the day, covering a multitude of topics ranging from the Students' Union to pop and chart music to Heavy Metal. Fifteen percent of total programme output is through the Irish language.