RamAir

RamAir is a radio station run by Students Union at the University of Bradford, England.[1] It broadcasts locally on 1350AM and also online through its web site. The name comes from the old students union logo of a Ram.

For other uses, see Ram air (disambiguation).
RamAir
Broadcast areaInternet
Programming
FormatPop, Indie and Rock
AffiliationsStudent Radio Association
Ownership
OwnerUniversity of Bradford Union
History
First air date
1 October 1980

History

The station was founded in 1980,[2] and operates from two studios in the university's student union building. The station is run entirely by student volunteers, who, as well as presenting shows, also undertake the technical aspects. Up until the mid-1990s, RamAir broadcast to students via a series of induction loops installed throughout the student halls. In conjunction with SBN, RamAir had a Low Power AM (LPAM) Radica transmitter, affectionately known as "Doris", installed in the car park of the former Shearbridge Halls, which broadcast on 1350AM at a max power of 1 watt.

Previously the station carried the syndicated Student Broadcast Network (SBN) when no own-content was being broadcast - this was changed in 2004.

Achievements

It was the first student radio station to broadcast legally on FM via a Restricted Service Licence.[3][4]

As of September 2007, it was the first student radio station to be specifically made available through the respective Wii and PlayStation 3 browsers.[5] When analogue cable television was commonplace, the station was broadcast on 98FM across the region to listeners with a cable feed (No subscription required). RamAir occasionally broadcasts across the city of Bradford on an FM RSL (Restricted Service Licence), usually on 102FM from a transmitter located on top of the university's JB Priestley library.

On 26 April 2006, Phill Jupitus broadcast his BBC 6 Music breakfast show from the station, and interviewed Billy Bragg who had played a concert at the university the previous evening.[6]

At the end of March 2009, RamAir broadcast their own take on Big Brother: a radio reality show called The Lockdown. Eight students from the University of Bradford were locked in the studios for 48 hours while a temporary studio controlled what they and listeners heard.[7]

As part of a campaign to raise £40,000 for new studio equipment for the move into the refurbished "Student Central" building, the comedian Russell Howard performed for staff, students and the public during August 2010 with ticket sale money going to the RamAid appeal.[8] This was repeated in December 2011 with Russell Kane headlining.[9]

In 2011 RamAir had its first Student Radio Award winner. Ian Thursfield won Newcomer Of The Year at the awards ceremony, held at the IndigO2.[10]

References
  1. "BBC description of Bradford University".
  2. "Ramair celebrates 21st birthday:Press Release Bradford University". www.brad.ac.uk.
  3. "RamAir goes on FM:News and Views December 2001". www.brad.ac.uk.
  4. "Mark J Cox - Home automation - Open Source Software - Security - Metrics". awe.com.
  5. http://www.ramair.co.uk/listen Radio station website
  6. Radio - Pick of the day from The Guardian, Wednesday 26 April 2006, retrieved 28 May 2009
  7. Press Releases - Media Centre - University of Bradford from University of Bradford, Thursday 26 March 2009, retrieved 8 June 2009
  8. News - Bradford Telegraph & Argus from Telegraph & Argus, Tuesday 13 July 2010, retrieved 26 July 2010
  9. News - Bradford Telegraph & Argus Press Releases from University of Bradford, 6 December 2011, retrieved 14 January 2012
  10. "Student Radio Awards presented | Complete Music Update". Retrieved 2020-04-20.
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