CUR1350
Encyclopedia
Cam FM is a student-run radio station
at the University of Cambridge
. The station broadcasts on an FM frequency of 97.2 MHz and online, from a studio located in the basement of a house owned by Churchill College
.
In 2009, the station was awarded an FM Community Licence by UK Broadcasting Regulator OFCOM. The FM service was launched in October 2010 on 97.2 FM, leaving behind the legacy CUR1350 name and brand. Cam FM is a wholly owned subsidiary of Cambridge and Anglia Ruskin Student Radio Ltd, which is also the FM license holder.
The station is a member of the Student Radio Association
, and in 2007 CUR1350 (as it was then known) won Best Station 2007 at the Student Radio Awards.
s around the Cambridge colleges of Churchill
and later New Hall
, allowing residents to listen to Cambridge University Radio (as it was then known) over a short-range, mono
, mediumwave
broadcast. The station subsequently became CUR945.
Despite successfully applying for a number of short-term FM
licenses, CUR lacked a way of continuously broadcasting to the University's students, and so struggled to achieve widespread popularity.
The explosive growth of the Internet, along with many colleges installing high-speed Ethernet
connections in student rooms, prompted the station to launch a simultaneous webcast in 1998 . This allowed students from throughout the University to listen whenever they were near a computer. In 2004, the internet audio webcasts were upgraded, and in 2005 an enhanced online player was launched.
Additionally, in 2002 the station successfully applied for a long-term, low-powered AM license Broadcasting on 1350 kHz, the station was then known as CUR1350.
In 2006, CUR1350 launched a project to install a cable service to multiple sites across the University of Cambridge
and ARU
. Dubbed "CURintheBAR" the station is distributed via the universities' LAN network to receiving units positioned in student bars and cafes where it is relayed over loudspeakers.
In March 2009, the station was granted an FM Community Radio Licence by the UK regulator Ofcom, to become the only FM radio station targeting members of Cambridge University and Anglia Ruskin. Regular programmes from the rebranded Cam FM began on on the new frequency of 97.2 FM in October 2010.
Cam FM is financially self-sufficient via on-air and on-line advertising and sponsorship. Profits are invested back into the station to improve the service for listeners and the experience for station members. The station receives no funding from either university or any student union.
and the Cambridge campus of Anglia Ruskin University
. A majority of programmes are specialist music shows (e.g. drum and bass
, indie rock
, UK garage
), though others are aimed at a wider audience (e.g. their breakfast show, theatre/film review show, or local news coverage).
In 2004 the station won four awards in the annual Student Radio Awards. The presenter Val Mellon (now heard on the national DAB station Core
-- see below) won a gold award for Best Entertainment Show, as well as a bronze award for Best Female. A further gold award was presented to the station for Technical Achievement, in recognition of the station's platform-independent webcast system. A silver award was also given to the station for Best Sports Programming, in respect of the station's live coverage of the annual Oxford vs. Cambridge rugby union Varsity match
. Sports coverage also earned the station a silver award in 2003, for their annual coverage of the May Bumps -- an inter-collegiate rowing competition held on the River Cam
.
In 2005 CUR1350 was nominated for 4 awards, the 2005 awards seeing twice as many competing entries as the previous year. The nominations for CUR1350 were: Technical Achievement - for the wireless internet link for the Bumps 2005 tannoy, Sports Broadcasting (Ed Bolton) - for The Sports Show including interviews with Chris Eubank
, Specialist Music (Samuel Green) - for "Kol Cambridge" the UK's only broadcast Israeli/Jewish radio show, Station of the Year.
In 2007, CUR1350 was nominated for a station-record of nine Student Radio Awards, making it the most nominated station of 2007
. These were for Best Technical Innovation, three for Best Entertainment Programme (Charles Lyon's Weekend Breakfast, Jaine Sykes' Rock Paper Scissors and Ella Belsham and Alex-James Painter's Morning Glory), Best Specialist Music Programme (Tobias Bown's Volume 11), Newcomer of the Year (Jaine Sykes), two for Best Female Presenter (Katherine Godfrey and Jaine Sykes), and Station of the Year (Michael Brooks et al.). 2007 was a successful year for CUR1350 as it scooped a Bronze SRA for Best Entertainment Programme with Charles Lyons' Weekend Breakfast and a Gold SRA for Katherine Godfrey in the Best Female category. CUR1350 also won Gold for Station of the Year for the first time in its 29 year history.
In 2008, CUR1350 was nominated for Station of the year, Specialist Music (Sandy Mill), Outside Broadcast (The May Bumps) and Best Station. The station won Gold for Best Chart Show (Presenter Charles Lyons, producer Martin Steers), it was also the SRA national chart shows inaugural year.
In 2009, CUR1350 received two nominations at the Student Radio Awards. These were for Best Student Radio Chart Show (Tobias Bown and Simon Ruggles) and for Best Event/Outside Broadcast for the May Bumps 2009.
Most of the technology used by Cam FM is developed in-house (such as the automated playout system, computerised playout systems and audio routing in the studio) enabling the station to be built to specification.
Feb 2003 - Feb 2004: Helen Chapman
Feb 2004 - Feb 2005: Rob Ousbey
Feb 2005 - Mar 2008: Michael Brooks & Tim Lewis (Deputy)
Mar 2008 - Nov 2009: Martin Steers
Nov 2009 - present: Sophie Wawro
The station holds annual alumni days, on which former members are invited back to once again produce and present shows for listeners within the University.
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
at the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
. The station broadcasts on an FM frequency of 97.2 MHz and online, from a studio located in the basement of a house owned by Churchill College
Churchill College, Cambridge
Churchill College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.In 1958, a Trust was established with Sir Winston Churchill as its Chairman of Trustees, to build and endow a college for 60 fellows and 540 Students as a national and Commonwealth memorial to Winston Churchill; its...
.
In 2009, the station was awarded an FM Community Licence by UK Broadcasting Regulator OFCOM. The FM service was launched in October 2010 on 97.2 FM, leaving behind the legacy CUR1350 name and brand. Cam FM is a wholly owned subsidiary of Cambridge and Anglia Ruskin Student Radio Ltd, which is also the FM license holder.
The station is a member of the Student Radio Association
Student Radio Association
The Student Radio Association is a representative body which supports and acts on behalf of the UK student radio community, comprising radio stations that are associated with or linked to a place of education...
, and in 2007 CUR1350 (as it was then known) won Best Station 2007 at the Student Radio Awards.
History
In 1979, the student-run Cambridge University Broadcasting Society founded a radio station which was granted permission to install induction loopInduction loop
Induction loop is a term used to describe an electromagnetic communication- and detection system, relying on the fact that a moving magnet will induce an electrical current in a nearby conducting wire. Induction loops are used for transmission and reception of communication signals, or for...
s around the Cambridge colleges of Churchill
Churchill College, Cambridge
Churchill College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.In 1958, a Trust was established with Sir Winston Churchill as its Chairman of Trustees, to build and endow a college for 60 fellows and 540 Students as a national and Commonwealth memorial to Winston Churchill; its...
and later New Hall
New Hall, Cambridge
Murray Edwards College is a women-only constituent college of the University of Cambridge. It was founded as "New Hall" in 1954, at a time when Cambridge had the lowest proportion of women undergraduates of any university in the United Kingdom, and when only two other colleges admitted women...
, allowing residents to listen to Cambridge University Radio (as it was then known) over a short-range, mono
Monaural
Monaural or monophonic sound reproduction is single-channel. Typically there is only one microphone, one loudspeaker, or channels are fed from a common signal path...
, mediumwave
Mediumwave
Medium wave is the part of the medium frequency radio band used mainly for AM radio broadcasting. For Europe the MW band ranges from 526.5 kHz to 1606.5 kHz...
broadcast. The station subsequently became CUR945.
Despite successfully applying for a number of short-term FM
Frequency modulation
In telecommunications and signal processing, frequency modulation conveys information over a carrier wave by varying its instantaneous frequency. This contrasts with amplitude modulation, in which the amplitude of the carrier is varied while its frequency remains constant...
licenses, CUR lacked a way of continuously broadcasting to the University's students, and so struggled to achieve widespread popularity.
The explosive growth of the Internet, along with many colleges installing high-speed Ethernet
Ethernet
Ethernet is a family of computer networking technologies for local area networks commercially introduced in 1980. Standardized in IEEE 802.3, Ethernet has largely replaced competing wired LAN technologies....
connections in student rooms, prompted the station to launch a simultaneous webcast in 1998 . This allowed students from throughout the University to listen whenever they were near a computer. In 2004, the internet audio webcasts were upgraded, and in 2005 an enhanced online player was launched.
Additionally, in 2002 the station successfully applied for a long-term, low-powered AM license Broadcasting on 1350 kHz, the station was then known as CUR1350.
In 2006, CUR1350 launched a project to install a cable service to multiple sites across the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
and ARU
Anglia Ruskin University
Anglia Ruskin University is one of the largest universities in Eastern England, United Kingdom, with a total student population of around 30,000.-History:...
. Dubbed "CURintheBAR" the station is distributed via the universities' LAN network to receiving units positioned in student bars and cafes where it is relayed over loudspeakers.
In March 2009, the station was granted an FM Community Radio Licence by the UK regulator Ofcom, to become the only FM radio station targeting members of Cambridge University and Anglia Ruskin. Regular programmes from the rebranded Cam FM began on on the new frequency of 97.2 FM in October 2010.
Cam FM is financially self-sufficient via on-air and on-line advertising and sponsorship. Profits are invested back into the station to improve the service for listeners and the experience for station members. The station receives no funding from either university or any student union.
Current broadcasts
Cam FM currently broadcasts continuously, with an automated playout system filling the intervals between live broadcasts. During termtime, much of the station's output is live between the hours of 8am and 1am. Programmes are produced and presented by undergraduate and postgraduate students at both the University of CambridgeUniversity of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
and the Cambridge campus of Anglia Ruskin University
Anglia Ruskin University
Anglia Ruskin University is one of the largest universities in Eastern England, United Kingdom, with a total student population of around 30,000.-History:...
. A majority of programmes are specialist music shows (e.g. drum and bass
Drum and bass
Drum and bass is a type of electronic music which emerged in the late 1980s. The genre is characterized by fast breakbeats , with heavy bass and sub-bass lines...
, indie rock
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
, UK garage
UK garage
UK garage is a genre of electronic dance music originating from the United Kingdom in the early-1990s. UK garage is a descendant of house music which originated in Chicago and New York, United States. UK garage usually features a distinctive syncopated 4/4 percussive rhythm with 'shuffling'...
), though others are aimed at a wider audience (e.g. their breakfast show, theatre/film review show, or local news coverage).
In 2004 the station won four awards in the annual Student Radio Awards. The presenter Val Mellon (now heard on the national DAB station Core
Core (radio station)
Core was a digital radio station broadcasting across the UK on the Digital One and streamed online. It was aimed at 16- to 24-year-olds with a focus on new music.-Station history:Core was originally owned by GWR Group, now GCap Media...
-- see below) won a gold award for Best Entertainment Show, as well as a bronze award for Best Female. A further gold award was presented to the station for Technical Achievement, in recognition of the station's platform-independent webcast system. A silver award was also given to the station for Best Sports Programming, in respect of the station's live coverage of the annual Oxford vs. Cambridge rugby union Varsity match
The Varsity Match
The Varsity Match is an annual rugby union fixture played between the universities of Oxford and Cambridge in England. By tradition, the match is held on the second Tuesday of December. In 2005, however, this changed, and the match was on Tuesday 6 December. In 2007, it was held on a Thursday for...
. Sports coverage also earned the station a silver award in 2003, for their annual coverage of the May Bumps -- an inter-collegiate rowing competition held on the River Cam
River Cam
The River Cam is a tributary of the River Great Ouse in the east of England. The two rivers join to the south of Ely at Pope's Corner. The Great Ouse connects the Cam to England's canal system and to the North Sea at King's Lynn...
.
In 2005 CUR1350 was nominated for 4 awards, the 2005 awards seeing twice as many competing entries as the previous year. The nominations for CUR1350 were: Technical Achievement - for the wireless internet link for the Bumps 2005 tannoy, Sports Broadcasting (Ed Bolton) - for The Sports Show including interviews with Chris Eubank
Chris Eubank
Chris Eubank, Lord of the Manor of Brighton is a retired British boxer who held world titles at middleweight and super middleweight...
, Specialist Music (Samuel Green) - for "Kol Cambridge" the UK's only broadcast Israeli/Jewish radio show, Station of the Year.
In 2007, CUR1350 was nominated for a station-record of nine Student Radio Awards, making it the most nominated station of 2007
. These were for Best Technical Innovation, three for Best Entertainment Programme (Charles Lyon's Weekend Breakfast, Jaine Sykes' Rock Paper Scissors and Ella Belsham and Alex-James Painter's Morning Glory), Best Specialist Music Programme (Tobias Bown's Volume 11), Newcomer of the Year (Jaine Sykes), two for Best Female Presenter (Katherine Godfrey and Jaine Sykes), and Station of the Year (Michael Brooks et al.). 2007 was a successful year for CUR1350 as it scooped a Bronze SRA for Best Entertainment Programme with Charles Lyons' Weekend Breakfast and a Gold SRA for Katherine Godfrey in the Best Female category. CUR1350 also won Gold for Station of the Year for the first time in its 29 year history.
In 2008, CUR1350 was nominated for Station of the year, Specialist Music (Sandy Mill), Outside Broadcast (The May Bumps) and Best Station. The station won Gold for Best Chart Show (Presenter Charles Lyons, producer Martin Steers), it was also the SRA national chart shows inaugural year.
In 2009, CUR1350 received two nominations at the Student Radio Awards. These were for Best Student Radio Chart Show (Tobias Bown and Simon Ruggles) and for Best Event/Outside Broadcast for the May Bumps 2009.
Most of the technology used by Cam FM is developed in-house (such as the automated playout system, computerised playout systems and audio routing in the studio) enabling the station to be built to specification.
Station Managers
Feb 2001 - Feb 2003: Kate Arkless-GrayFeb 2003 - Feb 2004: Helen Chapman
Feb 2004 - Feb 2005: Rob Ousbey
Feb 2005 - Mar 2008: Michael Brooks & Tim Lewis (Deputy)
Mar 2008 - Nov 2009: Martin Steers
Nov 2009 - present: Sophie Wawro
Alumni
Several of the station's members have subsequently achieved considerable success in the wider world of radio & television broadcasting. Notable examples include:- Anne Morrison worked as a director and producer on numerous factual and documentary BBC TV programmes. She became Head of Features in 1994 since when she has run a range of factual television and radio departments at the BBC. In 2006 she was appointed Controller, Network Production, BBC Television.
- Jane Ellison, one of the original founders of the Cambridge University Broadcasting Society, is now Commissioning Editor for General Factual Programmes at BBC Radio 4BBC Radio 4BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
. - Simon Cooper, also one of the founders of the society, was the Group Public Affairs Director of the GCapGCap MediaGCap Media was a British commercial radio company formed from the merger of the Capital Radio Group and GWR Group. The merger was completed in May 2005. It was listed on the London Stock Exchange and was a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index. On 31 March 2008 the company agreed a takeover by...
radio conglomerate before leaving to establish a public image consultancy firm. - David Clouter, another of the original founders and CUR's first ever presenter in 1979, has recently returned to the airwaves of the station to present a weekly rock show across Cambridge on FM with the current programme controller Chris Berrow. In the interim, he spent 15 years in BBC National Radio and subsequently set up digital station TotalRockTotalRockTotalRock is a radio station based in London, England. The station first started in 1997 as Rock Radio Network , changing name to TotalRock in 2000...
with the late Tommy VanceTommy VanceTommy Vance was a British pop radio broadcaster, born in Eynsham, Oxfordshire. He was one of the few music broadcasters in the United Kingdom to champion hard rock and heavy metal in the early 1980s, providing the only national radio forum for both bands and fans...
. - Colin Philpott, another founder of the Cambridge University Broadcasting Society, is Director of the National Media Museum. He previously worked for the BBC where during his 24-year career he fulfilled a number of roles as reporter, producer, documentary maker and editorial manager. His last post before leaving the BBC was Head of BBC YorkshireBBC YorkshireBBC Yorkshire is one of the English regions of the BBC. It was formed from the division of the former BBC North region into BBC Yorkshire and BBC Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, based in Hull.-Television:...
. - Ellie Buchanan (aka Woodstock Taylor), also one of the founders of the Cambridge University Broadcasting Society, was a freelance BBC presenter for many years and now works as a singer and songwriter.
- Tony Johnson, another member of the original team, designed and built CUR's original transmission system in 1979, and went on to work with Tim Berners Lee at Stanford Linear Accelerator CenterStanford Linear Accelerator CenterThe SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, originally named Stanford Linear Accelerator Center, is a United States Department of Energy National Laboratory operated by Stanford University under the programmatic direction of the U.S...
and in 1992 designed MidasWWW, one of the first ever web browsers. He continues to work on browser development at SLAC. - Peter Rumney, another founder, is an award winning playwright, director & poet. His play Jumping on my Shadow won the Arts Council England Best Play Award 2002.
- Kevin GreeningKevin GreeningKevin Greening was a British radio presenter, who co-hosted the BBC Radio 1 breakfast show with Zoe Ball from 1997 to 1998.-Early career:...
, a presenter on BBC Radio 1BBC Radio 1BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
throughout the latter half of the 1990s, went on to present on 102.2 Smooth FM102.2 Smooth FM102.2 Smooth FM was an Independent Local Radio station for Greater London. It replaced 102.2 Jazz FM on the 7 June 2005 at 10am, with the help of R&B singer Lemar and the then breakfast show host Jon Scragg...
, which broadcasts across Greater LondonGreater LondonGreater London is the top-level administrative division of England covering London. It was created in 1965 and spans the City of London, including Middle Temple and Inner Temple, and the 32 London boroughs. This territory is coterminate with the London Government Office Region and the London...
, until his untimely death aged 44 in December 2007. - Matt Fincham is Assistant Producer of the Chris Moyles Show on BBC Radio 1.
- Matthew PriceMatthew PriceMatthew Price is a British journalist who currently works as Europe correspondent for the BBC.-Education:Price was educated at St Catharine's College at the University of Cambridge, gaining a First Class degree in Geography....
is now the BBC's New York Correspondent, having previously been a Middle East Correspondent. - Chris Mason is BBC Radio 5 Live's Political Reporter, having previously worked as a BBC Europe Correspondent, and before that as a reporter on BBC Radio 4's Westminster Hour programme.
- Tom Swarbrick is a presenter and producer at BBC OxfordBBC OxfordBBC Oxford is the name given to the sub-opt out region serving Oxford and the surrounding areas. Its services include:*BBC Oxford News, the local news service called BBC Oxford on screen...
- Richard Straffon was the overnight presenter on Key 103Key 103Key 103 is an Independent Local Radio station broadcasting to the city of Manchester and the north west of England. Its output is principally contemporary pop and dance music. Formerly owned by Trans World Communications, EMAP and now by Bauer Radio, Key 103 is part of Bauer's Place Network of...
in ManchesterManchesterManchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
until April 2005, and is now the drivetime presenter on 97.6 Chiltern FM. - Sarah Major now presents and produces BBC Radio Sheffield's Sunday Breakfast programme.
- Spencer Kelly is presenter of the BBC TV programme Click Online and formerly presenter on Ocean FM broadcasting across PortsmouthPortsmouthPortsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
and SouthamptonSouthamptonSouthampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
. - Chris Dearden is now a news reporter for BBC Wales, after a stint at BBC EssexBBC EssexBBC Essex is the BBC Local Radio service for the English county of Essex. It broadcasts from its studios on New London Road in Chelmsford on 103.5 and 95.3 FM, and on 729 , 765 , and 1530 AM. It is also available on DAB and live streaming via the internet.-History:BBC Essex launched on 5...
, BBC LondonBBC LondonBBC London is the BBC English Region producing local radio, television, teletext and online services in London and parts of the surrounding area. Its output includes the daily BBC London News and the weekly Politics Show on television, the BBC London 94.9 radio station and local coverage of the...
and BBC South East Today. - Jaine Sykes is a researcher and assistant for the BBC TV programme The One ShowThe One ShowThe One Show is a topical magazine-style daily television programme broadcast live on BBC One and BBC One HD, hosted by Alex Jones and Matt Baker. Chris Evans joins Jones to present the programme on Friday...
and previously a broadcast assistant at Wise Buddah Creative
- Martin Steers is Project Manager at community radio station Diverse FMDiverse FMDiverse FM is a radio station which broadcasts in the Luton area. Formerly it operated under an RSL , that was until it was awarded a full license from Ofcom in 2007....
- Bern Leckie, current Programme Controller of GCapGCap MediaGCap Media was a British commercial radio company formed from the merger of the Capital Radio Group and GWR Group. The merger was completed in May 2005. It was listed on the London Stock Exchange and was a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index. On 31 March 2008 the company agreed a takeover by...
's DAB stations CoreCore (radio station)Core was a digital radio station broadcasting across the UK on the Digital One and streamed online. It was aimed at 16- to 24-year-olds with a focus on new music.-Station history:Core was originally owned by GWR Group, now GCap Media...
and ChillChillChill may refer to:* Chills that occur during high fevers as a result of immune response to disease* Shivering, a bodily function in response to early hypothermia in warm-blooded animals...
. - Val Mellon is a presenter on the national DAB station CoreCore (radio station)Core was a digital radio station broadcasting across the UK on the Digital One and streamed online. It was aimed at 16- to 24-year-olds with a focus on new music.-Station history:Core was originally owned by GWR Group, now GCap Media...
. - Rob Ousbey, Production Coordinator at national speech DAB station Oneword RadioOnewordOneword Radio was a British commercial digital radio station featuring books, drama, comedy, children's programming, and discussion. The station was available in the UK via digital radio and digital television and was streamed on the internet 24 hours a day worldwide...
The station holds annual alumni days, on which former members are invited back to once again produce and present shows for listeners within the University.