Surge Radio
Broadcast areaWorldwide (online), Southampton, United Kingdom (on campus)
Programming
Language(s)English
FormatStudent radio, internet radio
History
First air date
February 1976 (February 1976)
Former names
Radio Heffalump (1976–1977)
Radio Glen (1977–2001)
SURGE Radio (2001-2018)
Surge Radio (2018-present)
Former frequencies
1287 AM (1999–2010)
87.7 FM (2005-2016)
Links
Websitesurgeradio.co.uk[1]

Surge Radio is an English student radio station based at the University of Southampton. Founded in 1976 as Radio Heffalump, the station was renamed Radio Glen the following year and originally broadcast from the university's Glen Eyre Halls complex.

Surge Radio broadcasts online from its website, but is also played in select buildings of the University. Alumni of Surge Radio include broadcasters Spencer Kelly, Scott Mills and Chris Stark.

History

Surge Radio began broadcasting in the autumn term of 1976 as a pirate station, before it was agreed in March 1977 to form a legal radio station at Glen Eyre.[2] The station was founded as Radio Glen and initially broadcast from a studio in Glen Eyre "F-Block", transmitting on AM by means of induction-loop systems installed on building rooftops on 963, and later on 1602, KHz.

The early 1980s brought major developments, including the station's first regular service of student news, a consistent programme schedule, the construction of a second studio and new music library, refurbishment of the main studio with cartridge machines and a new student-built mixer, and a sung jingle package. The station relocated to larger premises in New Terrace in 1998.[3]

In 2000 the station began broadcasting on 1287AM, having before only reached Glen Eyre tenants, and in 2001 it commenced FM transmissions for one week per year.[3] Also in 2001, the station was re-branded as SURGE, an acronym of Southampton University Radio from Glen Eyre.[4]

In 2003 the station won its first Student Radio Award, awarded by the UK Student Radio Association: station Webmaster Nicholas Humfrey picked up the Technical Innovation Award for his "Total Request" system, while the website was awarded silver in the Website of the Year category.[5] Surge News was founded in February 2004 by James Laidler,[6] and in 2005 won first place in the SRA News & Talk category, with Nick Bevan picking up Surge's third award, for Newcomer of the Year.[7] In June 2005, Surge successfully received funding of £25,000 from SUSU for construction of a new studio in the Students' Union building on the University's Highfield Campus, which was completed and launched in October.[8] In April 2006 the station hosted the Student Radio Conference, and in June hosted the BBC 6 Music Breakfast Show with Phill Jupitus.[9] Surge picked up an award for Best Entertainment Show in November 2006, when Nick Bevan, Thomas Morgan and Zander Bell won with "The Nick & Mogs Show".[10]

In the 2011 Student Radio Awards Surge's Technical Manager Ben Morton received two nominations for the station, both in the category of Best Technical Achievement;[11] he won the silver award at the ceremony for his work on the Surge Facebook application. Surge celebrated its 40th birthday in 2016.

In February 2017, a rare EMI BTR-3 tape recorder, previously used at Abbey Road Studios in the 1960s, was recovered by members of the Surge committee from the old Glen Eyre Halls studio after information on its whereabouts was provided by former Radio Glen Technical Manager Henry Walmsley, who had used the machine at the premises throughout the 1990s. The BTR-3 was donated to Abbey Road in April 2017, and in exchange, Surge were invited to broadcast from their new 'Front Room' studio.[12] This made Surge the first group to use the Front Room studio, and the first student radio station to ever broadcast from Abbey Road Studios; the broadcast took place on 13 April 2017.

The station was heavily affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing lockdowns; its final broadcast was on the evening of 13 March 2020, which coincided with the Southampton Student Film Festival. While the station was originally expected to begin broadcasting again during the 2021-2022 academic year, permanent broadcasting resumed in an online-only format in July 2022. Surge saw both its membership and funding decrease during the pandemic, however membership significantly increased in the 2022/23 academic year.

Committee

The Surge Radio committee are in charge of running the station and are elected at the end of each academic year for the following academic year by current members of the station. Since 2022, Surge Radio & Television have been combined into a single society with a shared committee. The current Station Manager of Surge is Miko Lisiak.[13]

Studios

Surge Radio, along with Surge TV, operate from two main studios and various facilities through the University of Southampton.

Radio Studio

The Radio Studio is Surge Radio's live broadcast studio. Studio 1 has four microphones and a mixing desk, and the majority of shows on the schedule take place within Studio 1. Studio 1 is also used for live music sessions.

Podcast Studio

The Podcast Studio is Surge Radio's podcast studio; it is primarily used as a recording suite for podcasts, news bulletins, station sound and original music.

Student Radio Awards

Surge Radio has been nominated for, and won, many Student Radio Awards since they were launched in 1995.

Year Nominated work Category Award Notes Ref.
2003 Total Request System Technical Innovation Award Gold Awarded to Nicholas Humfrey [5][14]
surgeradio.co.uk Website of the Year Silver Awarded to Sven Latham and Nicholas Humfrey
Matty in the Morning Best Entertainment Show Nominated Awarded to Matt Treacy and Charlotte Scarbourgh [14][15]
2004 Nicholas Humfrey Best Technical Achievement Silver [15][16]
University Swap Best News and Talk Nominated Awarded to Matt Treacy and Val Mellon
Matt Treacy Best Male Nominated
Surge Station of the Year Nominated
2005 Nick Bevan Newcomer of the Year Gold [7][17]
Surge News News & Talk Gold
Alex Duffy Best Male Nominated [15][17]
Surge Mobile Phone Request System Best Technical Achievement Nominated Awarded to Nicholas Humfrey
Surge Best Off-air Promotion and Imaging Nominated
2006 The Nick & Mogs Show Best Entertainment Show Gold Awarded to Nick Bevan, Thomas Morgan and Zander Bell [10][15]
Elections Night Live Best Live Event/Outside Broadcast Bronze
Surge Newsweek Best Journalistic Programme Bronze Awarded to James Laidler and Kate Jowett
Surge Best Technical Innovation Nominated [15]
2007 Surge Newsweek Best Journalistic Programming Silver [18][19]
surgeradio.co.uk Best Technical Innovation Silver
Surge Best Marketing & Branding Silver
2008 The Student Soundtrack Best Entertainment Nominated [15]
2009 SurgeCart and Podcast Generator Best Technical Achievement Bronze Awarded to Jason Allen [20]
Kate Harrington and Jason Allen Best Student Radio Chart Show Nominated [21]
Surge Newsweek Best Journalistic Programming Nominated
2010 Surge Newsweek Best Journalistic Programming Nominated [15]
2011 Total Request Facebook Application Best Technical Achievement Silver Awarded to Ben Morton [22]
Outside Broadcast System Best Technical Achievement Nominated
2012 Emma Real-Davies Best Female Nominated [23]
2013 Emma Real-Davies Best Female Bronze [23]
2014 Emma Real-Davies Best Female Nominated [24]
Surge Best Marketing & Station Sound Nominated [24]
Surge’s Online Redevelopment Best Technical Achievement Nominated Awarded to Ben Morton [24]
2015 Toby Leveson Best Newcomer Nominated [25]
Surge's 48 Hour Marathon Best Live Event or Outside Broadcast Nominated [25]
2016 Don't Touch Me I'm Famous Best Entertainment Programme Nominated Awarded to Toby Leveson and Cameron Meldrum [26][27]
The Lowdown with Tom Cross Best Entertainment Programme Gold Awarded to Tom Cross [28][29]
Tom Cross Best Male Silver [28]
2017 Surge's 48 Hour Marathon Best Live Event or Outside Broadcast Nominated [30]
Surge's Jailbreak Coverage Best Live Event or Outside Broadcast Silver [30][31]
Surge's SRA Chart Show Best Student Radio Chart Show Nominated [30]
Georgia Rytina with John Giddings Best Interview Nominated Awarded to Georgia Rytina [30]
The Union Best Speech Programming Nominated [30]
Teeny Tiny Toby Time Best Entertainment Programme Nominated Awarded to Toby Leveson [30]
Surge's Jailbreak Coverage Best Multiplatform Initiative Silver [30][31]
2018 Surge Radio’s Alexa Skill & Facebook Chatbot Best Technical Achievement Nominated [32]

I Love Student Radio Awards

The I Love Student Radio Awards are a separate awards ceremony held every year at the Student Radio Conference that aim to celebrate and reward the commitment of individuals and teams that work in student radio.[33]

Year Nominated work Category Award Notes Ref.
2018 Surge News Team Team of the Year Won [34]
2019 Surge Podcasts Best Audience Initiative Highly Commended [35]
Jack Challinor Most Committed Committee Member Highly Commended [34]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Surge Radio – Your Student Soundtrack". surgeradio.co.uk. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  2. ↑ "Radio Heffalump". Station History. Surge. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
  3. 1 2 "Station History". About Surge. Surge. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
  4. ↑ "Surge Radio » About". Surge Radio. Retrieved 19 September 2018.
  5. 1 2 "Who won what!". Student Radio Awards. UK Student Radio Association. 24 November 2003. Archived from the original on 23 December 2003. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
  6. ↑ "2003-2004 Year Book". Station History. Surge. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
  7. 1 2 "2005 Winners". Student Radio Awards. UK Student Radio Association. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
  8. ↑ "2005-2006 Year Book" (PDF). Station History. Surge. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
  9. ↑ "2006-2007 Year Book". Station History. Surge. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
  10. 1 2 "2006 Winners". Student Radio Awards. UK Student Radio Association. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
  11. ↑ "2011 Student Radio Awards: Nominations Announced". UK Student Radio Association. 11 October 2011. Archived from the original on 11 June 2012. Retrieved 3 November 2011.
  12. ↑ "A Welcome Return For Lost Tape Machine". Abbey Road Studios. 12 April 2017. Retrieved 13 April 2017.
  13. ↑ https://www.susu.org/groups/surge
  14. 1 2 "SURGE-ing ahead!". Wessex Scene. 25 November 2003. Archived from the original on 17 August 2013. Retrieved 16 August 2013.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Award winning radio station". Surge. Retrieved 16 August 2013.
  16. ↑ Fewell, Laura (23 November 2004). "Surge Scoops!". Wessex Scene. Archived from the original on 17 August 2013. Retrieved 16 August 2013.
  17. 1 2 Fewell, Laura (13 December 2005). "Surging to Victory". Wessex Scene. Retrieved 16 August 2013.
  18. ↑ "2007 Winners". Student Radio Awards. UK Student Radio Association. Archived from the original on 19 December 2007. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
  19. ↑ Hornsby, Liam (7 December 2007). "Success for Surge". Wessex Scene. Retrieved 16 August 2013.
  20. ↑ Mark Farrington (25 November 2009). "Student Radio Awards Winners Announced". UK Student Radio Association. Archived from the original on 25 July 2011. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
  21. ↑ Bradman, Carla (17 November 2009). "Diary". Wessex Scene. Retrieved 16 August 2013.
  22. ↑ Palser, Thom (11 October 2011). "2011 Student Radio Awards: Nominations Announced". Student Radio Association. Archived from the original on 11 June 2012. Retrieved 16 August 2013.
  23. 1 2 Bradshaw, Emma (8 October 2012). "And the nominations are..." Student Radio Association. Retrieved 8 October 2012.
  24. 1 2 3 Manton, Stu (5 May 2014). "And the winners are..." Student Radio Association. Archived from the original on 10 November 2014. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
  25. 1 2 "The nominations for the Student Radio Awards 2015 are IN!". Student Radio Association. 7 October 2015. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
  26. ↑ "The Student Radio Awards 2016: NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCED…". Student Radio Association. 12 October 2016. Retrieved 11 November 2016.
  27. ↑ "Don't Touch Me I'm Famous". Surge Radio. 12 October 2015. Retrieved 11 November 2016.
  28. 1 2 "Student Radio Awards 2016 Winners!". Student Radio Association. 10 November 2016. Retrieved 11 November 2016.
  29. ↑ "The Lowdown - with Tom Cross". Surge Radio. 30 June 2016. Retrieved 11 November 2016.
  30. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "The nominations for the Student Radio Awards 2017 are in!". Student Radio Association. 11 October 2017. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
  31. 1 2 "Student Radio Awards 2017 The Winners!". Student Radio Association. 8 November 2017. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
  32. ↑ "The Nominations for the Student Radio Awards 2018 are in!". Student Radio Association. 10 October 2018. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
  33. ↑ "I Love Student Radio Awards". Student Radio Association. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
  34. 1 2 "The I Love Student Radio Awards 2018 WINNERS | Student Radio Association". www.studentradio.org.uk. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
  35. ↑ "The I Love Student Radio Awards 2019 WINNERS". Student Radio Association. 17 April 2019. Retrieved 6 May 2019.

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