Radio One

The Herald reports:

Musicians and media have hit out at plans to sell student radio station Radio One as an attack on the cultural heart of Dunedin.

Otago University Students Association (OUSA) has confirmed it is looking at selling Radio One to save money ahead of legislation ending compulsory membership of student bodies.

The station is broadcasting nothing but ambient noise and explanatory public service announcements this week to protest the proposal.

Manager Sean Norling said Radio One was Dunedin’s most established independent radio station and was crucial to making the city a viable option for touring artists.

There is an assumption here that if Radio One is sold, and no longer subsidised, it would not exist.

This is not the case. In Wellington we have Radio Active. It used to be owned by VUWSA but as is often the case when you have easy compulsory money, became a black hole and almost bankrupted VUWSA. So VUWSA sold it to existing management, and for over two decades it has continued on stronger than ever. It still has a strong following, is non-commercial, and no longer funded by students against their will.

A student survey last year also revealed Radio One as one of the least valued OUSA assets, Mr Edgar said.

So why should students be forced to fund it?

The proposal would now go through a submissions phase and Radio One staff would have the opportunity to have their say. A decision was likely to be made before the end of the year.

Because the station had a non-profit licence, Norling said he believed it would have “little commercial appeal” and a sale was unlikely.

Radio Active has managed fine for 20 years without VUWSA funding. bFM in Auckland does very well without compulsory AUSA funding.

Norling would be better placed working on a business plan which does not involve OUSA funding, than going on an effective strike.