Last days for U

Press, 19 August 1983, Page 13

Last days for U

Radio U, the University of Canterbury radio station, will end its longest broadcasting period on Sunday evening. The station, staffed by student volunteers, has been on the air each day since February. It has been a successful yet unlucky year for the station. Its aerial was blown down in May, and it has spent money erasing the cost of that accident since. “But we have paid it off now, and we may just make a little money for the six months,” said the station manager, Mr John McLaughlin.

The longer broadcast — Radio U has hit the airwaves in month-long bursts in past years — had attracted more advertising and higher ratings. Mr McLaughlin said that for the station to get more advertising, it would need full-time sales staff. As that was unlikely, the station would continue to be in a tight financial position while it was paying off its broadcast equipment. Radio U would broadcast for “at least as long” next year, he said, and, it was hoped, for 17 hours a day.