B F M OFF

Rip It Up, Issue 149, 1 December 1989, Page 4

B F M OFF

‘Campus Radio BFMhas been granted a warrant for permanentbroadcast butthe station will still go offthe air for the coming summer. Under its previous short-term broadcast warrant, BFMhas always shutdown asthe students finishlectures, starting up again early inthe new year, The short-term warrant expireson 10 December, and although the new warrant s effective immediately after that, the station will have one last summer break. Said Station Manager Simon Laan, “Althoughitistheoretically possible to beginbroadcasting asfrom December 11, it isn‘tfeasible financially.

“Withthe advent of deregulationin the broadcasting industry, student stations as awholearein avery weak position. We don't have the capital backing of commercial stations to secure our position inthe market. Already thisyear, Christchurch student station UFM was forced off-airtwo months early because they'd run outof money. “The board and staff of BFM arejustas - disappointed asthe listeners will be at gur going off air, but we know BFM would be in amajor loss situation if we were to attempt to operate this summer.” _ Thisis,however, the lasttime BFM goes offair. The much-loved and listened-to station will resume broadcasting onits new frequency of 95FM asfrom February 1, 1990. “Fromthenon,” says Laan, “it will be business asusual, 365 days ayear.”