Student radio back on air
On track: broadcasting will begin next week
AFTER MONTHS of legal wrangling, the dispute over ownership of the university's radio station has been resolved. The station is now expected to be back on air at the start of next week. The station currently hosted within OUSU, Altered Radio, will be renamed ‘Oxford Student Radio' following the completion of a takeover deal with Oxford Student Services Limited (OSSL).
Current co-controller of the station, Tim Partridge, told The Oxford Student: “The time it took to complete the takeover was unfortunate but necessary. We're all very excited about getting back on air.” As reported three weeks ago, Rockstudent owner Balreick Srai had claimed ownership of the station following a sponsorship agreement.
The protracted battle for the current Altered Radio station ended on Tuesday after the University's legal department confirmed Srai could not claim ownership of equipment bought with a government grant. Srai insists that he still owns the rights to the name ‘Altered Radio' and that a station run by Altered Radio Ltd bearing that name will be relaunched soon, possibly by the end of term.
He told The Oxford Student that although he expects the new OSSL station to surpass Altered Radio in listening figures, it would not compare in quality. “They'll be higher, we'll be better”, he said. “This thing isn't over.” It is expected that OSSL will apply for a short-term FM license for this Trinity term.
24th Feb 2005