Radio One is NOT for Sale
It’s nice to hear some good news amid all the battles over the future of college radio. After a very public protest over a rumored sell-off, the University of Otago student radio station Radio One 91FM in Dunedin, New Zealand announced today that the station will not be sold.
Back in July, the student association that owns the station stated that it was considering selling the station for budgetary reasons. Radio One quickly rallied supporters and in order to raise awareness of the possible sale, they opted to take their regular programming off the air for an entire week from July 2 to July 9. Listeners were encouraged to send letters of support in an attempt to persuade the student association leaders to preserve the station.
According to Station Manager Sean Norling’s post on the Save Radio One 91FM Facebook page this afternoon:
“On Friday the 5th August, Radio One staff came out of a meeting with the OUSA General Manager and members of the Executive with regards to the Deloitte (International consultancy and marketing firm) recommendation that Radio One 91fm be sold.
In the last month we have had a multitude of meetings and conversations with executives, industry types, members, deejays past and present and people that were generally concerned.
The recommendation to sell Radio One received over 140 written submissions, from an outstanding array of individuals, that were passed on to the decision makers.
On Friday we got the word officially – The Deloitte recommendation had been rejected. RADIO ONE IS NOT FOR SALE.. RADIO ONE WILL NOT BE PRIVATISED OR DISESTABLISHED AND REMAINS OPERATING UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF THE OTAGO UNIVERSITY STUDENTS ASSOCIATION.
Radio One and the Exec will put together a plan to ‘ensure greater engagement with students and increase financial performance.’ We have many great plans and initiatives. These things will be achieved to ensure the longevity of our fine station. Thanks to you all for supporting the station, the employees, the listeners and each other through this difficult and uncertain time. Without your efforts and concern, the results may have been very different. Long Live Radio One.”
I’m happy to hear about the successful outcome for Radio One and hope this provides some encouragement for other stations in crisis.
