BFM (radio)

bFM is a radio station which operates in Auckland, New Zealand on Schedule 7 (educational purposes) semi-commercial licence. The station is based in the University of Auckland’s student union building, and is owned by a trust in which the sole shareholder is the Auckland University Students Association, AUSA. The station operates as part of a loose grouping of student radio stations across New Zealand known as the B.net, and broadcasts its signal to greater Auckland at 95.0 on the FM dial. It is the promoter of the b. Net New Zealand Music Awards (along with the other b. Net stations) and the popular Summer Series live events in nearby Albert Park.

History

Founded in 1969, bFM was a pirate student radio station, broadcast from a boat - which ran aground in Auckland's Waitemata Harbour - and played illegally on speakers around the University. The iconic ‘b’ originally stood for "bosom" in honour of a capping week graduation stunt. It transferred from the AM to FM band (originally to 91.8FM) in the early 1980s, under the management of Debbi Gibbs, daughter of prominent New Zealand businessman Alan Gibbs - changing its name from Radio B to bFM at the same time. Its hours expanded and it eventually became a 24-hour station. Although the Breakfast show host (Mikey Havoc), Toaster host (Lewis Tennant), and weekday 2-4pm host (Nick D) are paid, most show hosts are volunteers. The distinctive 95bFM 'b' logo was designed by Johnnie Pain (at that time the bass player for Hallelujah Picassos, now in the Nudie Suits) in the early 1990s - he was asked by then station manager Liz Tan to design it.

The station has developed into New Zealand’s leading alternative music broadcaster, with 100,000 listeners, and in recent years has attracted considerable attention through its current affairs content. During the 2005 general election campaign, it was the station's news and editorial director Noelle McCarthy who conducted the interview in which then National Party leader Don Brash admitted that he had forewarning of a controversial leaflet campaign conducted by the Exclusive Brethren sect. National Party leader John Key and Prime Minister Helen Clark continue to be interviewed every week by host Mikey Havoc on the station's breakfast show.

Radio Shows

The centrepiece of the bNews operation is The Wire, a music and current affairs show which airs every weekday from 12-2pm. The Wire hosts include José Barbosa (News & Editorial Director and former Breakfast producer), Kim Choe, Paul Deady, Joe Nunweek and the Rock n Roll Wire's Troy Ferguson. Former Wire host Simon Pound now presents Sunday Breakfast on Sunday mornings. Daily "bCasts" (a stored mp3 audio file) are available on the station's website. A full schedule is available at the station's website.

The b Card

The station offers for a cost to their listeners a loyalty card, known as a b Card. The card enables listeners to be eligible for prizes and competitions operated by the station. They also have agreements with businesses allowing b Card holders to receive discounts and special offers with these businesses.

Website

The station's website was finalist at the 2006 South by South West Web awards.

Nurturing Ground

The station has a long history of nurturing broadcast talent, including:
* Mikey Havoc (Roberts)
* Marcus Lush
* Graeme Hill
* Russell Brown
* Jeremy Wells (also known as ‘Newsboy’)
* Mark Williams a.k.a Slave
* Otis Frizzell
* Damian Christie (now TVNZ)
* Noelle McCarthy (recently departed from Newstalk ZB)
* Camilla Martin
* Olivia Kember
* Nick D
* Aroha Harawira
* Simon Grigg
* Rebecca Wright
* Wallace Chapman
* Paul Casserly
* Andrew Hawthorne
* Andrew Dickens
* Gary Pearson
* Jude Anaru
* Hugh Sundae
* Brent Impey, CEO of the commercial broadcast company [http://www.canwestglobal.com/international/newzealand.html Canwest New Zealand]
* Gemma Gracewood
* Rob Herrick (Channel Nine Perth, WIN Television WA)

Culture

A key part of the station's culture, and a feature distinguishing it from most commercial radio - is its award-winning creative department. It operates a creative policy that in most cases means it creates its own broadcast advertising, rather than using supplied agency material.

Breakfast Controversy

September 1, 2006 marked the last breakfast show hosted by Wallace Chapman. Chapman had been doing the radio show for the previous nine months. Rumours suggested that Mikey Havoc would be taking up the breakfast slot, having previously hosted it from 1996 to 2002. As a result of this news a website called "Bring Back Wallace" was launched with an online petition, [ [http://www.bringbackwallace.com Bring Back Wallace Site] ] with the aim of showing support for the breakfast host and his show.cite news
first = Rebecca
last = Barry
author =
coauthors =
title = Radio fans make meal of Havoc reshuffle
url = http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/6/story.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=10395787
format = Reprint
work = New Zealand Herald
publisher = APN, New Zealand
pages =
page =
date = 2006-08-12
accessdate = 2006-08-31
language = English] [ [http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0608/S00249.htm Fight For 95bFM's Wallace Gains Popular Support] ] [ [http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0608/S00226.htm Kiwis lining up to support Wallace Chapman] ]

Chapman claimed he had heard his job was under review, and rather than being pushed he would elect to quit. The management company was unmoved by the controversy and Havoc eventually became Breakfast host for the second time.

Notes

External links

* [http://www.95bfm.co.nz Station web site] , includes live stream and podcasts