1449AM URB - History

History

URB (University Radio Bath), previously URB 963, and currently 1449AM URB launched on 16 May 1973 and is a student-run radio station at the University of Bath. It was launched by Annie Nightingale & Pete Murray from Radio 1. In 1994 and 2003 URB also broadcast under short-term Restricted Service Licences across the city of Bath on the FM band. In summer 1995 Torch FM 106.2 used URB studios and presenters to provide a city-wide radio service for the European Youth Olympics in Bath.

The station was originally broadcast from a cupboard in the Electrical Engineering Department and carried by induction loops in all of the campus residences. A year after launch the station moved the current studios in Norwood house but still retained the induction loop transmitters, which were updated and expanded as new residences were built on campus. Over the years loudspeakers playing URB were added to the campus laundrettes and the students' union coffee shop. In summer 1994 renovations to the Westwood blocks severed the wires to the loops there and after that URB 963 could only be heard in Eastwood, Wessex and Norwood. On 8 February 2001 at 14:49 1449AM URB launched as a low powered AM service covering the whole campus and the remaining induction loops on 963 were switched off. The addition of internet streaming has also given the station a significant boost.

Neil Fox - better known as Dr Fox - and Richard Evans of Radio 1 Newsbeat both started their careers at URB.

In 1987 three URB presenters (Graham Hutkins, Ben Ramsden & Andrew Wiseman) broadcast a special 24-hour show, raising money for local charities. In March 2008 presenters broadcast 60 hours of continuous live shows to raise money for the charity Hearing Aid.

In March 2008 URB hosted the National Student Radio Conference on behalf of the Student Radio Association the conference between 17 and 19 March featured talks from a variety of speakers from the world of radio including Radio 1's Greg James.