History
Oxide Radio was founded in 2001 following the demise of the previous student radio station, Oxygen FM. Broadcasting from 1997 to 2001, Oxygen FM was Oxford University's student radio station which broadcast full-time on FM, as well as an internet stream. Oxygen's closure came about as a result of a failure to abide by Ofcom broadcast regulations, which led to a record fine of £20,000 and a shortening of the broadcast license.
Given that the expiry of Oxygen FM's license and the subsequent dissolution of the organisation had left students without a station, a new station was formed in 2001 as Fusion FM, before becoming Oxford Student Radio approximately 10 months later. It was then rebranded as Altered Radio in 2003. Initially broadcasting from an office in Little Clarendon Street, Oxford, the station transferred ownership to OSSL (Oxford Student Services Limited, the financial arm of the University's Student Union), and was accommodated in the student union buildings in 2003.
A third rebranding to Oxide Radio was shortly followed by the impact of an Student Union) financial crisis. In significant monetary difficulties during 2006, OUSU cut Oxide's £5,700 per year budget completely and presenters were forced to pay membership dues to keep the station afloat. Fortunately, this no longer takes place. but the cuts did see an increased move towards the application for sponsorship. At the time, Oxide acquired sponsorship from Shirtworks, a local clothing supplier. In contrast, Phill Jupitus, Radio 1 DJ, criticised the cuts:
Student radio stations provide a useful and vibrant autonomous channel for student communication. Gigs, sports events, clubs, essential announcements — all of them can be broadcast to the student body with their own voice. This unifying effect of a student run and staffed radio station is an invaluable asset to any educational institution, and that Oxford should be in such a parlous state strikes me as fucking insane (to use a broadcasting term...). —Phil Jupitus,Read more about this topic: Oxide Radio
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