News and Events

Students relaunch award-winning station

5 February 2008

Students from BU’s MA in Radio Production course

Our award-winning internet radio station, BIRSt, run by MA students, is back on the air.

BU’s internet radio station (BIRSt) is back ‘on the air' with a fresh range of programmes on demand for listeners the world over.

BIRSt is run each year by students on our MA Radio Production course and showcases the work of our current group of budding producers.

The station broadcasts entirely on the internet, where visitors can choose from a range of pre-recorded programmes, from drama and fact-based features to comedy and music. Some programmes are produced by international students in their own languages.

Jo Bishop, Area Station Director of ‘The Local Radio Company’, which owns Bournemouth-based Fire Radio, performed the formal switch-on of the station. She congratulated our students on their production skills and management capabilities.

BIRSt students and alumni have won several accolades over the years for the quality of their programmes at the National Student Radio Awards.

The MA in Radio Production course is run under the direction of Professor Sean Street, who remains a prolific maker of radio features for BBC Radio 3 and BBC Radio 4.

“This year's offering online promises even greater diversity and interest for a wide range of listeners. The proof is in the listening and we encourage everyone to tune in,” says Professor Street, the UK’s first and only Professor of Radio.

Over the years, BIRSt has developed a global reputation with listeners contacting the station from as far afield as Australia and North America, as well as throughout Europe.