Radio AF’s new program listing is packed with 18 new programs.
“It should be a good mix”, deputy station manager”, Lina Asp says.
In 2013, Radio AF’s news program Magasinet was awarded the prize as Sweden’s best community radio program. Last year, Radio AF got diddled by their Uppsala counterpart. But this spring, Radio AF will make a priority effort getting back to the top.
Last summer, Radio AF stopped broadcasting on the FM-band. The programs are now broadcast exclusively online, in podcast format.
“The program listings are not so hot anymore. Those who listen to the programs, listen to them in podcast format. As we don’t have the FM broadcasts anymore, we have the economy to work with a newer and better web site”, Radio AF’s deputy station manager, Lina Asp says.
“We were the first student radio station on the FM-band, and also the first to shut it down. Now, we are the first to broadcast only on the web. We dare to be at the front edge”.
Forty-six different programs
During spring, 18 new programs will be introduced. The political interview program Hårt snack, the music niched TBA, and a program about sex, Knullespondenterna, are some of the new concepts. All together, there are 46 different programs on Radio AF this spring.
“It will be a good mix. It’s a bit more niched stuff, not too broad and not too general programs. We can produce what you think is fun and make super-slim programs. It is the diversity that is the in-thing”, Lina Asp says.
What program should listeners listen to most?
“The news program Magasinet, which won the award for best community radio program in 2013, is always a good suggestion”.
No sports
But there are gaps in the diversity. Among the 46 different programs broadcast, only two of them are in languages other than Swedish, and none of the programs focus on sports.
“Sports programs are scarce?. Earlier, we had a football program and other programs like that. I think there is a demand, but I do not know if students are interested in sports”, Lina Asp says.
Before every semester, Radio AF has an introductory course in radio production. The course is held in Swedish and, therefore, excludes many exchange students who are interested in student radio.
“We are working to introduce more international students on the channel. It has been decided that we will try to have a simpler approach for the exchange students who want to broadcast radio”, Lina Asp says.
One full-timer
Radio AF has one full-time employee – otherwise the organization is based on voluntary work. Something Lina Asp thinks can make the channel Sweden’s best community radio once more.
“There is something very special about voluntary work. That’s the beauty of student radio in general. We do this in order to have something to be proud of”, Lina Asp says and adds:
“We are also larger and more established than Uppsala”.
