Student Radio Network
The Student Radio Network (known as bNet between 1998 and 2009) is a loose grouping of the current and former student radio stations in New Zealand. The network co-operates on advertising sales, collaborates on ideas and shares original programming. The student stations broadcast local independent news and current affairs, and have provided a platform for new or independent New Zealand artists.
The stations are fiercely independent and autonomous. Some are run by student associations while others are owned by independent non-profit trusts. The 2011 Canterbury earthquake and the introduction of voluntary student membership have raised fresh concerns about the future of student broadcasting, but the role of the stations continues to be recognised by New Zealand on Air and the Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
History
The network began as a grouping of university student radio stations in major centres, and for a while operated as a commercial network of student union stations and former student union stations in six markets. In 1986 member station Radio One launched the Rad-One Card, a low-cost discount and loyalty card with on-air competitions, to raise funds. Similar schemes have now been launched by other stations, such as the Active card by Radio Active and the bCard by bFM and Bank of New Zealand.
97.3 FM (Brisbane)
97.3fm (call sign: 4BFM) is a commercial radio station in Brisbane, Australia. It is a 50/50 joint venture between NOVA Entertainment and Australian Radio Network, who jointly purchased the license at auction for $67M.
97.3fm plays current hits and a variety of 70s, 80s and 90s music (Hot Adult Contemporary), primarily targeted at the 25-54 age group, the group most valued by advertisers. Brisbane's 97.3 FM is part of the KIIS Network with sister stations in other major Australian cities - KIIS 106.5 Sydney, KIIS 101.1 Melbourne, Mix 102.3 Adelaide and Mix 106.3 Canberra. In January 2015, 97.3fm rebranded with a new logo, along with sister stations in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide.
The addition of DAB AAC+ Digital Radio to Brisbane means that 97.3 FM and its co-owned Classic Hits 4KQ will both be available on the digital format. The additional channel to be provided by 97.3 is called "The Edge Digital", a digital format revamp of the ARN owned Edge 96.1 in Western Sydney.
BFM 89.9
BFM 89.9 is Malaysia's only independent radio station, focusing on business news and current affairs. BFM's purpose is to build a better Malaysia by championing rational, evidence-based discourse as a key element of good policy decisions.
BFM 89.9 is a recent addition to Malaysia's FM radio landscape. It first went on air on 4 September 2008 and professes to be Malaysia's first business radio station.
Despite its tagline of "The Business Station", the station offers a mix of business and non-business programming. Its business programmes include international and local business news headlines, stock market reports and interviews with corporate personalities and start-ups. Its non-business programming includes interviews with protagonists on personal and professional development, health, and the arts.
In August 2009, BFM made its foray into sports programming by launching live Premier League football games on radio. BFM is also getting recognition for the adult-oriented rock genre music that it plays during non talk-programming segments, a genre which is apparently not covered by incumbent radio stations. It also does play Malay songs from 12 am to 6 am every day.
