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.