Music, sport and political debate – and perhaps even an Aberdeen version of The Archers – is just some of the programming planned for the University of Aberdeen’s brand new student radio station.
Aberdeen Student Radio (ASR) – the first student station on campus for nearly a decade - will be officially launched at the end of the traditional Freshers' Week in September.
But prospective students will now be able to get a sneak preview of the station at the University's Open Day on August 28.
"We're all very excited about the project, and are desperate to get started," said Richard Miller, Student Association President, who headed up a team that lobbied for a station to be re-launched.
"The Open Day sneak preview will allow us to showcase some of the programmes we're currently producing, as well as offering a chance for anyone interested in getting involved with the station to meet some of the team and have their questions answered."
The University has funded the project to the tune of £10,000, with the Students Association also contributing a significant sum to get the station off the ground.
Programmes will include wide-ranging music slots embracing everything from alternative rock to classic jazz; sports updates and a range of chat shows covering politics, current affairs and the student issues of the day.
And there's even talk of the station's very own version of Radio 4's enduring soap opera, The Archers.
"We've already got a couple of characters in mind," smiled Richard. "We're hoping to record English students reading out shorts stories and poems to begin with so it's only a matter of time until we progress to having some kind of equivalent show to The Archers.
"It's important that students get to be creative. We don't need to be spoon fed popular culture, and we should have the right to explore what we like and then share that with others.
"We want to make sure there's something for everyone at ASR so students will be able to get involved - whether it's helping produce a show at 3am, or listening to the breakfast show before lectures."
"We'll also be encouraging live and local music. We're going to try to feature new or unsigned bands that want to showcase their talents to students. And we're going to keep a finger on the pulse and try to appear at live and local music shows around the city."
ASR will initially broadcast over the internet during the nine months of term, with a view to expanding as the station becomes more established.
"The Students Association has not had a radio station for years but there was real demand for it" explained Richard. "There's been a lot of work to get where we are now, but it's brilliant to be at a point where we're able to give students interested in experiencing radio broadcasting the chance to do it right here at the University."
And he added, "It's an exciting time to be in Aberdeen, especially with the campus now going wireless, which means students will be able to tune in to the station on their laptops. ASR is for students, made by students, and everyone can have their say. For me it's a dream come true."
For more information about other events at the Open Day on August 28 visit www.abdn.ac.uk/openday/