Carleton University Students’ Association (CUSA) has launched CUSA Live, an online radio channel that the association says plays what students actually want to hear.
After two months of designing and organizing their website and app, CUSA Live launched at the start of Fall Orientation Week Sept. 2. Over the course of the fall orientation, the mobile app was downloaded over 200 times, designer and facilitator Luke Smith said via email.
CUSA Live includes a live music stream, live video and audio coverage of Carleton events, and a mobile app.
The purpose of CUSA Live is “to connect and engage Carleton students and keep them in touch with their Student Association and the Carleton community. One of the primary objectives…is to provide…content that is made by students for students,” Smith said.
Although the primary focus is streaming non-stop music, CUSA vice-president (finance) Michael De Luca said there are two radio shows – 3 Gays on the Radio and Raven’s Eye: The Political Broadcast.
CUSA Live will also broadcast all student council meetings, making Carleton the first school in Canada to do this, De Luca said.
“It’s a mechanism for transparency to students that elected us,” De Luca said.
De Luca said the plan is to incorporate as much Carleton talent into CUSA Live as possible. The radio station will feature live coverage of university events from sports to culture to DJ sets at Oliver’s Pub’s Thirsty Thursdays.
In addition to student talent being showcased, De Luca said he predicts CUSA Live will be a source of student job creation. Presently, CUSA Live facilitators are the only paid positions.
CUSA Live will generate revenue by selling ad space on its website. The money will be reinvested into other aspects of the student budget such as clubs and societies.
De Luca said the ad space won’t go higher than six percent as to ensure students have as much content to listen to as possible.
Selling ad space is nothing new, however CUSA Live’s choice to broadcast online instead of through the airwaves is with the decision to participate in the global move from traditional to digital media.
“We view airwaves as a source of media that is that is slowly going out of style. Students largely connect with platforms either online or through handheld devices,” Smith said.
The app is currently available on the Apple iPhone and Android phones, while Blackberry users can expect to see it within the next few weeks.
