SURGEtv

Surge TV (Surge Television) is a student television station that serves the students of the University of Southampton. The station was commissioned in 2006 and is a union group within the University of Southampton Students' Union, alongside its sister radio station Surge Radio. The station has produced and aired a variety of different programmes, including news coverage, special event programming, and original short films and series. Notable shows and films include the 2013 fantasy series Elfrida and the 2015 documentary The Gay Word. The station currently creates online contents available via YouTube and Facebook.

Surge TV
Broadcast areaUnited Kingdom
Worldwide (online)
AffiliatesNaSTA
HeadquartersSouthampton, Hampshire
Ownership
OwnerUniversity of Southampton Students' Union
History
Launched2006
Links
Websitewww.susu.tv

History

The origins of SUSUtv began when the idea was originally submitted in 2001 but was rejected at the time.[1] The idea resurfaced in 2006 when the union began to start producing video for their website.[1] As a result, SUSUtv was formed in 2007 so that students could make these ever more ambitious videos.[1] The following year the station joined the NaSTA.[1] In 2010 the station adopted its current logo and bright green colour scheme, moved to its first studio in the bottom of the Students' Union building. The station was the first student television station to broadcast in HD for their 2010 sabbatical elections special.[2]

Between 2013 and 2016, the station successfully crowdfunded and produced the fantasy drama Elfrida, and aired documentaries such as The Gay Word. These combined have received over 100,000 views on social media channels.

In 2016, in line with the rebrand of the SUSU organisation as "Us.", the station briefly rebranded to UStv. This name change was never formalised and fell out of use fairly quickly. 2017 saw the largest graphical rebrand of the station to date, introducing the iteration of the "S" power button logo still in use today. 2017-20 is regarded as one of the most productive periods for the station, with a distinctive pivot towards short films and news content. Shorts such as December Heat and the award-winning Constellations were made during this time.

The lockdowns following the COVID-19 pandemic coincided with a loss of station members, partially due to many graduating during this period. 2019 and 2020 both saw live coverage of national elections in the UK and US.

SURGEtv officially announced its rebranding in August 2021, shortly before Freshers 2021. It has since produced live programming and sports coverage for the University, including the 2023 varsity games, and charity events with the SUABC boxing club.

Awards

Over the years, SUSUtv has won a number of awards including at a national level at the annual NaSTA Awards.

Year Award Ceremony Category Nominated Video Placing
2008 NaSTA Best Light Entertainment Winchester Campus Piece Highly Commended
2011 NaSTA Best Animation Animation Highly Commended
Best Comedy Petty Crimes Won
Best Drama Flat 443 Won
Best Music to Video Arp Attack - 'Crocodile Tears' Highly Commended
2012 NaSTA Best Animation Bedtime Kevin! Won [3]
Best Station Marketing Marketing Won [3]
Best Technical Technical Highly Commended [3]
2014 NaSTA Best Comedy Marshall and Hart Won
Best Live SUSU Elections Night Live 2013 Won
Best Music 'Damage Control' Highly Commended
Best Writing The Society Won
2015 NaSTA Best Light Entertainment SUSUtv does Top Gear Won
NaSTA People's Choice Awards Content Innovation Award SUSU Elections Night Live 2014 Won
2016 NaSTA Best Documentary Radar - Britain's Shield Highly Commended
Best Live SUSU Elections Night Live 2015 Highly Commended
NaSTA People's Choice Awards Content Innovation Award SUSU Elections Night Live 2015 Won
2017 NaSTA Best Writing Blind Love Highly Commended
NaSTA People's Choice Awards Content Innovation Award Women In Sport Live Won
Live Award EU Referendum Live Runner up
On-Screen Talent Award Tom Pethick Won[4]
Open Award Where do Snowmen Go in the Summer? Runner up[5]
Technical Innovation Award Developing VT Manager Won
Unsung Hero Dave Williams Won
National Student Society Awards Best Media Society N/A Highly Commended
2018 NaSTA Best On-Screen Talent
2019 NaSTA Best Station Marketing Won
Mars el-Brogy Award Won
Best Post Production Highly Commended
Best Writing Highly Commended

References

  1. "History". SUSUtv. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
  2. "A first for internet HD broadcasting". 60 years - Success number 27. University of Southampton. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
  3. "SUSUtv Awards 2012". NUTS. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
  4. "NaSTA on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
  5. "NaSTA on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
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