MUN’s campus radio station is hoping to adapt amid financial troubles

Operators of Memorial University’s campus radio station — CHMR-FM — in St. John’s say they’re facing financial pressures and a changing media landscape, meaning the station is having to adapt in order to survive.

The station’s roots began in 1951 with the MUN Radio club. It later began broadcasting on the FM band 93.5 in 1987 following the approval by the CRTC.

And while the station used to focus solely on radio, station manager Rhea Rollmann says they’re now shifting to include more podcast and video content.

“We’re kind of starting to increasingly envision ourselves as kind of a community access media lab,” Rollmann told CBC News.

But maintaining the station itself has been a constant strain on the budget. For years, the station has been funded by the MUN Students’ Union (MUNSU). According to MUNSU’s 2023-24 financial audit, CHMR’s annual deficit has grown to nearly $200,000.

Rollmann said relying on a single revenue source can be precarious.

“We need to be able to afford to kind of stay ahead of that technological curve,” Rollmann said.

“We want to be able to kind of diversify where our funding comes from. And so we’ve been turning increasingly to our community.”

In a statement to CBC News, Nathan Gillingham, MUNSU’s director of external affairs, said CHMR has played a meaningful role on campus and in the community.

WATCH | Students and volunteers are working hard to keep MUN’s radio station on the air:

MUN campus radio station looks to adapt amid financial problems

MUN’s campus radio station has been on the airwaves for 50 years. But a changing media landscape has made running operations difficult. Now the station is looking towards modern media.

But, he said, the changing media landscape has turned many young people away from traditional sources.

“CHMR is not immune to these pressures, with the station facing recent financial and operational challenges,” Gillingham wrote. “These include rising costs, aging infrastructure, and a steadily changing audience.”

Gillingham said MUNSU will continue to assess the situation.

“Our priority will always be to deliver services that meaningfully support and represent our 12,000-strong student membership,” he wrote.

Local media decline

In March, the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives released a report that found local news coverage across Canada was in a steep decline.

Rollmann said it’s more important now than ever for CHMR to focus on local content.

“This province has lost upwards of two thirds of its local news outlets over the past couple of decades. So the fact that, you know, what we produce is produced locally is really important to us,” Rollmann said.

Meanwhile, a recent survey conducted by the National Campus and Community Radio Association suggests campus and community radio listenership has doubled since 2017.

“As we see social media platforms … increasing censorship, as we see [artificial intelligence] taking over, a growing number of folks are turning back to other forms of media like campus and community radio,” said Rollmann.

Turning to podcasting

Andrew Connors, a MUN student and producer of the CHMR show Sports on The Rock, says CHMR has been a great place for him to develop broadcasting skills.

“I think it’s good to be involved with something on campus,” said Connors.

“If you have opportunities to do stuff that might interest you for free, I think it’s always a good opportunity.”

However, Connors said young people “probably” aren’t interested in radio, with streaming services so readily available.

But, he said, rising interest in podcasting could draw students to the station.

“I think a lot of shows at CHMR could see success. And I think, you know, no matter what the future is, I think it’s a good resource here for students in the long run who want to podcast,” Connors said.

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