During interviews with current staff of the Media Production Unit at Glasgow University, it was revealed that the University's Television Service began operating in 1963. However, it is believed that Glasgow University Student Television was founded in 1964. It is unclear when the name GUST was actually created, but it began being commonly used in the 1970s. This means that GUST was the first student television station to be founded in the United Kingdom, and also the oldest student television station in Europe. There is a station in the United States that was founded before GUST, but this station was staff run for students. Thus, GUST is the oldest student-run television station in the world. Between 1966-68, Glasgow University built a television studio in the basement of Southpark House in order to support teaching facilities. It was hoped that this new facility would be used for a student operated TV service made by students. This marked the beginning of GUST as a broadcasting station. To this day, GUST hold their weekly studios in these facilities to create videos.
1960s-1990s
GUST would originally broadcast a weekly live programme on a Friday lunchtime, cleverly titled “Lunchtime Friday,” which would run for about an hour and would be shown at 12:10pm and repeated at 1:10pm every Friday during term time. This content would be broadcast on the University's cable network so GUST programmes would reach every building on campus, and also many others outside the university. That then means GUST was broadcasting on the biggest cable network in Europe at the time. GUST was a founding member of the National Student Television Association, helping establish the first awards ceremony in 1973. Notable past GUSTies include Steven Moffat and Andrew Neil, both of whom were members of the station during their time at the University of Glasgow.
Present day
GUST is shown on television screens around campus but also broadcasts their programming on their own website, gust.tv, which it has done since 2005. Alongside ongoing coverage of student life and goings-on in Glasgow as a whole, they cover Freshers' Week every year, including events organised by the Students' Representative Council, Glasgow University Union, Glasgow University Sports Association and Queen Margaret Union. Notably, GUST produces a Freshers' Guide each year that is streamed at the Freshers' Address given on the Monday of Freshers' Week. In 2014, the university's production studio at Southpark House was upgraded to a full HD studio. GUST produces a variety of programmes, ranging from interviews with musicians and documentaries on cosplay and mental health, as well as much more. Some recent GUST series include Miscellanea, Surround Sound Live, Creative Conflict and Experimental Shorts.
Structure
GUST is managed by an executive team named the Top 4, composed of the Controller, Head of Creative Programming, Head of Factual Programming and Head of Technical. Unlike most British student television stations, the station chose to keep the name "Controller" as opposed to "Station Manager" to reflect the historical name for that position at the BBC. Producers, coordinators and convenors fall under the supervision of one of the members of the Top 4. There are four Creative producerships, four Factual producerships, three technical positions and three organisational positions. Whilst producers focus on the creation of content, the various coordinators and convenors assist with the general functioning of the station.
Awards
Along with the many NaSTA awards that GUST has been able to obtain over the years, there are also many other awards that GUST have been fortunate enough to receive. In 1977 and 1978, GUST won Best Float in the Charity's float competition. Their prize was a barrel of beer and GUST came out and apologised if this prize affected their video quality in any way. In 1995, GUST were awarded 'The Stanley's: The Next Big Thing' in the Student category by the Royal Television Society. In 1998, two of GUST's videos were selected to be screened at the University of Glasgow International Student Film and Video Festival. These programmes were the Best of G-Spot and Best of GUST. In 2016, GUST won Most Dedicated Member: Sarah Battensby in Volunteering, Clubs and Societies Awards at the University of Glasgow. At the most recent edition of the NaSTA awards, GUST won Best Documentary & Factual. In 2018 they received three Highly Commended awards for Best Writing, Best On-Screen Talent and Best Freshers' Coverage, and in 2017 they won Best Male and Best Ident as well as received two Highly Commended awards for Best Open and Best Station Marketing.
