| Victoria Radio Network | |
| Area: | Victoria Hospital |
| Airdate: | 3 March 1971 |
| Format: | Music and Talk |
The Victoria Radio Network (VRN) is a hospital radio station based in Kirkcaldy, Scotland.[1] It currently broadcasts 24 hours a day to the premises of the Victoria Hospital and surrounding facilities to patients' bedside radios and www.vrnkirkcaldy.com
VRN was formed in February 1971 by a group of young people in Kirkcaldy. Its first broadcast took place on 3 March, and the studio was originally housed in a cupboard of the main tower block of the hospital.
The station moved to premises on nearby St Clair Street, approximately 1 mile from the hospital. However, when this area was later redeveloped, the station moved back to the hospital site. This time, a custom-built studio was created out of Portakabins. The final move was to an old boiler house on Willow Drive.
In 2002, VRN was awarded a medium wave broadcasting licence. The first AM (medium wave) broadcast took place on 2 February 2002, and the station continued to broadcast on AM till Dec 2017. The station is now available on bed side tablets and on line at www.vrnkirkcaldy.com.
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VRN is run entirely by volunteers, with no full-time members of staff. There are currently around 50 members of the team. The majority of members are presenters, but there are also ward visitors, fundraisers and committee positions.
As a hospital station, output is directed towards patients, staff and visitors.Main programming features include:
When presenters are not in the studio, a series of pre-recorded programmes are played along with music.
An important function of hospital radio is that it has allows a first step for those looking to work in broadcasting.
Notable former members of VRN include:
VRN has received awards, many of which have come from the Hospital Broadcasting Association (HBA).[2] Recent awards include:
As a hospital station, VRN streams its output online.[3] [4] A selection of archived material can be listened to.[5]