Rádio Zero is a non-profit webradio with an academic origin and nature, based at the Instituto Superior Técnico campus in Lisbon. Its stated mission is to serve as a free access to production and broadcast of radio programs by society in general. Its programming is filled with author programmes, ranging from the conventional or informative, to the more experimental where radio is considered an artwork. Zero broadcasts online continuously. It also does temporary FM events. Rádio Zero is a founding member of Radia, an international radio network of independent radio stations.
Zero Manifesto
Rádio Zero is governed by the following Manifesto:
Radio is a creative medium which fosters experimentalism and the development of artworks in sound format.
Radio takes part in society through community-oriented contents and by promoting cultural activities.
Radio presents itself as a means for the individual to access broadcast. As an apologist of freedom and creativity, Radio gives total priority to author format.
Background
Secção Sonora (in the 1950s)
In the 1950s there was a section dedicated to classical music broadcasting through the speakers of AEIST building. In his speech at the formal sitting celebrating the centenary of AEIST, Mário Lino, the Minister of Public Works, Transportation and Communication in the 17th Constitutional Government of Portugal, mentioned that he had taken part in activities of this section while a student in Instituto Superior Técnico.
Rádio Universidade Tejo (1986-1988)
Rádio Universidade Tejo was a pirate station started in 1986, that initially broadcast from the AEIST building in 99.5 MHz, and afterwards in 100.7 MHz. It was closed in 1988.
RIIST (1995-2000)
In 1995 a group of students at the AEIST, created a new campus radio named of Rádio Interna do IST/RIIST, transmitting only through speakers installed in the campus. By the academic season of 1999 / 2000 it became an internet stream as well. This group disappeared in 2000.
Reactivation
RIIST (2004-2006)
In May 2002, a group of students of IST, composed by Alexandre Rio, André Duarte, André Santos, Bartolomeu Bernardes, Bernardo Mendes, David Santos, Edgar Lopes, Joana Batista, João Aguiar, João Pina, Ricardo Ramires, Ricardo Ressureição and Tiago Carvalho, decided to reactivate the extinct RIIST. Some of them ran for the administration of the student's union AEIST, whereas others were non-official supporters of the other candidates. Despite not being elected, the whole group decided in that same September to start the procedures to reopen RIIST. In 2003 several students recovered the radio section. The broadcast restarted on April 26, 2004. In 2005, during the Transmediale in Berlin, the RIIST co-founded and presented along with nine other radio stations the radio network Radia.
Rádio Zero (from 2006)
By decision of its members, the RIIST name was changed to Rádio Zero, effective on March 6, 2006.
Relevant dates
2006 – First edition of the International Festival of Radio Art - RadiaLx
2008 – Second edition of RadiaLx
2009 – Radio Futura, for Future Places Festival 2009, transmitting non-stop at 91.5 MHz, in Porto
2009 – Release of Zero Labs, a group that develops community radio-related technologies
2010 – Third edition of RadiaLx, which included a temporary broadcast in FM at 99.0 MHz in Lisbon using an authorized power of 5 W and a transmitter installed on the top of the north tower of Instituto Superior Técnico
2010 – Radio Futura, for Future Places Festival 2010, transmitting non-stop at 91.5 MHz, in Porto
2011 – Radio Futura, for Future Places Festival 2011, transmitting non-stop at 102.1 MHz, in Porto
2012 - Fourth edition of RadiaLx, which included a temporary broadcast in FM at 88.4 MHz in Lisbon a concert happening simultaneously on the top of both towers of Instituto Superior Técnico
Scientific research
Rádio Zero has been a case study in the development of the following scientific researches:
COSTA, Daniel, Radia Store - Storage and Preservation of Radio Programs, Instituto Superior Técnico, Lisbon, September 2008
