SURGEtv


Surge TV 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.

History

The origins of SUSUtv began when the idea was originally submitted in 2001 but was rejected at the time. The idea resurfaced in 2006 when the union began to start producing video for their website. As a result, SUSUtv was formed in 2007 so that students could make these ever more ambitious videos. The following year the station joined the NaSTA. 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.
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.
YearAward CeremonyCategoryNominated VideoPlacing
2008NaSTABest Light EntertainmentWinchester Campus PieceHighly Commended
2011NaSTABest AnimationAnimationHighly Commended
2011NaSTABest ComedyPetty CrimesWon
2011NaSTABest DramaFlat 443Won
2011NaSTABest Music to VideoArp Attack - 'Crocodile Tears'Highly Commended
2012NaSTABest AnimationBedtime Kevin!Won
2012NaSTABest Station MarketingMarketingWon
2012NaSTABest TechnicalTechnicalHighly Commended
2014NaSTABest ComedyMarshall and HartWon
2014NaSTABest LiveSUSU Elections Night Live 2013Won
2014NaSTABest Music'Damage Control'Highly Commended
2014NaSTABest WritingThe SocietyWon
2015NaSTABest Light EntertainmentSUSUtv does Top GearWon
2015NaSTA People's Choice AwardsContent Innovation AwardSUSU Elections Night Live 2014Won
2016NaSTABest DocumentaryRadar - Britain's ShieldHighly Commended
2016NaSTABest LiveSUSU Elections Night Live 2015Highly Commended
2016NaSTA People's Choice AwardsContent Innovation AwardSUSU Elections Night Live 2015Won
2017NaSTABest WritingBlind LoveHighly Commended
2017NaSTA People's Choice AwardsContent Innovation AwardWomen In Sport LiveWon
2017NaSTA People's Choice AwardsLive AwardEU Referendum LiveRunner up
2017NaSTA People's Choice AwardsOn-Screen Talent AwardTom PethickWon
2017NaSTA People's Choice AwardsOpen AwardWhere do Snowmen Go in the Summer?Runner up
2017NaSTA People's Choice AwardsTechnical Innovation AwardDeveloping VT ManagerWon
2017NaSTA People's Choice AwardsUnsung HeroDave WilliamsWon
2017National Student Society AwardsBest Media SocietyN/AHighly Commended
2018NaSTABest On-Screen Talent
2018NaSTA
2019NaSTABest Station MarketingWon
2019NaSTAMars el-Brogy AwardWon
2019NaSTABest Post ProductionHighly Commended
2019NaSTABest WritingHighly Commended