Due to a sudden hike (141%) in transmission costs in October 2017, the radio station is facing a crisis and risk of closure. Crowdfunding is the only option open to us to raise funds to keep the station open. We plan to run a 12 week campaign to raise £18,000 solely for the transmission costs, beginning with a launch on in January 2018. The Management Committee of Betar Bangla have met and is in the process of creating a team to meet all the challenges of our campaign. We are going to lobby our advertisers and their business associates (the response so far has been very positive), big businesses in Canary Wharf and, over 300 members of our Listener's Forum. But we also need support from all our listeners. We have received support and guidance form Tower Hamlets Council and the Tower Hamlets CVS for this campaign.
What we'll deliver:
- We will save a valuable community radio station with over 80,000 listeners
- Saving the station will allow us to continue with our other services such training and volunteering programmes
Why it's a great idea:
Betar Bangla is the only Bengali radio station in the UK and attracts over 80,000 listeners through its frequency and over 180,000 listeners online. The station is an extremely valuable source of information to the Bangladeshi communities in the UK, including disseminating advice on social policy concerns around education, housing, community safety, health and welfare.
The campaign is to save a unique local institution that is an integral part of the Bangladeshi community.
Steps to get it done:
- pay transmission rent quaterly in April 2018
