It is the world’s oldest television station run by students and a place where some of the UK's best-known names cut their teeth on the finer points of producing for the small screen.  

But with its broadcast range limited to the buildings around its studio, its shows have passed most people by while their audience could be counted in the hundreds on any given day.  

Now, six decades after it was launched, the dramas, documentaries and even the office goldfish of Glasgow University Student Television (GUST) are being celebrated amid efforts to preserve its rich heritage for future generations. 

GUST began in 1964 as a standalone society dedicated to the appreciation of what was a relatively new phenomenon, and evolved to make live programmes played in lecture theatres and other parts of the campus.  

Predating many professional television stations around the world, the station served as a launchpad for numerous successful careers in broadcasting, journalism, and media production – including those of Doctor Who writer Steven Moffat, former ITN Chief Executive John Hardie and Academy Award winner Alex Graham.  

Veteran newsman Andrew Neil also started out at the station, before forging a multi-decade career as one of the UK’s most recognisable broadcasters.  

GUST's control room back in the 1980s GUST's control room back in the 1980s (Image: GUST) Bethany Gillespie, current GUST Controller, said: “For 60 years, GUST has been at the forefront of student media, providing a platform for countless aspiring broadcasters, producers, and technicians.  

“Our anniversary isn’t just about celebrating our past; it’s about securing our legacy for the next 60 years and beyond.” 

Key to his legacy is the GUST Archive Preservation Project, which has helped to gather and protect the station’s extensive archive.  

This includes footage documenting student life, cultural shifts, and historical moments across six decades, gathered from those who spent time at the station and from GUST’s own library.  

The studio expanded in the 1980s, with legend stating that its controllers were able to obtain an RF for just £1, which allowed them to transmit programmes across campus and onto screens in places like the Queen Margaret Union and the Hub. 

By the 200s, the studio has moved online –  and also solved the problem of dead air on its schedules by turning cameras onto Gustav, the studio goldfish.  

Sadly, the fish died live on air in 2004, while the studio team were out eating dinner.  

Billy Connolly was interviewed on the station Billy Connolly was interviewed on the station (Image: GUST/Malcolm Boddie) In 2014 the GUST50 project was launched to find ‘lost’ tapes and recordings which had been kept by their stars and makers and were no longer known to the University.  

The undertaking proved hugely popular with alumni, who enthusiastically submitted old videos and photos to help with the project. 

An interview with Glasgow icon Billy Connolly is now preserved among its collection, along with a live performance from Belle & Sebastian and the first music video from alumna Emile Sandé. 

Former GUST Controller, Sarah Battensby, who will speak at an event to celebrate the channel on Wednesday said: “The GUST archives are a treasure trove of student television history.  

“From 80s detective dramas starring Steven Moffat to 90s student takeovers of BBC2, our library offers a unique glimpse into the evolution of both student media and British culture.” 

The GUST archive, now being held by the University of Glasgow’s Archives & Special Collections, is a hybrid collection of paper, tape, and digital materials dating back to the station’s founding in 1964.  

GUST behind the scenes GUST behind the scenes (Image: GUST) The collection reflects the evolution of student media over time and underscores the importance of archival preservation. 

The 60th-anniversary event includes a presentation on the digital archive project, offering practical advice for stations looking to preserve their own history and emphasising the importance of preventing data loss and tape degradation. 

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As GUST continues to adapt to the changing media landscape, it remains dedicated to its founding principles of creativity, innovation, and student empowerment. 

Its controllers say the station’s archives not only preserve its history but also serve as a window into the shifting landscape of British media and culture. 

Emma Yan, Assistant Archivist at the University of Glasgow’s Archives & Special Collections, said: “The GUST archive is a unique record of student television and its role in capturing key moments in both university and cultural history.  

“By safeguarding this material, we ensure that future generations can access and appreciate the creativity, innovation, and impact of student broadcasting. Our digital preservation programme ensures that GUST’s content will continue to be available for decades to come.”