Our Story
AirTV has been active since 2003 and has a rich history of committed filmmakers and active members. The history page is dedicated to preserving the story of our society as best we can.
History
Learn about the coloured history of AirTV.
A documentary about AirTV made by the McQuaids, and released in 2025 for the 21st anniversary of AirTV.
Pre-History — 2003 - 2010
AirTV was founded in 2003, as an evolution from the existing Stirling University Videoworks society. Built from the ground up by dedicated and innovative filmmakers who overcame all the odds, we owe this lot a great deal. Although unfortunately a lot of this era has been lost to time, but we will always be grateful to those eager filmmakers for building the foundations of the society we know and love.
More on Pre-History — 2003 - 2010
Prologue
Before AirTV came onto the scene Videoworks operated as Stirling Universities' videography society. This society provided students with equipment to make their films, however what it didn't provide was a platform for student's to share their work or a community for fellow filmmakers to inhabit.
AirTV is...
In 2001 students began planning the creation of AirTV, a filmmaking society that aimed to build upon videoworks by providing students not only with equipment but also a platform and a community. However due to studio copyright laws and an 'ineffectual' committee things would take longer than expected...
Let there be light
However on the 12th of November 2003 AirTV finally went live. Led by their first station manager, Vito Milazzo, the society promised a bright future for members and soon set up script meetings where members could plan their own films. Featured here is a speech Vito wrote for AirTV's 18th Birthday, a bright future indeed!
Just Film It
In the years that followed AirTV would produce weekly content like Freshers coverage and our own weekly drama show 'Halls'. During this period we also covered red carpet events where we met celebrities like Jimmy Carr who were delighted to see us! In all it was the start of a society that is truly special. Many alumni from this period like Graham Hughes and Fionn Watts have even gone on to achieve the dream of directing their own feature films! So go on, Just Film It!
Ancient History — 2010 - 2014
In the infancy of sites like Vimeo, AirTV found places it could share it's films with the world, publishing hundreds of workshop videos and short films. This era has become known for its innovation and wide success, lets just say they picked up an award or two on their way!
More on Ancient History — 2010 - 2014
Leaps and Bounds
From 2010 to 2014 the members of AirTV pushed the society into brave new waters, building the corner stones of what we know today. In 2012 we created our Facebook page, in 2014 we joined Youtube, we even saw the birth of our now iconic logo through the visionary David Kotai. But most importantly this era also saw the arrival of the Media Office which AirTV moved into in January 2014!
You can't just put stir in front of everything, right?
The society was busier than ever during this period with the creation of Stirshorts, StirSport and StirFry allowing our members to hone in their filmmaking skills. Although not everything had the word stir in front of it, with the new music show, union elections, Lock Ins and the annual Oscars also keeping our members busy!
Measuring Success
Awards and accolades might not be the true measure of success but that doesn't mean AirTV didn't enjoy its time in the spotlight. That's right in 2012 we won a NASTA and then in 2014 our Film 'Mark 16' won best film at the 48 Hour film challenge, highs we have been chasing ever since... But most importantly in 2014 our reigning Station Manager, Danny Robertson, won best President at the clubs and societies awards!
Post Classical History — 2014 - 2019
The Dawn of the AirTV Youtube channel gave the society the biggest reach it has ever had. Prominent filmmakers like Danny Flynn, Andrew Pope and Crea Barton as well as countless others shaped the society into what we know it today, building the foundations for the ATVAS, Bleed Green, Stirfry and the general atmosphere of the society we know and love.
More on Post Classical History — 2014 - 2019
Familiar Territory
The period from 2014 to 2019 saw AirTV evolve into what we know it as today. With SUDS collabs, the Lock-In and scene stealers becoming staples of AirTV's calendar, the society started a consistency that we still recognise to this day!
Same Software Different Case
AirTV also started to make some major changes. In 2015 the AirTV Oscars became the ATVAS for fear of being copyrighted by that dastardly academy. They also took location filming to the next level with their anual trips to the highlands!
Not Just Extracurricular
In all 2014-2019 saw AirTV become something more than just a society with members pushing their filmmaking skills to the limits. More ambitious ATVAS, an attempted feature film and the creation of Bleed Green TV kept our members busy all the while remembering to have fun! Featured here is a retrospective video by one of our former Presidents Andrew Pope!
Early Modern Period — 2020 - 2022
The Age of COVID sees the birth of the AirTV website and the rise of several prominent figures who, despite the difficulties of lockdown, would go on to shape the future of the society. Presidents Josh Simpson and Iain Bayfield led AirTV through and out of the dark age of COVID and into a bright future. Without their determination to keep it going we may not have been here today!
More on Early Modern Period — 2020 - 2022
The Dark Times of 2020
The year 2020 started off strong for AirTV with several workshops, a sexual health screening and coverage of the annual charity variety. However, the emergence of the Coronavirus pandemic in March swiftly knocked out any plans for the rest of the year including the yearly AirTV Awards which were canceled for the first time in living memory.
AirTV is a TEAM(s)
For the better part of the next year workshops and filmmaking were done on Microsoft teams, which by all accounts was a difficult time. However things started to look brighter in May 2021 when the AirTV awards returned (albeit online) and regular meetings were announced to return the following September.
Stronger than ever
By September 2021 the society, now led by President Iain Bayfield, was back to in person meetings. Despite the need for masks and other safety measures things started to get back to normal with weekly workshops, socials and even the return of the Joint Media Awards.
Back to Basics
By the time 2022 rolled around the society had returned to normal with the return of the ATVAs at the MaCRoberts Art's Centre for the first time since 2019. As well as this, several new traditions were born like the annual bowling trip (SpareTV) and the rise of an unusual amount of people saying 'I want a pint'.
Modern Day — 2023 - Present
Spearheaded by President Calum Cownie the society would reach heights it had never known. This era saw a record breaking number of videos uploaded as well as several wins and nominations at both the clubs and societies awards and the National Students Television awards!
More on Modern Day — 2023 - Present
Starting Strong
Building on what came before, President Calum Cownie made sure the latter half of 2022 was more productive than ever. As well as weekly workshops and lock ins, this year saw the start of the AirTV Christmas Advent and the birth of our Radio show Air On Air!
Sweep
2023 later became one of our most successful years! With the introduction of the sweep mentality AirTV managed to hit 1000 videos on Youtube as well as find success at both the Clubs and societies awards and National Student Television Awards!
Out of the Frying Pan
However where success lies trouble is never far behind. In late August 2023 the society was thrown into turmoil with the closure of the Media Office, due to the dangerous concrete known as RAAC. This resulted in an unusual and difficult semester back.
Getting Better
Although things improved in 2024 when the society found some success at the NASTAs with a bronze station of the year award, silver performance award for veteran member Matthew Crawford Russel and a gold screenplay award for the McQuaids for their Walnut Man script.