With an impending ABA narrowcast auction scheduled for next week, UCB Australia’s Vision Radio Network is launching a bid to bring Christian radio to 11 more communities in Australia, but UCB says community support is required to make it happen.
The network will bid for 11 licences on offer in the Government’s auction of high-powered broadcasting licences in Sydney on 16 December, if it receives community support.
Vision already has 195 relay stations in communities across Australia. It can also be heard on the internet (click below).
A non-denominational, non-profit network, Vision is owned and operated by United Christian Broadcasters Australia (UCB). Each of its relay stations receives Vision’s family-friendly programming 24 hours a day, seven days a week from its broadcast operations centre in Brisbane.
Chief executive officer Ian Worby says Vision Radio Network aims to connect communities across Australia with its positive mix of music and talk.
“These 11 new free-to-air services will be another part of our aim to support the local community by providing a relay station that builds the faith of local churches and provides a positive, family-friendly radio experience. The network is already widely accepted in its other 195 communities – and we hear many stories of how it has impacted people’s lives.”
At the auction, UCB Australia will be competing against at least one other bidder for each licence. The reserve price is $4000 and Worby says UCB will need monetary assistance.
“UCB Australia is a non-profit entity that facilitates the resources required to broadcast in each town. As such, we do not hold large reserves for such acquisitions – we are only able to move ahead when we are empowered to do so by the local community.
“As a non-profit organisation, we need community support to successfully bid at this auction.”
At the ABA auction, Vision will bid for licences in: Walgett, NSW; East Darwin, NT; Tully, QLD; Casterton, Orbost, St Arnaud, Terang, Warracknabeal and Yarram, VIC; and Albany and Newman, WA. It already has low-powered relay stations in Albany and Newman – the new high-powered licences would help improve coverage in these towns.
To support UCB’s licence bids, call UCB Australia’s project manager (broadcast licences) Harvey Gardiner on free call 1800 068 204.