Cash for Content raising money for FBi

Sydney Community station FBi (Free Broadcast Incorporated) will join Sydney’s airwaves in June 2003 on Fm 94.5. FBi has been granted a licence to create and deliver a station dedicated to new music and emerging arts and culture, with a strong focus on local content.

The transmission signal of 150kW is the strongest ever granted to a community station and is equal to the most powerful commercial licences in Sydney. FBi will be heard in all of Sydney, its suburbs and surrounds.

“This is great news for us, for Sydney listeners, and for Sydney’s music and cultural industries,” says General Manager Christina Alvarez. “However the strength of this signal comes at a cost. A significant one.”

So FBi is raising the once-off start-up costs of building and equipping the studios, as well as purchasing and setting up the transmission – which will cost around $500,000.

“Cash for Content” is FBi’s provocatively named start-up initiative to cover the once off costs of getting the station on air.

“This is perhaps the most crucial event in the stations life. The hundreds of people that have sustained FBi over the past ten years have fought a long and difficult campaign to provide Sydney with a station like Melbourne’s 3RRR that nurtures and champions the local music and arts/culture scenes. Having won the licence, all we need now is the money to turn it on,” says Alvarez.

The station is holding a Cash for Content event on 2nd April at The Metro in Sydney.

On advice from Price Waterhouse, the station is sourcing funds in two ways: via tax-deductible donations and fast cash loans.

Supporters get the following benefits according to the station’s website:

Public acknowledgment

FBi will publish a list in targeted media of all founding supporters during our launch period; plus – permanent signage in the FBi office foyer will acknowledge your founding support

Publicity opportunities

FBi will launch in June with a major publicity campaign across Sydney’s online and offline media. Acknowledgment of the station’s founders will be included in our launch Media Kit and will be integral to our launch campaign.

On-air acknowledgement

From June, FBi will be on air – and the station will be branded as a coming together of Sydney’s music, arts and cultural communities and industries. Your name/company will be included in creative, on-air promos for the launch of the station – a period of particularly high listenership.

FBi events

FBi will invite you to all FBi events (including launch parties, gigs and key SCAM! events) for the duration of the loan period or for the first two years of broadcast in the case of donations. We may even buy you a beer.

Rewarded

You’ll know that you have played an integral part in kick-starting a chain reaction that will see Australian artists receive high-profile airplay and will flow on to better CD sales and audience attendances in Sydney.

Results

A radio station you can listen to!

For more info about FBi’s start-up capital and ‘Cash for Content’ event on Wednesday April 2nd at the Metro (George St, Sydney) – call Brandon Saul (Vice President, FBi Board) 02 9249 6501 or Christina Alvarez (General Manager, FBi) 02 9249 6513.