Christian broadcaster Vision FM’s first High Powered Open Narrowcast licence, 105.3 Vision FM Portland went on-air last weekend in Victoria.
Portland joins 116
other communities around Australia which already have a Vision FM station through an existing Low Powered Open Narrowcast network.
In September 2002, United Christian Broadcasters (UCB) Australia was
successful in acquiring 16 HPON licences through an ABA auction held in Sydney. Since then work has been gathering momentum to get these licences to air primarily in regional Victoria and Western Australia.
UCB Chief Executive Ian Worby told radioinfo: “We are so thrilled to have Portland become the first HPON licence to go to air. The response from the locals has been overwhelming already and we look forward to welcoming more towns in the next few weeks.”
Other Victorian towns coming on air shortly include Bairnsdale, Horsham, Sale, Ararat, Hamilton and Stawell.
UCB Australia will rebroadcast the National Christian Radio ‘family friendly’ signal of Vision FM via satellite into these areas and the existing 116 LPON towns. Other new HPON licences yet to come on-air include outback towns in Queensland as well as Bunbury and three in The Kimberley in Western Australia.
Vision FM is “Australia’s fastest growing national radio network, currently broadcasting to over 100 local
communities across Australia from its headquarters in Brisbane, Queensland.” The station is
primarily aimed at country Australian families. With “a unique 100% Christian music format and a fine programming balance of 65% music and 35% spoken programs, Vision FM appeals to a wide range of listeners seeking a ‘family friendly’ radio experience.”
Network Station Manager Andrew Pitchford says setting up a local Vision FM station is “simple and low cost. For a low initial cost Vision FM is able to install a satellite dish, decoding equipment, FM transmitter and aerial. All the community needed was a power point to plug in to and a site for the satellite dish and transmitter aerial.”
“It is an ideal solution for communities, which do not have the facilities to set up a community station, yet desire an FM alternative with a positive message in their area,” says Pitchford.
UCB Australia is a non-profit organisation and encourages local listeners to get behind the “listener supported” format via donations.