Latest news with #communityradio
BBC News
09-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Fully subsidised Peterborough radio station to be reviewed
A community radio station has been receiving rent and rate relief from the council for the past nine years, it has been City Council's current leader Dennis Jones said the authority would be reviewing all organisations and companies benefitting from such relief to ensure fairness and Community Radio (PCRFM) was set up in 2016 at the Herlington Centre in Orton Malborne, by former Conservative council leader, Wayne Fitzgerald, who led the council between 2021 and 2023, said the arrangement was reviewed annually by the council, adding the station provided community value. Documents provided by PCRFM showed its yearly business rates bill totalled £9,231.50 before the 80% mandatory and 20% discretionary relief."We are a not-for-profit community group and there are many of them in the city that receive free rent for example," said Mr Fitzgerald, who is also a director of the radio station."It's on my register of interest, it's all declared," he said."And the council determine whether we qualify [for free rates] or not. And hey ho, they determined we qualified." 'Celebrating the city' Mr Jones said the Labour administration was not "singling out any company at all"."Every organisation that gets rates [relief], they have to qualify for it," he said."And if PCRFM qualify, then that's absolutely fine."The council is quite right to look at its assets and see if it can generate income or revenue, there's nothing wrong with that and we're not offended by it," said Mr Fitzgerald. PCRFM, a music-based community radio station began broadcasting to Peterborough in 2017. It also provides local news bulletins as well as interviews with local people, organisations and station hosts two weekly shows featuring local musicians performing in its studios and promotes local events - and is supported by more than 40 volunteers and three paid of the paid employees is breakfast presenter Kev Lawrence, who says the station's main aims are "celebrating the city and giving a platform for lots of people to share what they're doing". Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Community radio station goes digital with DAB launch and studio upgrade
A community radio station is expanding its reach and upgrading its broadcast facilities. Unity 101 in Southampton is now broadcasting on DAB digital radio across Hampshire and parts of Dorset following a ten-year extension to its broadcasting licence from Ofcom. The station, which first went on air in 2005, is run entirely by volunteers and serves as a voice for Asian and ethnic communities in the region. Programming is offered in multiple languages, including Hindi, Urdu, Punjabi, Polish, Mandarin, Tamil, and English. Ram Kalyan "Kelly," station manager and founder, said: "It's an exciting time for Unity 101. "The new studio brings us into the next phase of community broadcasting – and with DAB, we can now reach audiences across a wider regional area. "We're still the same trusted voice, just on a bigger stage." READ MORE: Popular local radio station to make comeback Listeners in Portsmouth, Winchester, Basingstoke, and Poole can now tune in more easily, broadening the station's reach. The recent studio upgrade includes modern broadcast desks and production equipment designed to support higher-quality live radio, podcasts, and remote interviews. Chayya Thanki, a drive time presenter who has volunteered with Unity 101 for a decade, said: "It feels lovely to be presenting to a wider audience. "People used to come up to me and say they couldn't get Unity 101 in their area. "Now I guess they'll be happy to know they can tune in on DAB." Unity 101 offers in-house radio training for its volunteers and provides hands-on broadcasting experience to schools, colleges, and public sector organisations. Its programming features a mix of afrobeats, Bollywood, bhangra, soul, and world music, as well as cultural shows, celebrity interviews, community news, and discussions on topical issues. Regular contributors include the NHS, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service, Hampshire Constabulary, and local arts organisations. Ram said: "The future is full of potential. "I'm grateful to every person who has supported us. "Unity 101 has always belonged to the community. "We invite everyone in Hampshire and Dorset to tune in and discover what community radio really sounds like."
The Guardian
25-06-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
‘Everyone was completely caught off guard': FBi Radio's future unclear as station launches emergency fundraising campaign
In February the Sydney community radio station FBi sent out an email to its entire volunteer base, and its few staff members, to attend an emergency meeting at the station that evening. At the meeting, 10 permanent staff – roughly half of FBi's employees – announced that their jobs had been cut, due to the organisation being in extreme financial distress. 'This meeting was very chaotic, they were all crying, talking about how they needed to cut their jobs because most of the money [was] going towards salaries and we couldn't sustain that,' says Bec Cushway, the executive producer of FBi's Walkley-nominated news and current affairs program Backchat. 'Everyone was completely caught off guard by this, no one knew there were any money issues going on.' FBi Radio is regarded by the industry as a cornerstone of the Australian music scene. Based in Redfern since 2003, it has championed some of the country's most successful musicians, from Flume to the Presets, Montaigne and Julia Jacklin. Sign up for the fun stuff with our rundown of must-reads, pop culture and tips for the weekend, every Saturday morning The community station has prided itself on broadcasting 50% Australian music – half of that from Sydney – reflecting its roots as an independent and not-for-profit organisation, run largely by passionate volunteers. At the emergency meeting on 19 February, according to Cushway, staff explained that the station would need to 'raise $1m to survive, and $2m to thrive' – ideally by July. While many of his friends and colleagues were departing the station, the former FBi radio presenter Tyson Koh was asked to join the board. By April Koh had been made managing director. 'We would always love to have a million dollars,' Koh says. 'Certainly, if we had a couple million dollars we would thrive, but that was true five, 10, even 20 years ago.' On 17 June, FBi held a town hall to outline its situation to the broader arts and cultural sector. Koh's presentation laid out operating costs – $1m a year – and the breakdown of the existing revenue stream; 47% sponsorship, 41.2% membership and 11.8% philanthropy. FBi's immediate plan is to increase philanthropy and seek government funding, a process that Koh says is under way. Long term, however, FBi wants to return to a place where it can meet its revenue needs through sponsorship and membership alone. Sign up to Saved for Later Catch up on the fun stuff with Guardian Australia's culture and lifestyle rundown of pop culture, trends and tips after newsletter promotion 'I see the role of benefactors and government support as being ways in which the station can build upon what we already do rather than just keep the lights on,' Koh says. 'I really think it is up to our sponsors and our listeners to keep the station going.' In the short term, Koh says he believes philanthropists and the government could play a role in helping the station to nurture developing musicians and journalists, and grow special programs such as Backchat, FBi's storytelling program All the Best and its nationally syndicated program Race Matters. Cushway says FBi's volunteers should be given some of the reins for fundraising, as many have been expressing their desire to hold events in support of the station. 'I think FBi was founded on a 'move fast break things' kind of mindset and I think that is what we need to remember,' Cushway says. 'I think we're a bit tied up in this consistent messaging and trying to seem like a professional business, which is important, but also I think we've forgotten that people power does make a difference.' An invite-only donor benefit will be held on Thursday 26 June to engage past supporters and volunteers, many of whom have gone on to reach impressive heights in their careers, and hopefully reignite their relationship with the station, Koh says. 'We can't expect people to just turn up and open their wallets,' he says. 'We have a responsibility to tell our story, to let people know what we do and prove our value in Sydney and broader New South Wales.'
Daily Mail
24-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Footy legend who played for Alan Jones breaks his silence just before ex-radio star faces court on sexual touching and indecent assault charges
Footy legend Ben Elias has branded Alan Jones an 'absolute great man' who has devoted his life to selflessly helping other people in his first statement on the radio star's legal battle. It comes as Jones, 83, is due to face court in July as the one-time Wallabies coach faces 11 counts of aggravated indecent assault, 20 counts of assault with act of indecency, two counts of sexually touching another person without consent and two counts of common assault. Speaking on 2WAY FM - a community radio station based on the mid-north coast of NSW - Balmain Tigers great Elias told veteran host Dave Lazarus he caught up with Jones on Monday alongside fellow footy star Steve Roach and another friend. Elias - who played under Jones when he coached the Balmain Tigers from 1991 to 1993 - also confirmed the veteran broadcaster was in 'great spirits'. 'We all know Alan. He's an absolute legend,' Elias began on Monday. 'Me, "Blocker" Roach and a bloke named Grant Vandenberg – we went over to AJ's today (Monday) and had an absolute delightful lunch... the bloke's in great spirits. 'You know, it's a remarkable position that he's in, which I certainly feel sorry for him in many ways. True bloke, great man. 'He's done amazing, amazing things for people, that people don't recognise. For what he's up for, I'd be very, very surprised if anything comes about it. 'But look, who knows? I can't say other than the bloke is an absolute, great man.' Elias added: 'He has been one hell of a man who's helped many charities, many, many, many charities and many young people along the way, mate. 'He's been an absolute legend. I hope that everything goes well for him.' Jones is accused of historical sexual assault offences allegedly committed in various locations across NSW, including Newtown, the Sydney CBD, Fitzroy Falls, Alexandria and Tamworth between 2001 and 2019. Police have previously stated the youngest alleged victim was 17 at the time of the alleged offence. Jones has denied all wrongdoing and is expected to plead not guilty to all charges. 'These allegations are either baseless or distort the truth,' he told reporters. Jones also said he was given no opportunity by police to respond to any of the claims prior to his dramatic arrest. 'I have never indecently assaulted these people... I am emphatic that I'll be defending every charge before a jury in due course,' he said. Previous allegations levelled against Jones include that he rubbed the inner thigh and genitals of multiple former employees and attempted to kiss others on the mouth and squeeze their bottoms. Jones began a hugely influential life on the airwaves in 1985 after a failed career in politics, becoming a feared interviewer who excelled at grilling leaders while dividing audiences with his outspoken views. He first worked with Sydney radio station 2UE before joining rival 2GB, where he was a long-time ratings juggernaut. NSW Police said State Crime Command's Child Abuse Squad established Strike Force Bonnefin in March last year to investigate a number of alleged indecent assaults and sexual touching incidents between 2001 and 2019. Jones will next face court on July 8.
ABC News
26-05-2025
- General
- ABC News
Alex James
Growing up on a property in rural New South Wales, Alex appreciated the radio as it was always on the old rust bucket tractors driven around the farm. Before joining the ABC, Alex worked as a theatre technician and sound technician for multiple years, while studying a Bachelor of Media majoring in Radio, Digital Audio and Broadcast Production at Macquarie University in Sydney. During this time, Alex also volunteered with multiple community radio stations which led to a breakfast slot in Sydney. After 18 months of broadcasting breakfast during continuous COVID-19 lockdowns, Alex felt drawn back to the country and moved out to Gilgandra, near Alex's hometown. After a stint working with ABC Western Plains in Dubbo as a News Reporter, Alex moved out to Orange and is currently presenting the ABC Central West Breakfast show.
