Outback Radio 2WEB

Outback Radio 2WEB is a community radio station broadcasting from Bourke, situated in far western New South Wales. Its broadcast area serves the communities of Bourke, Cobar, Nyngan, Coonamble, Walgett, Lightning Ridge, Wilcannia and many other towns and villages in western New South Wales, south west Queensland and north east South Australia.

2WEB
Broadcast areaBourke RA1[1]
Frequency585 kHz
BrandingOutback Radio
Programming
FormatGold, Country
Ownership
OwnerWREB Co-Operative Limited
History
First air date
13 November 1978
Former frequencies
576 kHz
Technical information
Licensing authority
ACMA
ClassCommunity radio
Power10,000 watts
Transmitter coordinates
30.099721°S 145.981814°E / -30.099721; 145.981814
Repeater(s)
Links
Public licence information
Profile
WebcastListen Live
Websiteoutbackradio.com.au

History

2WEB started as a school project inside a small room at Bourke High School after suggestion by science teacher Colin Elliot. Funding was provided from the Disadvantaged Country Area Program in 1977, with equipment installed and the first broadcasts reaching an audience within a 200-kilometre radius of the school grounds the following year.[2]

On November 13, 1978, the very first 2WEB broadcast went to air.[3] After several years of operation and fundraising, 2WEB moved to purposely built premises in Oxley Street which they still occupy today.

In 2003, five FM translator services were installed to complement the AM signal in the towns of Coonamble (91.1 FM), Lightning Ridge (90.5 FM), Nyngan (100.7 FM), Walgett (104.9 FM) and Wilcannia (99.9 FM).

In January 2018, 2WEB acquired and resumed publishing Bourke newspaper The Western Herald after its owners decided to cease publication in December 2017.[4][5][6]

A new AM transmitter was purchased and installed after local MP Kevin Humphries announced funding of $85,000 in March 2018;[7] later that year, funds were secured to rebuild the three existing studios with the latest digital broadcast and production facilities.[8][9]

Staff members celebrating 2WEB's 40 years - Matt Lynch, Rod Corfe, Ash Keenan, Tricia Duffield, Ian Cole, Tanya Mitchell, May Watkins, Neil Campbell, David Sharp, Marek Weiss & Chris Molyneaux. (November 2018)

Programming

Programming originates from its Bourke studios and has been refined over the years with regular shifts incorporating locally produced regional news and National News from Nine Radio. Most of the music programming consists of classic hits and country music.

In April 2014, 2WEB launched a local morning program, Outback Mornings, to replace the satellite program from 2UE which was broadcast since 1996, when John Laws held the shift.[10]

References
  1. "Licence Area Plan - Bourke (Radio) - December 1996".
  2. TWH (13 November 2018). "2WEB celebrates 40 years!". thewesternherald. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  3. "2WEB celebrates 40 years!". The Western Herald. 13 November 2018. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
  4. News, 15 February 2018 · (14 February 2018). "Bourke community radio station saves iconic newspaper from closure". RadioInfo Australia. Retrieved 22 March 2022. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  5. "Outback Radio 2WEB saves outback, regional newspaper for Bourke and it's [sic] surrounding community". Community Broadcasting Association of Australia. 2 December 2021. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
  6. Friedl, Holly; Liddicoat, er (14 December 2021). "Outback Radio 2WEB saves outback, regional newspaper for Bourke and its surrounding community – LINA". Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  7. "Humphries announces $85,000 for new 2WEB transmitter". The Western Herald | Bourke. 14 March 2018. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  8. TWH (2 October 2019). "New studios for 2WEB". thewesternherald. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
  9. Customer Service, Liquor & Gaming (7 October 2021). "Clubgrants Category 3 Infrastructure Grants past recipients". NSW Government. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  10. "2WEB drop 2UE morning show". Radio Today. 18 April 2014. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
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