Outback Radio 2WEB
{{Short description|Radio station}}
{{Use Australian English|date=May 2024}}
{{Multiple issues|
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{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2018}}
{{Infobox radio station
| logo =
| branding = Outback Radio
| repeater = {{ubl|100.7 FM Nyngan, New South Wales (1 kW)|91.1 FM Coonamble, New South Wales (1 kW)|104.3 FM Walgett, New South Wales (200 watts)|90.5 FM Lightning Ridge, New South Wales (25 watts)|99.9 FM Wilcannia, New South Wales (50 watts)}}
| former_frequencies = 576 kHz
| power = 10,000 watts
| area = Bourke RA1{{Cite web|url=https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2017C01023|title = Licence Area Plan - Bourke (Radio) - December 1996| date=30 September 2017 }}
| format = Gold, Country
| class = Community radio
| owner = WREB Co-Operative Limited
| webcast = [http://www.outbackradio.com.au Listen Live]
| website = {{URL|outbackradio.com.au}}
| city = Bourke, New South Wales
| frequency = 585 kHz
| airdate = 13 November 1978
| name = 2WEB
| coordinates = {{coord|-30.099721|145.981814}}
| acma_bsl = 10211
| licensing_authority = ACMA
}}
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.
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.{{Cite web |last=TWH |date=2018-11-13 |title=2WEB celebrates 40 years! |url=https://www.thewesternherald.com.au/single-post/2018/11/14/2web-celebrates-40-years |access-date=2022-05-16 |website=thewesternherald |language=en}}
On 13 November 1978, the very first 2WEB broadcast went to air.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thewesternherald.com.au/single-post/2018/11/14/2WEB-celebrates-40-years|title=2WEB celebrates 40 years!|website=The Western Herald|date=13 November 2018|language=en|access-date=2019-02-21}} 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.{{Cite web |last=News |first=15 February 2018 · |date=2018-02-14 |title=Bourke community radio station saves iconic newspaper from closure |url=https://radioinfo.com.au/news/bourke-community-radio-station-saves-iconic-newspaper-closure/ |access-date=2022-03-22 |website=RadioInfo Australia |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2021-12-02 |title=Outback Radio 2WEB saves outback, regional newspaper for Bourke and {{as written|i|t's [sic]}} surrounding community |url=https://www.cbaa.org.au/article/outback-radio-2web-saves-outback-regional-newspaper-bourke-and-it%E2%80%99s-surrounding-community |access-date=2022-03-22 |website=Community Broadcasting Association of Australia |language=en}}{{Cite web |last1=Friedl |first1=Holly |last2=Liddicoat |first2=er |title=Outback Radio 2WEB saves outback, regional newspaper for Bourke and its surrounding community – LINA |date=14 December 2021 |url=https://lina.org.au/news/outback-radio-2web-saves-outback-regional-newspaper-for-bourke-and-its-surrounding-community/ |access-date=2022-05-16 |language=en-AU}}
A new AM transmitter was purchased and installed after local MP Kevin Humphries announced funding of $85,000 in March 2018;{{Cite web |title=Humphries announces $85,000 for new 2WEB transmitter |url=https://www.thewesternherald.com.au/single-post/2018/03/14/Humphries-announces-85000-for-new-2WEB-transmitter |access-date=2019-02-22 |website=The Western Herald {{!}} Bourke |date=14 March 2018 |language=en}} later that year, funds were secured to rebuild the three existing studios with the latest digital broadcast and production facilities.{{Cite web |last=TWH |date=2019-10-02 |title=New studios for 2WEB |url=https://www.thewesternherald.com.au/single-post/2019/10/02/new-studios-for-2web |access-date=2022-03-22 |website=thewesternherald |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Customer Service |first=Liquor & Gaming |date=2021-10-07 |title=Clubgrants Category 3 Infrastructure Grants past recipients |url=https://www.nsw.gov.au/grants-and-funding/responsible-gambling-grants/past-recipients-infrastructure |access-date=2022-05-16 |website=NSW Government |language=en-AU}}
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.{{Cite web|url=http://radiotoday.com.au/2web-drop-2ue-morning-show/|title=2WEB drop 2UE morning show|date=2014-04-18|website=Radio Today|language=en-US|access-date=2019-02-21}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.outbackradio.com.au 2WEB - Outback Radio Official website]
- [http://www.cbaa.org/ CBAA website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070203065704/http://www.cbaa.org/ |date=3 February 2007 }}
Category:Community radio stations in Australia
Category:Radio stations in New South Wales
Category:Bourke, New South Wales