Silly question what is BSA?
I guess we just wait. It’s a strange world we live in these days. I think if this was 30 years ago it might have been resolved already.
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No, the Australian Broadcasting Tribunal would have had a public inquiry or three…
The sale of 2CH is now being handled by Deloitte. Read about it at the ASX website
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From the ASX notice:
I wonder if Macquarie proposed that the NSW Council of Churches buy 2CH with Macquarie still running the station, but ACMA objected to the arrangement??
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Personally, I really hope that whoever buys 2CH will drop the Magic Network feed and make the station unique to Sydney again.
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I found this on Facebook.
[quote]
October 9
Some interesting news from the Cong pastors’ retreat this week: the popular radio station 2CH is now up for grabs. The reason for this is that its current owner, Macquarie Radio is, by law, required to relinquish ownership since it can only own a max. of two stations in any given market. 2CH was originally established in the 1920s as a Christian station (the CH actually stands for Church); it is currently one of Sydney’s most popular stations. Since no-one else wants to by it at this stage, us Congregationalists (with the Presbyterians and Baptists) plan to put in a bid to collectively purchase the station. I cannot go into more details as they’re sensitive and confidential, but PLEASE pray that the sale can proceed. The Australian government’s media regulator, ACMA, will give notice on October 13 as to whether the churches can get the licence or not. If it’s given the green light, EVANGELICAL CHURCHES WILL HAVE SOME FIRE IN THE PUBLIC SPHERE TO FIGHT ISSUES LIKE ABORTION, SAME-SEX MARRIAGE, ETC. The significance of this cannot be understated given the incredible hostility at the moment in the media against the church … Owning 2CH would allow evangelical churches to present a Christian worldview of these things to non-Christians and share the gospel. I think God is opening a powerful door here in Sydney. HE IS GOOD, so please let’s pray[/quote]
https://m.facebook.com/groups/1377700795891129?view=permalink&id=1693951357599403
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Personally, I wouldn’t like to see 2CH become a commercialised version of Hope/Rhema etc.
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NO, NO No!
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Hope 103.2 sounds pretty commercialised as it is, if you ask me.
But yeah, I agree that the thought of a more religious 2CH sounds rather appalling. Would there even the room for two (well, three if the DAB+ only Inspire Digital counts) religious-based radio stations in the marketplace?
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And Vision is on 1611 AM in the western suburbs.
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I don’t see why not. Diversity in commercial radio is good, rather than just having the station get swallowed up by another network. Christian or gospel radio is prolific through the US.
And don’t forget, the Catholic Church owned 2SM for 50 years or so, including the years as a Top 40 station. The only religious content 2SM had for ages was just Sunday night mass, and that was to comply with the broadcasting regulations at the time that dictated one hour of programming a week had to be of a religious nature.
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Just awful on so many levels!! The only amusing thing in that Facebook post is the description of 2CH as one of Sydney’s most popular stations!
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Yeah, I forgot about Vision on 1611AM. Probably shows how often I ever listen to AM radio these days!
I agree. 2CH got 3.1% of the Sydney radio audience and was beaten by 92.9 ABC Classic FM in the most recent radio ratings survey, hardly one of Sydney’s most popular stations!
The Uniting Church/Wesley Mission owned 2GB before John Singleton bought it, and the only religious program was Gordon Moyes on Sunday night.
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I hope it becomes classic hits 2CH or forever classic. But I mentioned that 100 times already😀.
A religious commercial talk station, I guess it’s a possibility. AM radio is not that profitable since FM came in (other than Talkback). Being a religious station , ratings may not the number one aim. It is more about spreading the word. Being on the am band full-time might get more people to church. Which is a different philosophy to a typical commercial radio in Australia.
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What happened to the 9th commandment “Thou Shalt Not Bear False Witness?”
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It is hard to imagine the Council of Churches would bother buying back the Shop, it is hardly going to make them any money. If 2CH ends up being sold for a song maybe the 2SM/Carallis Group could be interested. They at least have the infrastructure in place, Newsroom, Sales Staff, Premises etc (I think!!). They could employ programme staff that at least have an inkling of what can be done. Alternatively perhaps include the Magic Stations in Melbourne and Brisbane and thus create a small network. Just my thoughts…Does anyone know what Singleton actually paid for 2CH back in the 80s?
2CH became part of the Macquarie Radio Network in April 1994 and their news service was axed in favour of 2GB’s (sound familiar?) at that time: http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?docID=news940420_0084_2518
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Though John Singleton didn’t buy 2GB until 1996, I think.
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