HOW UCB AUSTRALIA BEGAN

UCB Australia was founded in Chatswood, Sydney NSW in 1986 by New Zealander Philip Churchill.

Back then Community Licenses were the only real option, which had to be obtained by hearings before the Australian Broadcasting Tribunal. Community broadcasting groups that were represented by the smartest and best briefed barristers became the ones who would be granted licenses to broadcast. From the Government's point of view, change was urgent and overdue. Philip returned to New Zealand after two years as the timing was not quite right. Rhema FM Newcastle became the caretakers of UCB Australia, With United Christian Broadcasters Australia Ltd becoming a registered company in 1991.

In 1992 Warren Rout, Hal Short, Dudley Scantlebury and Frank Salisbury re-activated UCB Australian operations, with the changes ushered in by the new Broadcasting Services Act 1992. This Act allowed greater use of Temporary Community Broadcast Licenses (TCBL) that achieved the following big advances:

• TCBLs allowed temporary broadcasts for 3-month periods,
• Exposure of Christians to the possibilities of Christian Radio
• Exposure of the Public to Christian music and Spoken programs of World standard
• The capacity to raise funds to make local stations self-sufficient
• UCB Australia's role as mentor and leader in providing groups around Australia with Broadcast Training, infrastructure guidance and the momentum to get up and running, was crucial.

The first UCB affiliated station established in Australia was Newcastle Christian Broadcasters, located in one of Australia's largest provincial centres, about 100Km North of Sydney.

The founders, husband and wife team Russell and Betty Aicheson, now in their late-eighties, visited Radio Rhema in New Zealand in 1984, and caught the Christian broadcasting vision from then UCB International President Richard Berry. Newcastle Christian Broadcasters was founded in the following year doing temporary broadcasts.

They handed over the reigns to Dudley Scantlebury in 1989, when the foundations of Rhema FM Newcastle (as the station is now named) were well and truly laid. After a long battle, Newcastle obtained its permanent licence to broadcast full-time in 2000.

Rhema FM Canberra was the second "cab off the rank." Founded by Warren Rout and his wife Suzanne in 1991 as Canberra Christian Radio Limited obtained its permanent warrant late in 1999. The Community licenses are hard to get, particularly if there is local competition for a limited number of licenses, and today there are very few still available in Australia, although a few contnue to trickle through with Rhema FM Gosford being a recent example (late 2004).

UCB has been involved in the establishment of almost 30 community radio stations, each one being autonomous, locally run and financed by their own communities. After the launch, UCB Australia continued to assist with support, guidance and representation for many years. With the advent of Narrowcast licences, UCB's focus changed to include becoming a broadcaster in it's own right. Whilst an effort was made to continue supporting the affiliated community stations, the reality was that it was very difficult to keep focus on both being a broadcaster and a representative body.

After much discussion, in early 2005 UCB officially recommended to affiliate stations that another body, the Association of Christian Broadcasters was best positioned to be the peak body for Christian broadcasters, given that it’s season of being their umbrella organisation/peak body was over. As part of the process, UCB strongly encouraged its historical affiliates to actively participate as members in the ACB, as in fact UCB Australia does. UCB’s radio focus is now that of being a broadcaster in its own right, through its own ‘Vision Radio Network’.

Why is Vision different to Christian Community Broadcasters?

There are essential differences between the independent community stations and the Vision Radio Network.

The community stations have Autonomous Boards, individual negotiations with Broadcasting Authorities, represent local interests, news, set their own music and talk mix as appropriate to local listening audience. Formats vary depending one the station's target audience and desired ministry outcomes.

Vision, on the other hand, holds Open Narrowcast licences, and each broadcast site is essentially a repeater of the program beamed by Satellite from our main studios in Brisbane. Vision is Australia’s fastest growing radio network. From one relay station in 1999, today there are over 200 on air in regional and metropolitan Australia with many more to come. This growth has been fuelled by public demand with communities generally contributing most of the funds required to establish their new service. At the start of 2005, Vision held almost 350 radio licences - 35 being high powered FM and AM services (the most powerful being 50,000 watts) and the balance being “local” FM services (typically 1-10 watts). Over 200 are now on-air with more switched on every month. Outside our network coverage area, many people also listen direct-from-satellite or via the internet. The network primarily covers regional Australia, although Vision is also heard in some of the major centres, including Perth, Brisbane, Hobart, Townsville, Rockhampton and the Gold Coast.

Through positive music and talk, we aim to deliver a stimulating and compelling programme mix that everyday Aussies can identify with, and be challenged to live a life of real faith in God. We want Vision to be a trusted friend, aiming to ultimately introduce listeners to our trusted friend - Jesus Christ!

Respond now

Here's what you can do;
1. Learn more about what we're doing by reading through the informtion on this site, and listening to Vision.
2. Pray for us - we need your prayer support.
3. Consider carefully how you will respond to our need.

Like to donate now?

DONATIONS ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE

All donations of $2 or more to the UCB Australia Development Fund are tax deductible.