Sonshine (call sign 6SON) is a non-profit community,

Christian radio Christian radio is a Christian media radio format that focus on programming with a Christian message. Many such broadcasters play contemporary Christian music, though many programs include sermons, radio dramas, as well as news and talk progra ...

station in

Perth Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia. It is the fourth most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a population of 2.1 million (80% of the state) living in Greater Perth in 2020. Perth is ...

, Western Australia. It provides a mix of adult contemporary mainstream and Christian news, music, and a mix of shows and segments with community guests. Sonshine plays music from Christian and mainstream artists covering current hits as well as music from the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s. It has over 451,000 listeners per month, and provides

livestream Livestreaming is streaming media simultaneously recorded and broadcast in real-time over the internet. It is often referred to simply as streaming. Non-live media such as video-on-demand, vlogs, and YouTube videos are technically streamed, but no ...

s from its website and via

iOS iOS (formerly iPhone OS) is a mobile operating system created and developed by Apple Inc. exclusively for its hardware. It is the operating system that powers many of the company's mobile devices, including the iPhone; the term also includes ...

and Android apps. Sonshine also offers an on-demand service. The station is a member of Good News Broadcasters Inc.

History

The community-licensed station commenced broadcasting on Australia Day in January 1988. Co-founder and announcer Barry Grosser shaped the early content of the station, and remained as the General Manager for 25 years. Within three years of signing on, the station had achieved some popularity, with a weekly circulation of 90,000 listeners. It broadcast from

Morley Morley may refer to: Places England * Morley, Norfolk, a civil parish * Morley, Derbyshire, a civil parish * Morley, Cheshire, a village * Morley, County Durham, a village * Morley, West Yorkshire, a suburban town of Leeds and civil parish * M ...

for the first 21 years but, with the onset of

digital radio Digital radio is the use of digital technology to transmit or receive across the radio spectrum. Digital transmission by radio waves includes digital broadcasting, and especially digital audio radio services. Types In digital broadcasting syst ...

broadcasting, needed to fund and build new premises. After 20 years, the station received its first round of government funding when it was awarded a $375,000 Federal Government grant to assist in making the digital broadcasting transition. Premises were built at the end of Murray Street in

Como Como (, ; lmo, Còmm, label=Comasco dialect, Comasco , or ; lat, Novum Comum; rm, Com; french: Côme) is a city and ''comune'' in Lombardy, Italy. It is the administrative capital of the Province of Como. Its proximity to Lake Como and ...

to house new digital broadcasting equipment, studios and the former confidential phone counselling service CareLine. The station moved to its new premises in Murray St, Como in 2009, selling off thousands of its

vinyl record A phonograph record (also known as a gramophone record, especially in British English), or simply a record, is an analog sound storage medium in the form of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove. The groove usually starts nea ...

s and CDs. Sonshine also broadcasts in Esperance, Katanning, Dalwallinu. Its current slogan is "Wholeheartedly Connected".

Funding

As a non-profit organisation, the government places restrictions on the stations’ income potential and sponsorship support. It therefore relies on pledges, donations, subscriptions, and business sponsorship to continue. In 2015, its listeners raised funds for a $75,000 upgraded transmitter during a "Hope for Christmas" appeal. After donors were given the chance to name the new equipment, it was nicknamed "Hope". The station holds two annual fundraising appeals each year in June and November. In November 2020 it exceeded its $198,000 target over a five-day "Hope Worth Sharing" appeal, broadcast from the Studio foyer with Perth public figures.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Sonshine FM 98.5 Radio stations in Perth, Western Australia Community radio stations in Australia Christian radio stations in Australia Radio stations established in 1988 1988 establishments in Australia