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

Christian radio Christian radio refers to Christian media radio formats that focus on Christian religious broadcasting or various forms of Christian music. Many such formats and programs include contemporary Christian music, gospel music, sermons, radio dramas, ...

station in

Perth Perth () is the list of Australian capital cities, capital city of Western Australia. It is the list of cities in Australia by population, fourth-most-populous city in Australia, with a population of over 2.3 million within Greater Perth . The ...

, 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 and provides

livestream Livestreaming, live-streaming, or live streaming is the streaming media, streaming of video or Digital audio, audio in real-time communication, real time or near real time. While often referred to simply as ''streaming'', the real-time nature ...

s from its website and via

iOS Ios, Io or Nio (, ; ; locally Nios, Νιός) is a Greek island in the Cyclades group in the Aegean Sea. Ios is a hilly island with cliffs down to the sea on most sides. It is situated halfway between Naxos and Santorini. It is about long an ...

and

Android Android most commonly refers to: *Android (robot), a humanoid robot or synthetic organism designed to imitate a human * Android (operating system), a mobile operating system primarily developed by Google * Android TV, a operating system developed ...

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 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. This should not be confused with In ...

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 , equivalent to in , Federal Government grant to assist in making the digital broadcasting transition. Premises were built at the end of Murray Street in

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

vinyl record A phonograph record (also known as a gramophone record, especially in British English) or a vinyl record (for later varieties only) is an analog signal, analog sound Recording medium, storage medium in the form of a flat disc with an inscribed, ...

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 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 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