- Melbourne Jewish Radio
-
Lion FM 96.1 (3MJR) 
Broadcast area Inner Suburbs of Melbourne, Australia Branding Lion FM Frequency 96.1 MHz FM First air date 14 June 2010 Format Talk / Entertainment / Music Language Hebrew / English Power 250W Callsign meaning 3 Melbourne Jewish Radio Owner Melbourne Jewish Radio Inc Website http://www.lionfm.org.au [1] Melbourne Jewish Radio Inc. is an incorporated association which operates Lion FM - a community radio station in Melbourne, Australia. The association had a temporary community broadcasting licence issued by the Australian Communications and Media Authority to broadcast in the FM band for an initial 12 month period that ended on 13 June 2011. Subsequently, Lion FM has been limited to streaming on the internet. There is no data on listener numbers, but at the date radio transmission ceased here were almost 1000 in the Lion FM Facebook Group --- out of the Melbourne Jewish population of circa 40,000.
Lion FM was the first intentionally all-Jewish community broadcast station in Australia, and the Temporary Broadcast served to establish programming and facilitate audience participation with the service.
The radio station commenced transmissions on 96.1 MHz on Sunday 14 June 2010. The transmitter site is located in the Melbourne CBD with a 250 Watt transmission system. It was expected that coverage will reach the greater part of the Melbourne Metropolitan Area, with transmission power restricted towards the South West to prevent interference to the Geelong based 96.3 FM service.
History
The accessibility to the Jewish Community in Melbourne to broadcast media has been limited to 3 hours per week on 3ZZZ (Ethnic Public Radio, Melbourne) and to a small number of hours in the Hebrew language on SBS Radio. The limitation on the number of hours may be due to the variation of languages spoken within the greater Jewish community, dispersed amongst English, Hebrew, Russian and a smaller number of Yiddish speakers.
This has meant that there has been no uniting radio media for the Jewish community as a whole.[1]
The establishment of Melbourne Jewish Radio Inc as a community broadcasting organisation was designed to redress this considered lack of representation on broadcast media.
An opportunity was identified for a potential frequency for such a new service, and following this opportunity led to the establishment of the radio station.
See also the station's website [2].
Establishment of M.J.R.
The Melbourne Jewish Radio project was established in December 2008, with the goal of achieving a form of dedicated full time broadcast media for the Jewish community. In the time since formation, Melbourne Jewish Radio has established itself as a not-for-profit based charitable institution, has established its board of directors - being leading figures from Melbourne's Jewish community, and is now commencing broadcast commencement preparations.
Following application to Australia's broadcasting authorities, MJR/LionFM was granted a 12 month Temporary Community Broadcasting Licence on 96.1 MHz, to commence in the first half of 2010. However, because of start-up difficulties, the License was altered to start on 14 June 2010, for 12 months. On 10 June 2011, the regulator, ACMA, announced [3]that the frequency used would no longer be available for community broadcasting. Since midnight on 13 June 2011, Lion FM has continued broadcasting on the internet only.
On Air as LION-FM
LION-FM is the On-Air identity of the new radio station (3MJR). The name derives from The Lion of Judah.
MEANING and SIGNIFICANCE
The LionFM logo incorporates a stylised impression of the Lion of Judah. The (Lion of Judah) sign represents the Israelite tribe of Judah throughout the Old Testament of the Hebrew Bible. The symbol also features on the emblem of Jerusalem, recognizing the original tribe and inmates of the Biblical Yehuda or Judah.[4]
Key Figures
Key figures in the organisation:
Committee of Management:
Excutive
- Presidents): Michael Lipshutz; John M Kraus
- Secretary: Stephen Fennell
- Vice President: Menachem Khoen
- Treasurer: Joseph Kalb
General Members:
- Mookey Grinberg
- Ruth Gilmour
- Yossi Ashkenazi
Station Operations Team:
- Station Manager (Acting): Yossi Ashkenazi
- Program Manager: Daniel G
- Studio Producers: Amit Rehak, Dave Hayblum
Organisational Structure
Melbourne Jewish Radio is a not-for-profit member representative incorporated association, which is governed by a Committee of Management elected annually by association members. Membership is open to those who identify as Jewish and those who support the Jewish community.
Reporting to the Committee of Management are a number of sub-committees which may include ordinary members of the Association, and members of the community who have relevant experience in their fields, these are:
- Programming
- Technical / Engineering
- Marketing and Promotions
- Fundraising
- Sponsorship
- Community Participation
Programme Schedule
The programming schedule for the radio station was simultaneous with internet broadcasting, with the details for each week online at [5]. Over Shabbat hours -- Friday dusk to early Saturday evening, only recorded non-Jewish music, along with station call-sign has been broadcast by the station. Broadcasting has also been likewise limited over the various Jewish religiously sanctioned periods. There was an end of year (Dec 2010-Jan 2011) reduction in transmission to recorded music only as the original studio was updated and a second studio commissioned.
From the commencement of broadcasting actual programs gradually came on-line. The station's premier show has been Mornings with Lion presented by Daniel G, Big Dave and Shifra [6] broadcasting live Mondays to Fridays from 8:00 to 9:30.
When the Temporary License for radio broadcasting at 96.1 Mhz FM expired on 13 June 2011 there were 53 hours of actual programs per week listed on the station's online grid accessible from the website [7]. The scope of the station is well expressed by the then long running shows, The Luv Shack, Mornings with Lion, The World and Us, Neshima Mizrahi, Artytypes, Melbourne Jewish Womens Show. For these and some other shows which at that date had more than twenty weekly episodes, program descriptions, features, presenters, and URLs for podcast sites are listed on an article on [8] on the [9]
The radio station has since its launch presented a program of adult contemporary music, described on the website as "Non Stop Music", with the inclusion of pre-recorded programs - including political discussion, women's topics, jazz music, Jewish dating and a number of dance music programs. The station says this will change upon the establishment of its new studio, which will facilitate live programming, and an enhanced variety of programs throughout each day.
On the subject of Shabbat period programming, the Vice President of MJR is quoted on web blogsite AJN Watch: "I want to clarify that Lion FM will be broadcast according to Halacha and from its inception, it was decided that it will only be broadcast according to Jewish Law. We will be doing everything in accordance with our orthodox Rabbi's approval."[10]
Coverage and Transmission
The transmission system is intended to provide inner Melbourne coverage through a twin dipole system at Nelbourne Central tower in the Melbourne CBD. Recent trials provided complaints from broadcasters on the neighbouring 96.3 MHz service in Geelong. The complaint has led to a reduction in transmitted power and re-alignment of antennas and testing with view to an increase of transmitter power. The key aspect of the transmission coverage requires a maximum radiated power of 50W ERP towards the city of Geelong. Upon completion of adjustments to the transmission system, power will be increased to a level acceptable to both the operators of 96.3 FM Geelong and MJR. (August 2010)
Media coverage
Australian Jewish News reported on 11 March 2010 that station president Michael Lipshutz said "Jewish audiences want more media. Particularly with Israel always on the back foot and the Jewish community on the back foot because of anti-Semitism, we need to reach out to the general public as well as the Jewish community,” . . . adding that it is particularly pertinent for younger generations who are becoming “less associated with the Jewish community."[11]
Caulfield suburban newspaper Stonington Leader covered the opening of the radio station thus: "ONE-hundred volunteers rallied to ensure Melbourne’s Jewish community can tune in to its own radio station. Lion 96.1 FM was set to begin broadcasting from South Yarra last Sunday with English and Hebrew songs, community programs, news, political discussion, interviews, educational programs and comedy. It is also featuring religious and cultural programs and feeds from Israel. Station president Michael Lipshutz said more than 100 volunteers aged 20 to 70 were on board so far. “Volunteers decided (there was) a need to have a radio station for the Jewish community because it is a very broad community,” he said. “It’s a community station.”[12]
Digital Radio
Melbourne Jewish Radio announced the broadcasting digital transmission until the launch in 2011, when not broadcast for digital due to the ceased radio broadcasting in 2011.
Lion FM one year of Broadcasting
Melbourne Jewish Radio was granted a one year temporary license to broadcast as a communal radio station at 96.1 Mhz in the FM band on June 14, 2010.[13] However, following a complaint made to the regulator in March 2011, the temporary license was not renewed, though the grounds given were of a technical nature. [14] The Station ceased radio broadcasting on June 13, 2011, though it has continued as an internet broadcasting station at http://lionFM.org
The radio group has been openly promoting their "Return To The Airwaves", which may be considered unlikely on the 96.1 MHz frequency. Insiders have hinted towards special case consideration towards granting of a medium powered Narrowcast service licence to MJR.
Jewish Radio Worldwide
Chai FM 101.9 is South Africa's only Jewish radio station, transmitting to the greater Johannesburg area on 101.9 FM. A listing of Jewish Radio Stations in the Diaspora is given on the Contemporary Jewish History Website "The History of Now" at http://TheHistoryOfNow.net/JewishRadioNow.htm
Latest Developments - Licence Sharing Agreement
At the Association's 2011 Annual General Meeting MJR Vice president Menachem Khoen announced that MJR would be returning to the air "soon" with an announcement of details in October.
Although no specific radio station or frequency was presented at the Lion FM AGM, Mr Khoen stated that an arrangement had been agreed to by an existing community radio station that allowed for MJR to occupy five complete days per week (Monday through to Friday evening) for its broadcasts. The yet un-named community radio station would be left with Friday evening through to midnight Sunday Night for its own programming.
Subsequent to the AGM there have been reports not confirmed by MJR executives that the negotiating partner is suggested to be linked to many potential broadcasters with operations within the Broadcst Services Band - mentioned have been DMG's 91.5 FM, Macquarrie's MTR 1377 and smaller players such as community radio stations on 88.3 & 96.5 FM. However there is no information available other then the broadcast is is an existing operator within the standard Broadcast Band (531 to 1592 AM and 87.6 FM to 108 FM). Any arrangement with a Commercial or Community broadcaster will likely require formal approval from broadcast regulator ACMA for the arrangement. See "The Sleeping Lion will Awaken Soon" on The History Of Now website [15]
References
- ^ History of Jewish Radio in Australia
- ^ lionFM website
- ^ http://www.acma.gov.au/WEB/STANDARD/pc=PC_410051
- ^ http://www.buzzle.com/articles/what-does-the-lion-of-judah-represent.html
- ^ http://lionfm.org.au Lion FM website
- ^ http://www.morningswithlion.com Mornings with Lion Website
- ^ http://lionfm.org.au Lion FM website
- ^ http://thehistoryofnow.net/JewishRadioAustraliaNow.htm Australian Jewish Media
- ^ http://TheHistoryOfNow.net TheHistory Of Now (Jewish Contemporary History) Website
- ^ http://ajnwatch.blogspot.com/2010/05/response-from-lion-fm-re-shabbat.html
- ^ Australian Jewish News (On-Line) http://jewishnews.net.au/2010/03/11/jewish-radio-set-to-roar/12341
- ^ http://stonnington-leader.whereilive.com.au/lifestyle/story/community-tunes-in/
- ^ http://TheHistoryOfNow.net/JewishRadioAustraliaNow.htm The (Jewish) History of Now website
- ^ http://TheHistoryOfNow.net/LionFMNow.htm Lion FM status report
- ^ http://TheHistoryOfNow.net/LionFMNow.htm The Sleeping Lion will Awaken Soon
Radio stations in the Melbourne & Geelong market AM and FM stations with an asterisk are also available on digital AM Stations ABC Radio National 621* • 3AW 693* • 774 ABC Melbourne* • 3CR Melbourne 855* • Radio Sport National 927* • ABC NewsRadio 1026* • SEN 1116* • Vision Australia Radio 1179 • SBS Radio 1224* • Magic 1278* • 3CW 1341 (Geelong) • MTR 1377* • 3XY Radio Hellas 1422 • 3KND 1503* • Rete Italia 1593 • Vision Radio Network 1611 • 3ME 1638FM Stations (Melbourne wide) Light FM 89.9* • Student Youth Network 90.7* • 91.5 FM* • 3ZZZ 92.3* • SBS Radio 93.1* • Nova 100 (100.3)* • Mix 101.1* • Fox FM 101.9* • 3RRR 102.7* • 3MBS 103.5* • Gold 104.3* • Triple M 105.1* • ABC Classic FM 105.9* • PBS 106.7FM* • Triple J 107.5*FM Stations (Local) Various 87.6-88 (various) • Southern FM 88.3 (South) • Plenty Valley FM 88.6 (Plenty Valley) • WYN FM 88.9 (Werribee) • 89.3 Hot Country (Geelong) • 93.9 Bay FM (Geelong) • 3WBC 94.1 (East) • Kinglake Ranges Radio 94.5 (Kinglake Ranges) • 94.7 The Pulse (Geelong) • Joy 94.9 (City) • 95.5 K-Rock (Geelong) • Golden Days Radio 95.7 (South East) • Lion FM 96.1 (Melbourne City) • Rhema FM 96.3 (Geelong) • 96.5 Inner FM (North East) • Mountain Districts Radio 97.1 (Dandenong Ranges) • Stereo 974 (97.4) (West) • Casey Radio 97.7 (South East) • 979fm (97.9) (Melton) • Eastern FM 98.1 (Outer East) • OKR 98.3 (Kilmore) • 3RPP 98.3 (Frankston) & 3RPP 98.7 (Mornington Peninsula) • Apple FM 98.5 (Bacchus Marsh) • North West FM 98.9 (North West) • Yarra Valley FM 99.1 (Yarra Valley) • 3NRG 99.3 (Sunbury) • Vision Australia Radio 99.5 (Geelong) • Flow FM 106.3 (Yarra Valley)Digital Only Stations ABC DiG: · ABC Dig Music · ABC Country · ABC Jazz · ABC Grandstand · ARN: · The Edge · Gold Plus · Classic Hits Live · Austereo: Radar · Barry · The Main Stage · DMG: Koffee · NovaNation · Fairfax: The Buckle · Pacific Star: Aussie · MyMP · SBS Radio: SBS Chill · SBS PopAsia · Community: IrisPrevious and aspirant stations Kiss 90 FM • 89.9 Hitz FM • Pulse 95 (94.9 FM) • City FMAustralia Radio Markets: Adelaide • Brisbane • Canberra • Darwin • Hobart • Melbourne • Newcastle • Perth • Sydney
See also: List of radio stations in AustraliaCategories:- Radio stations in Victoria
- Community radio stations in Australia
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