Wodonga TAFE Radio

Infobox Radio station
name = 87.8fm Wodonga TAFE Radio


city = Wodonga, Australia
area = Albury/Wodonga
branding = 87.8 Wodonga TAFE
airdate = 2004
frequency = 87.8 mHz FM
format = Rock Music/Talk
power =
erp =
class = Narrowcast
callsign_meaning =
former_callsigns =
owner = Wodonga Institute Of TAFE
webcast =
website = http://www.myspace.com/878wodongataferadio

Wodonga TAFE Radio is a narrowcast radio station broadcasting on 87.8 MHz. It operates from a studio at the Wodonga Institute of TAFE, McCoy Street, Wodonga, and began broadcasting in June 2005. The station is staffed entirely by students of the Institute's broadcasting course. The station's rock format was chosen after surveying students and staff at the adjoining campuses of Wodonga TAFE and La Trobe University.

Many students who have completed the course at Wodonga TAFE have gone on to gain roles at major regional and metropolitan stations around Australia.

The station was the first in the region to broadcast Mike Carlton's Friday News Review program, which is a satirical look at the week's national news stories.

History

Wodonga TAFE first offered as pilot course in Broadcasting in 1998 through the Open Learning scheme, becoming fully accredited in April 2000.

In October 2003 Wodonga TAFE applied to the Australian Broadcasting Authority for a broadcasting license. The appilication was rejected one month later because no licenses were available. Wodonga TAFE appealed the ABA decision in May 2004 and in June a frequency became available. Wodonga TAFE applied for a license to broadcast on this frequency a month later and was granted a license to broadcast on 87.8 MHz in September 2004.

Wodonga TAFE Radio commenced test broadcasts in March 2005, with its first official broadcast in May. 87.8 Wodonga TAFE Radio was officially launched in November 2005 by the president of the TAFE board in the absence of the Victorian Minister for Education, Lynne Kosky, whose visit to Wodonga was cancelled at the last minute due to a special cabinet meeting.

The station suffered some issues with audience strength over a year or so prior to 2007 due to another Narrowcasting station setting up a transmitter covering the same frequency. The other station has as of August 2007 ceased transmission.

On Air

Due to the nature of the station, live broadcasts are only conducted on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday afternoons for most of the year; 1 day of broadcasting during Open Day and 1 full week of broadcasting in the second last week of November.

External links

* [http://www.myspace.com/878wodongataferadio Wodonga TAFE Radio Online]
* [http://www.wodonga.tafe.edu.au Wodonga Institute Of TAFE]