After 33 years as 2NCR-FM, Lismore’s community radio station is re-branding itself as River-FM.

The station is also conducting a survey of residents, both current listeners and also non-listeners, to find out what people want to hear.

According to station president Basia Klim, the new name and the survey are part of a push to tap into and be more responsive to the community they are broadcasting to.

“We are trying to get 1000 responses to the survey so we have got statistically relevant information,” she said. “We are about halfway through and the main thing people have said they want is an emphasis on local content; local music and talent, arts, current affairs and local government issues. That’s been a big definite.

“Sport is obviously the national religion so we are planning to have a new sports show that will cover everything from local martial arts to soccer and the races. That will be on Saturday mornings from 9 to 10am. Then there will be a round up of the weekend sport on Monday from 3 till 4pm.”

Basia said the name, too, was an attempt to really identify with Lismore.

“Our thought was that the reason Lismore is here is because of the river. Its identity is tied up with the river, so we figured that would be a nice nickname for us. It’s local, it brings us home,” she said.

Basia also said there was still some confusion with 2NR, which is the old name for ABC North Coast.

“We get three or four calls a week from people who think we are the ABC,” she said. “We want people to know who we are. We are a community organisation… A lot of people still think we are attached to the university even though we haven’t been for about seven years. That’s how a lot of people see the station, which has limited people’s involvement.”

Basia has been involved with the station for about four years as a presenter and as president for a year. She said in the past six months they have been doing outside broadcasts at various events such as the Lismore Show, Lismore Cup, and the homeless shelter benefit as well as other ones from the skate rink and a nightclub.

“It gets us out there in the community and talking to people so they know who we are.

“We’re working hard to have a service that people will want to support.”

Basia said they are always looking for new people to volunteer in all areas of the station, not just on-air.

Other new programs they have in the pipeline include a weekly arts and culture show, a new environment show and a new Indigenous show.

Source: Echo News