| Broadcast area | Sydney |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 93.7 mHz FM |
| First air date | December 2002 |
| Format | Indigenous programming |
| Class | Community radio |
| Callsign meaning | 2 = New South Wales Live aNd Deadly |
| Owner | Gadigal Information Service |
| Website | Official website |
Koori Radio (callsign 2LND) is a community radio station based in Redfern broadcasting to Sydney on a city-wide licence. It is part of the Gadigal Information Service and is the only radio station in Sydney providing full-time broadcasting to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.
Koori Radio is the city’s only black music station. The music format is one third Australian Indigenous, one third world Indigenous and one-third other black music. The station broadcasts live from 7:00am to midnight with a music service overnight. It is a volunteer run organisation and is funded through listener support, grants and limited commercial sponsorship.[1]
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Koori Radio grew out of Radio Redfern which was established in the early 1980s. Originally it had program time on other community station Radio Skid Row. During Australia's Bicentennial in 1988, Radio Redfern played a pivotal role in informing and educating the public about Indigenous responses to the celebration. It also acted as a communication channel for the thousands of Indigenous people from around Australia who had gathered in Sydney for protests.[2] In 1993 Koori Radio came under the umbrella of Gadigal Information Service. It was then part of a series of national Indigenous radio broadcasts during the Sydney 2000 Olympics.
Koori Radio conducted 19 test broadcasts while it was applying for a licence. The ACMA granted the licence in 2001.[3] Koori Radio began full time broadcasting in December 2002 with a 1kW transmitter. It switched to a new 50 kW transmitter in December 2003.[4]
Koori Radio and other community radio stations in Sydney is set to launch mid year.
In 2008 Koori Radio received Australian Government funding to renovate and move into purpose built studios in the Black Theatre in Redfern.[5]
As well as its format of Indigenous and black music, the station broadcasts news, current affairs, sport and listener involvement programs. There are also programs by the Samoan and Māori communities.
Koori Radio's flagship program is Blackchat, a daily current affairs program on weekday mornings committed to discussing news, issues and events from an Indigenous perspective.[6] Koori Radio also contributes programming to the National Indigenous Radio Service.
Koori Radio's programming also features Koori Radio Sport, an entertainment program that covers the latest in sport news, with a focus on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players. Richard Baini is a regular co-host of Koori Radio Sport and is best known for his segment Richie's Rants.[7]