| Broadcast area | Sydney |
|---|---|
| Slogan | Passion For Life More To The Music |
| Frequency | 103.2 MHz FM |
| First air date | 5 March 1979 |
| Format | Christian radio and Adult Contemporary |
| ERP | 50,000 watts |
| HAAT | 204 m[1] |
| Callsign meaning |
2 = New South Wales Christian Broadcasting Association |
| Owner | Hope Media Ltd, formerly Christian Broadcasting Association |
| Website | http://hope1032.com.au |
2CBA (identified on air and in print as Hope 103.2) is a Christian radio station in Sydney, Australia, transmitting on the FM dial at 103.2 MHz. Founded by the Rev. Vernon Turner, it commenced broadcasting on 5 March 1979 and cemented itself as Australia's first Christian FM radio station.
The station provides a mix of contemporary Christian and mainstream music. Its programming includes Sunday evening talk show, Open House, which explores life, faith and culture from a Christian perspective.[2] Station programming also features Bible readings, morning devotionals, short Christian spots, as well as broadcasts of church services each Sunday from St. Thomas' North Sydney and St. John's in Parramatta.
2CBA relocated from Five Dock to its current studios in Seven Hills (the former home of WSFM and Mix 106.5) and was renamed FM103.2 in 2002, with the tag-line The Heart of Sydney. The station was re-named Heart 103.2 in December 2007, but this was challenged legally by Macquarie Regional Radioworks who were using the name Heart. It was decided to use "Sydney's 1032" as the interim on-air identifier for 2008.
On Monday, 15 December 2008 at Midnight the station was renamed as Hope 103.2. Listeners offered their suggestions for a new name for the station and Hope was judged the best and most popular.
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The format of Hope 103.2 is described as "Contemporary Christian Radio", which is Christian-infused mainstream light contemporary radio. The program format is designed to reach out to non-committed Christians, rather than preach to the converted. This is achieved with "family friendly" and accessible music with a positive statement, whether performed by Christian or non-Christian artists and regardless of whether or not the music is intentionally carrying a Christian message.
Open House is a Sunday evening live talk show exploring life, faith and culture from a Christian perspective. Since the shows beginnings in April 2006 to March 2011, the show was hosted by Sheridan Voysey. Since April 2011, Open House has been hosted by TV and Radio Broadcaster Leigh Hatcher. Open House is presently broadcast to nine Christian radio stations across Australia, including Sydney's Hope 103.2, Melbourne's Light FM, Perth's Sonshine FM, Adelaide's Life FM, Darwin's 97.7, Hobart's Ultra 106five, Canberra's 1WAY FM, Wollongong's NineFourOne and 100.7 Riverland Life FM, on Sunday nights from 8 to 11pm.
Hope 103.2 also broadcasts FRESH with Erin La Macchia, alongside overnight music, other helpful programs such as Time with God with John North, Focus on the Family and more, in addition to 96five's music show for contemporary hits, The Hot 25 Countdown with Liam Renton (host of The Hot 25 Countdown and The Family Show)
In November 2010, Hope Media commenced broadcasting of Inspire Digital on Sydney DAB+ Radio. Inspire Digital is Australia's first Christian Digital Radio Station, providing Christian Music and teaching. There are plans to broadcast Inspire Digital programming to some other Australian capital cities via partnerships with existing Christian broadcasters in those cities.
In common with the Christian Radio method to appeal to a wide cross section of the community, it has broadcast under a number of different aliases over time.
2CBA originally identified as 2CBA under the promotional liner "Beautiful Music", similar to Melbourne commercial radio station 3AK in the late 70s and throughout the 1980s. A further change of approach in the 1990s led to the station appealing to an even wider and generally younger audience, for this it changed its music to closely match Mix 106.5 FM, and changed its identity to simply "FM 103.2".
Later, following the lead of Melbourne and Brisbane based Christian radio, 2CBA adopted an adult contemporary music playlist, and identified as "Heart 103.2". This branding was contested by regional commercial radio giant Macquarie Regional Radio, the owners of the trademark "HEART" as used by its Tasmanian network stations. Following a backdown by 2CBA, it re-branded again as "Hope 103.2", the current station identifier.
On 7 July 2008, Hope 103.2 announced that it will commence broadcasting simulcasts of Nine News (via TCN Channel Nine Sydney), airing weeknights (Monday-Friday) at 6pm.
Hope 103.2 plays hits from Christian artists such as Francesca Battistelli, Casting Crowns, Third Day, tobyMac, MercyMe, Revive & Third Day. In more mainstream music, it plays many ballad hits from Leona Lewis, Colbie Caillat, Michael Bublé, Paramore, Switchfoot, Celine Dion, Alicia Keys, Mariah Carey, Guy Sebastian, Delta Goodrem, Stan Walker & Coldplay.
Phillip Randall, previously CEO of Sonshine FM, is the CEO of Hope Media Ltd. Group Music Director John O'Donnell joined the station in 2000 from Magic 693 Melbourne.
2CBA is one of Australia's longest established FM radio services, and the longest established full time Christian radio service.
2CBA is, however, not the only Christian broadcaster. There have been attempts by a national Christian broadcaster Vision Radio to gain a foothold in Sydney. This was attempted with limited success in 2007 with a twelve month operation on the upper AM band frequency 1701 kHz. Vision Radio Network had later discontinued its Sydney based broadcasts.
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