Broadcast area Penrith, Sydney First air date 2001 | Frequency 100.7 mHz FM Format Community radio | |
Slogan The Voice of the Penrith Valley Callsign meaning 2 = New South Wales
Way
Out
West | ||
Wow FM (100.7 FM, callsign "2WOW") is a community radio station based in St Marys in Sydney. The station broadcasts to part of Western Sydney, mainly centered on the City of Penrith. Wow FM is a volunteer-run organisation and is funded through listener support, grants and limited commercial sponsorship.
Contents
Programming
The station's programs cover a range of music styles including adult contemporary, rock and roll, country, multicultural and Christian programming, although for vast parts of the day, relays satellite programming from the Community Radio Network (CRN). Wow FM also broadcasts programs that are presented by special interest groups or in languages other than English.
History
In June 2001, "Way Out West (WOW) FM" beat one other radio station for a permanent license from the Australian Broadcasting Authority. This was due to the perceived need for multicultural programs in the Penrith area, which WOW FM devoted a large proportion of their airtime, although only 10% of Penrith LGA residents come from a non-English-speaking background.
In September 2001, 2WOW was a finalist for the Hillbilly Radio Station of the Year Award from the Australian Independent Country Music Awards, along with every other station that plays country music.
In November 2001, WOW FM began broadcasting national news updates produced in Bathurst by media students at Charles Sturt University.
WOW FM added a "Kids Club" feature in February 2002 that allows local primary school students to learn about radio broadcasting and promote their schools. Later that month, the station joined the "Work for the Dole" project by giving thirty unemployed young people the chance to study interviewing, computer skills, and Internet broadcasting.