FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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MEMBERSHIP

Membership of Rhema FM Newcastle is important because it provides opportunity for you to become involved in God's radio ministry. It also provides Rhema FM Newcastle with much-needed funding to continue operations as a not-for-profit Christian community radio station. Plus Rhema FM has to demonstrate to the Australian Communications & Media Authority (ACMA) that there is sufficient community suppot to warrant continuation of or renewal of our permanent licence.

WHAT DOES MEMBERSHIP COST AND WHAT DO I GET?
Membership of Rhema FM Newcastle is $60.00 for a full year including GST. Financial members receive a quarterly newsletter, Word for Today devotional, car stickers, plus members are also eligible to vote at the Annual General Meeting. ________________________________________________________________________________
OUR LISTENING AUDIENCE

HOW MANY LISTENERS DOES RHEMA FM NEWCASTLE HAVE?
We've estimated that our weekly listening audience is approximately 30,000 - around 4.5% of the listening population (based on surveys & statistics).

This includes listeners from Lake Haven to Buladelah and Newcastle to Singleton.

Our own surveys have shown that over 70% of Christian church attendees listen at some time during a month. Most listen daily.

62% of our listeners are listening daily between 6am-9am in the morning.

Around 34-36% listen daily through morning, afternoon, drive-time and evening.

47% of our listeners do not listen to any other radio station.

LIVE STREAMING AUDIENCE
Since late 2007, Rhema FM Newcastle has been streaming live on the internet. While it's almost impossible to know the size of a worldwide listening audience at any one time, listener fedback has been overwhelming.

Apart from emails received from local listeners, Rhema FM continues to receive email responses and requests for a favourite song from listeners worldwide, including the USA, Singapore, Western Australia, etc.

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LISTENER SUGGESTIONS

HOW DO I MAKE SUGGESTIONS?
Suggestions for music, programmes or changes to formatting are always welcome and must be in writing. Your submission must be signed and include your address and telephone contact number. You can mail us at P.O. Box 2000, Dangar NSW 2309 or email rhemafm@rhemafm.com.au

WILL ANYONE RESPOND TO MY SUGGESTIONS?
All mail or emails are read and responded to in the shortest possible time, usually within a day or so.
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ON-AIR PROGRAMMING

ARE MANY ON-AIR PROGRAMMES AUTOMATED?
Sometimes it becomes necessary to advance record or automate some on-air
programmes, due to unavailability of announcers. Many of our announcers are voluntary. Generally within any one week, no more than 15% of normal broadcasting is automated. That excludes our overnight programming which is also automated.

CAN I REQUEST A FAVOURITE SONG?
Yes - with our 9 to 5 workday requests! You can email, phone or fax through your requests, anytime between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday.

Just call the station on 49 622 700 during the appropriate show of your choice or email us at workday@rhemafm.com.au during business hours.

HOW MANY SONGS ARE ON YOUR REGULAR PLAYLIST?
There are around 2000 Christian music tracks on our playlist at any one time. In addition, there is a music vault of another several hundred songs from past playlists. Check out the link on our home page to view our current music playlist.

WHAT KIND OF MUSIC & PROGRAMMES DOES RHEMA FM PLAY?
All music and programmes on Rhema FM Newcastle are 100% Christian. Secular music or programmes are not played at any time.
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FINANCIAL

WHERE DOES FUNDING FOR RHEMA FM NEWCASTLE COME FROM?
Rhema FM Newcastle receives no government funding whatsoever. Financing comes from Membership Subscriptions, Sponsorship Advertising Sales, Donations, Extra Mile Partners and annual fund-raising Rhemathons.
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TECHNICAL

WHERE DOES RHEMA FM NEWCASTLE TRANSMIT FROM?
Rhema Fm Newcastle transmits from a tower on the Sugarloaf range just south of Mount Sugarloaf.

WHAT IS THE POWER OF RHEMA FM NEWCASTLE'S TRANSMISSION SIGNAL?
Rhema FM Newcastle transmits at 10,000 watts.

HOW DOES THE SIGNAL GET FROM THE STUDIO TO THE TRANSMISSION TOWER?
A dish mounted on the roof above our Newcastle West studios sends the signal to our transmission tower on the Sugarloaf range.

DOES RHEMA FM NEWCASTLE BROADCAST IN STEREO?
Yes - all programming is in stereo.

IS IT TRUE THAT SPONSORSHIP ANNOUNCEMENTS ARE BROADCAST LOUDER
THAN NORMAL MUSIC AND PROGRAMMING?
This is a misnomer in the media industry. Levels of music, spoken word programmes and sponsorship announcements at Rhema FM Newcastle are the same and strictly controlled. Some music is louder than other music tracks and similarly, some sponsorship announcements appear louder in their varying presentations.

MY RECEPTION IS SCRATCHY. HOW CAN I IMPROVE IT? DO I NEED AN OUTSIDE AERIAL FOR FM SIGNALS?
First of all, make sure you have a good quality radio with reasonably powerful reception. The cheaper the radio, the more likely you will experience poor reception. FM signals travel in straight lines generally, while AM signals will follow contours. Therefore, it is important to have your radio and aerial in line with the transmission signal/tower. If you live in a valley or an area surrounded by hills, you could experience poor reception. An outside aerial could improve your reception dramatically.

IF YOU HAVE MORE QUESTIONS, EMAIL US AND WE WILL GLADLY ASSIST YOU
faq@rhemafm.com.au