Stay Tuned

Our television gave out a loud crackling noise the other day and then the screen went completely blank. In desperation, while it was being repaired we turned our digital radio on and tuned it to smoothfm 95.3 (www.smoothfm.com.au/). I was constantly amazed listening to callers ring in throughout the day trying to identify two voices (smooth stars express) in an attempt to win $10,000 cash. Wow! I thought, that’s good money for a phone call. As long as they had to get it right, mind you. But as the days went on more and more clues were given until one lucky listener won the prize.

That really got me thinking about radio competitions. Something I haven’t had much experience with but I am sure attracts quite a few people given the prizes! Rather than flip around from one station to another I let my fingers do the walking and turned to Google for help. After typing in “radio competitions Sydney” I found a number of current competitions each with an excellent prize pool. With so many of us glued to our computer screens or televisions we might actually be overlooking a treasure trove of prizes out there in radio-land.

My first port of call was to 702 (www.abc.net.au/sydney/). I used to listen to this regularly but not so much lately. First I found the chance to win a double pass to an exclusive ABC preview of The Grand Budapest Hotel. On closer inspection of their website I also came across what appears to be a weekly photo challenge with presenter Robbie Buck on Friday mornings. Great one for those in Sydney that love to take pics! It didn’t mention the prizes apart from being named photo of the week so I might listen in next Friday and see.

I found another photo competition at 2UE (www.2ue.com.au/) through Mornings with Angela Catterns. To quote the website: ‘whether they’re newsworthy, funny, artistic or just have a special meaning to you, the best photo each day will win a $250 Harvey Norman voucher’. Harvey Norman appears to sponsor a number of photo competitions at the moment, obviously promoting their photo centre. Over at 2CH (www.2ch.com/), it seems they are still running their ‘secret sound’ competition that I remember from many, many years ago. A new ‘secret sound’ began in February with a starting prize pool of $2000. This jackpots by $50 each week until a winner is found. The last one took a year to be identified so it doesn’t seem to be as easy or as lucrative as the smoothfm one.

I checked in at Nova 96.9 (www.novafm.com.au/) to see what other radio stations are offering at the moment. The Fitzy and Wippa Show between 6 – 9am on weekdays is looking for their funniest caller who each day will win a trip for 2 to Melbourne to attend the International Comedy Festival. This could be a great one for those who choose to look on the funny side of life. It seems there are all kinds of prizes and experiences from cash to vouchers, trips to movie and theatre tickets as well as CDs and DVDs up for grabs just by staying tuned to the radio for a few hours each week.

I even found a ‘giveaway’ of a Sustagen sample on one radio site and duly filled out the form. Why not? I also decided to listen into the airwaves for a few months longer to see what else might be available. Although these radio stations are Sydney-based and some of these competitions my not be running by the time this post goes live, it would not take too much effort to find out what other competitions and prizes radio stations in other states, especially in rural areas are offering at the moment. And these might just be the ones you are meant to win!