Raw FM (1997)

Robert Anderson is an unemployed sound mixer. Granger Hutton is a high flying DJ on ROK FM. Zelda Lee is an ambitious blind woman desperate to work in radio. A tragedy is the motivation behind these three young people starting a radio

The teenagers are fast catching on and fast tuning in. The little community radio station is gathering a loyal following. Curtis, a young boy from the country, finds himself a new life when he joins the RAW gang.

Mark Mulholland, private school boy and diligent son is about to re-invent himself as a DJ. He realises that RAW is where he belongs and begins to jettison his old life, which causes conflict in the Mulholland home.

Cara thinks the radio station is a waste of time until she arrives at Raw's studio and realises this is where she could have an impact. They need her organisational skills. But disaster strikes at the Raw FM party and Cara's good work is forgotten, until Sarah comes to her sister's defence. Blood is thicker than water, after all. But is RAW big enough for the two of them?

Sarah spends more time at RAW FM than she does at her home. On the air Sarah the stutterer turns into Sarah the ultra-cool DJ. She stretches the boundaries of political correctness to the limit when she permits callers to have their say no matter what they want to say. This total 'free speech' puts her colleagues in danger and the licence in jeopardy.

Gerry Sano is hiding from the world in her loft, perched above the chaos that is Raw FM. She would rather spend time surfing the net than talking to other people. But what is lurking in the world of the cyber skyway nearly costs Gerry her life and could see Granger behind bars.

When Wayne, a mate from the bush turns up with a slab of beer under his arm, Curtis is mortified. His embarrassment deepens when his country bumpkin friend tries to impress one of the Chaddie Chicks.

Discovered as an exotic bargirl/dancer, Sam has recorded the lyrics for a new funky dance track for local band Dollmeister. Through Raw FM, Sam sees her future as a star, without the band. She decides to use Raw FM's first outside broadcast as the chance to launch her solo career but things don't work out as she plans.

The young DJs at Raw FM are offered the chance of involvement in a safe sex campaign. Spider from Community Welfare knows Raw's ability to reach the youth and believes they can get the safe sex message across without preaching - and is willing to pay them.

Mega-successful British boy-pop band B4 makes an appearance at RAW and no one is prepared for the hundreds of fans that follow them. A hormone driven teenage riot breaks out and the band is besieged in the station. In the middle of the mayhem, a young girl slips and falls from the rooftop. RAW's first taste of disaster.

The Raw FM narrowcast licence is about to expire. Robert wants to wait until next summer before applying for another licence, but the others don't agree. Even though Robert is vice-president, they think he's letting the side down.

There are only 14 days to go to the end of RAW and the rot is setting in. People are not turning up for shifts and the place needs a makeover. The licence might be coming to an end but RAW's ratings are making it an interesting business proposition to the commercial stations.

The last night of Raw is to be marked by a party but for Robert, Zelda and Granger it is a closed shop. Only the under-25's are welcome. Their dream is over.