In other words, do what SCA is doing regionally with their Hit Network.
Yes, makes economic sense… the extra cost of a breakfast show with 2 or 3 talking heads can be spread across more markets, when the local morning shift only really needs one announcer. At least for the KIIS regional/Hot AC markets, where I don’t think their listeners care about localism as much.
But I think you still need to maintain a local breakfast show on the GOLD regional network stations as I think their listeners will want a local feel more.
They plug the local breakfast show quite aggressively here in Bendigo on Gold Central Vic (1071AM and 98.3FM), with bus and roadside advertising. To still be seen as ‘Local’ is important to them.
Incidentally, it’s brought back a few memories of when 3CV was locally owned by the Cameron Family in the 1980s and 90s. They had one of the most high-tech radio studio and playout facility’s in Regional Vic at the time. Music was very much contemporary rock (similar to Triple M) after many years of mostly broadcasting horse racing.
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1071 must have been quite profitable as an AM station back before FM began, with a signal that gets into both Ballarat and Bendigo well, with only 3BA and 3BO for competition.
Though I also recall 3SH having a good signal into Bendigo back then too (I was there for a few days in 1984), better than what I could get from Melbourne.
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Well choices were limited. 3CV had a fairly mediocre signal into Bendigo and yet they invested big money into its operation. I suspect they weren’t too chuffed when local competitor 3BO got the FM conversion license in 1993 and they didn’t.
The 3CV studio and playout was second-to-none (ready made for FM Stereo tbh), and yet what people got was a weak and scratchy lo-fi AM signal out of Carisbrook 50-60 km away.
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Ironically, despite local reception problems as you detailed, 3CV put in a massive signal at night into Sydney and many other areas too.
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3EL 1071 transmitter runs 5kw from Carisbrook with a directional antenna pattern, having to reduce power towards Bendigo to limit interference to 4SB Kingaroy at night. 3EL on a good quality wideband am low noise radio(GE Super Radio 3) and decent antenna actually sounds surprisingly good.
3SH Swan Hill still has reasonably strong signal into Bendigo.
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Sounded good in AM stereo in the early 90s. Eurovox car radio with antenna in rear window. Reception was fine in town and I recall more interesting than 3BO.
Visited the 3CV building. Friendly people, impressive studio.
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…also be Afternoons Announcer on 3BA.
She will officially start her new role on Sunday 9th April.
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Belinda King will commence on her new role on Monday 14th April.
She was previously presenting breakfast & later drive on ABC Northern Tasmania until last year.
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Looking at their playlists online, the Hot AC stations (Wave, Power, Hot Tomato, 7HO etc) are doing “All 90s” this Easter long weekend.
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The Classic Hits stations (2ST, 2EC, 4RO, 5CC, 5MU, 5RM, etc) are doing totally 80s Easter all long weekend as well.
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How “fun” for the Hunter region… 98.1 PowerFM and NewFM both doing a 90’s weekend.
And no doubt a better log than what their Gold metro sister stations are doing.
But the Gold playlist does look a bit more interesting than usual, with a few 12 inch mixes added in as well.
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From Radioinfo:
Jake Lacey is heading back to Far North Queensland to join the team at Star 106.3 & Power 100 as Promotions Manager. After moving to Australia from NZ and NZME, Jake was most recently working with Wave FM in Wollongong where he was involved in on-air weddings, nonstop mini-golf marathons, a country party and riding alongside Lyndal and Crammy in a tuk-tuk through Wollongong for Ride to Work Day.
More: https://radioinfo.com.au/news/jake-lacey-returns-to-fnq-with-star-1063-and-power-100/
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As a Queensland boy this is annoying. Townsville is North Queensland not Far North Queensland. Cairns is FNQ 
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Yes that is correct,I should know as I’ve lived in both cities (though I was born in Brisbane and have spent most of my life here)
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