They were lucky to get a community license at all. Sydney and Melbourne missed out on a community dance station largely because the ABA heard Nova’s concerns, as they had just paid a bucket load of money on their new FM stations, targeting the under 40s. I can understand their position.
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There were only 5 FM Brisbane - wide community stations, and in 2001 the remaining frequencies were given to multicultural (98.1) and Christian (96.5) communities, so AM was a good consolation for Switch, especially now that they are on DAB.
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Hang on, 4MBS and ZZZ original FM community licences.
4AAA added in the 90’s, pre BSA legacy.
4EB given an FM conversion by ABA in 2001 LAP. Been around since the 70’s on various AM frequencies.
96.5 Family FM given the new FM community licence in 2001 LAP as ABA lobbied hard by MPs and other influential types keen to see god power triumph and also to reduce any competitive impact to commercial stations.
Hence why Wild didn’t get the Brisbane licence, the more stereotypical community looking Switch did yet on AM, the former 4GG frequency and the rest is history.
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Sure thing @tamago_otoko, there’s a diverse range of music genres inadequately served by commercials, 4ZZZ or JJJ.
Add in connections with uni journalism of the three Brisbane unis and the radio degree offered by USQ Springfield within the licence area to provide content and you could have a winning formula to serve the youth demo, make a big dent in the 10-17, 18-24 and <30 surveyed station demos.
Station needs a lot more organisation and professional approach than present.
What’s your thoughts @tamago_otoko ? @Brianc68 , @TV.Cynic, @Karen_Cee1, what are your ideas? Anyone else local?
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Great thoughts. I like the idea of tying it into a local uni - not a campus station as such, but giving those studying to go into the media a vehicle with which to rehearse for the big time. SYN in Melbourne is probably a good comparable example with its links to RMIT.
I still think being stuck on AM is a significant limitation for a station working in that space. Of course in a perfect world, 4EB could have stayed on AM and a wider-appeal music-based community station would have taken the FM frequency, which would have given Brisbane listeners better options. But of course that didn’t suit the commercial competitors.
Brisbane is, in my view, rather poorly served by community stations when compared to Sydney or Melbourne. Bridge, Bay and 101FM all play in a relatively similar space that’s fairly mainstream, and Brisbane City itself doesn’t have any local-area community stations like the other two capitals do. It’s our loss that we don’t too. You are right though that Switch, with a decent-powered licence, could do well to fill a bit of that void.
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Re-posting what I said over on the Super Radio Network Thread
In my opinion that was when it failed the most, It went from the vibrant switch1197 to the dull and boring Brisbane Youth Radio with the heart that was switch cut out.
During that time websites were lost graphics and studios disappeared and it basically shut down.
I’m not however saying the current version of switch is any better, its nothing more then a name sake but still as lifeless as Brisbane Youth Radio.
They should really have a look at how Fresh927, Radio Metro or even Kiss FM Melbourne do things in connection with the community and take that to switch, add a bit of investment with a on-air/digital refresh and you will have a humming youth station.
PS.
Maybe the owner/manager should stop channeling funds into Switch FM (buying more frequencies and studios for that) and invest in switch1197.
(Yes its the same people…)
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I tried to get involved with switch. I’d finished producing a show on 96.5. I’d also done some fill in shifts as well.
I contacted switch about it and was told about mandatory training that i needed to do, that only ran during working hours. I was just getting my feet in at my new (non radio related) job and i knew they were worried i was going to drop everything and go back to radio. i couldn’t just ask for time off for mandatory training so i never bothered, which is a shame as i loved my time on air on 96.5
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So frustrating to read @Tejas57 and yet all too common, you’ve had experience in Brisbane, so what’s your thoughts on what format should be on the licence?
i like the idea of a youth focused station - i feel like it could be a real useful format if done right. the things i would do if i was in charge is have a show on each evening focused on different youth topics - health / sexuality (including one focused on LGBT+), law and legal issues, finance (and centrelink) and events in the news. each would be interactive where youth could call in and ask questions. hell have a video game / movie review show
You could have guests from the QPS, centrelink, caxton legal service etc come in and talk to the youth. BCC could come in just before school holidays and talk about the various events they have on to keep the youth occupied.
in conjuction we would work to get the name out there. high schools, unis and youth focused events would be where i would be focusing.
playing a bit of doof doof is not serving the youth - its just playing music. you need to empower the youth and give them info.
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Was waiting for a comment like this and thought it may have come from you… and I was right 
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No throwing of shade meant, just from an outside observer view, that’s what it looked like.
I’m sure the politics around that time at Switch was quite extensive (I know what Community Radio politics are like).
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As someone that has watched from down the road and running TCBLS from 1994 to 2001 on the Gold Coast as 95.7 Hot Fm | Hott FM | Station X. I would like to say alot of what is said here is true. But leaves a lot to be ASSUMED. We all know about that saying.
As someone that has slept with one eye (or ear) open waiting for faults with your baby. Plus having the lazy few (often the most roudy) derail the valiant efforts of the quiet majority. The whole concept of Community Radio can take a long walk off a short plank… As far as I’m concerned. Never again unless my name is on the license! Period!!!
That being said, I’m not sure the exact time line mentioned here is correct. The so called “people back in charge” would be mostly those from the TCBL days (the original dream holders). Not the early days of “full time AM on 1197”. I know the story behind “the current president’s” return. I know why he did it. Both are VERY honourable reasons!!! I know what the end conclusion is… But never in a million years would I do it, as mentioned above.
Making comparsions to Radio Metro is a dangerous idea. They are more Narrowcast and should be on a HPON… Don’t get me started on that! I’ve suggested Fresh should be watched as an example (I got canned). The big thing that is totally different today is a youth audience doesn’t associate with Vintage Media (this includes FM) plus DAB. With the main excuse being - why would I buy a new DAB radio when i have all my music on my ph? With podcasting being seen as the way of the future. This to me is a massive giggle as i call podcasting “bite size radio”. But the bottom line is - this makes streaming and podcasting way more important than they once were. I’ve pushed this.
I’ve sat in on zoom meetings and paid attention to everyone’s reactions and who does all the talking… No prize for guessing who that is 
I leave thinking, yep back on track with the original dream. But is this the right track - for today? Is this the team to pull it out of the 20+ years of FUNK it’s created around Brissy? No! Oh hell no!!!
As for funds going to “other interests” better be careful. Apparently I own a whole island in the pacific somewhere with the money I stole from 95.7 Hot FM… Boomtish!
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Gday Mr. X, nice to have you on here. I enjoy your online station.
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G’day, welcome to the forum.
Are you running Station X?
I know the current manager of Switch and talk with him every now and then, I’m sure he has the best intentions with Switch1197
I’m not saying that the current owner is taking funds away from Switch 1197, but I do think if they can purchase and create studios for Switch FM (A narrowcast station) and create marketing for that project while Switch 1197 flounders without barely any support or funds, let alone a studio, it comes across as unfair to the community at hand in Brisbane.
I don’t agree, I think they do a good job from what I observe, at least they are more active in the community then Switch at the moment.
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No dramas… at least we can disagree in this country and not end up shooting each other. 
Yes Station X and the wider family of XRN is all me. I’m living in regional NSW these days. I bailed from city life to take up the slower life and fire up some licenses in holes in the market out here. You find out why the holes exist when you get here and find out the local way of “not thinking”… Very sad really! VERY!
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Agree.
@MrX fantastic to have you join the site and share your almost four decades of broadcasting knowledge.
Looking forward to reading more of your experience shared here.
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He’s certainly not running Switch Gold 
is he now?
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100% 
They all sound very good, you do a great job with Station X and the family of stations.
I agree, that’s why you see alot of Vision Stations and Faith FM stations in those areas 
Formally Radio Daddyo 
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They have not seen two commercial stations going head to head out here. It’s always been a solus market and now owned by Bill Corallis. Which owns most of the neighbouring markets too. We all know what usually happens when he purchases a station. I can’t be to critical he weathered the whole Corona business with no lay offs (hat tip). The sad truth out here is nothing gets done unless it’s with grant money… The lack of entreprenurship out here has to be seen to be believed. If the hard done by whinging was natural gas… we wouldn’t need CSG! They also have no concept of the difference between Community and Commercial radio. The local embarissment called 2max fm is your typical block programmed community station (run by old folks). The folks in Narrabri call it “the local station”. Where as Now FM (the Bill Commercial for this area) is “the Moree station”. No concept that the two are completely different but service the same area.
You mention AM radio here, you get Oh you mean John Laws? The next tip is they still think Slim Dusty is still alive and who is Kieth Urban? Like i said before sad sad sad.
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Agreed it’s fantastic to have people with lived experience in the station/field sharing their thoughts here in a civilised manner - keep it coming I say!
As someone with literally no lived experience wishing to share a view (it’s 2022 so that’s encouraged now), the talk based segments of relevance are a really good idea, pushing the podcasting/short clip elements of it. You’re right, almost no-one under 30 is going to listen to the radio, let alone AM radio, but if that’s your vehicle for getting pods up of content that people can access through Spotify etc., it might just work, and will build the brand for your station in the process.
As much as people poo-hoo SEN here, that’s exactly what they do with their (relatively) niche sports content. No reason why it can’t also work for a community/narrow-appeal type station as well.
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