August 1 is definitely a significant date in the history of Sydney FM radio. Not only was it the date that first commercial stations 2DayFM and Triple M launched on in 1980, but it was also when our most recent commercial addition to the FM band commenced fulltime broadcasting in 2005 - Vega 95.3 which of course has since relaunched as Classic Rock 95.3, Sydney’s 95.3 and in it’s current and by far most successful incarnation, Smooth 95.3.
Was it in 1994 that the rules changed to allow a broadcaster to own two commercial stations in the one market? Because as it’s been mentioned before, 2WS-FM was brought out by the Australian Radio Network who also owned Mix 106.5 (and of course, still own current day KIIS 1065 and WSFM 101.7) around that same time.
…and since 2014, 2DayFM and Triple M have been outrated by both ARN and Nova Entertainment stations in most surveys?
Yes, the station now known as Smooth 95.3 is 15 years old today. I remembered that day when it launched as Vega 95.3. It debuted with an overall rating of 1.8% in S8/2005.
No, the 2-station rule was introduced when the current Broadcasting Services Act came into effect in 1992.
Generally yes. Although interestingly, Triple M did outrate Smooth in S7/2014, outrated Nova in S3/2015, S1/2016 & S2/2016, and both Nova Ent stations in S4/2015. Also on that last survey, Triple M managed to rate #2 FM behind WS, which was the only time the station outrated KIIS.
Continuing the look back at old TVC campaigns for ARN, as it turns out there was another one for the Mix Network stations at the start of 2005 (between the previously mentioned “Amazing” ads for the Feel Good relaunch in July 2004 and the “She Will Be Loved” campaign which ran in Sydney & Brisbane around a year later):
Unlike any of the “Feel Good” relaunch and the mid-2005 “She Will Be Loved” ads, the archive.org database has at least saved a 240p copy of 97.3’s version of the “Beautiful” ad:
Couldn’t find video of one for Mix 106.5 or Mix 101.1 (like others, maybe that will happen in the future), although I have no doubt any version which aired in Sydney & Melbourne would’ve been very similar to the 97.3 ad apart from the most obvious adjustments. Incidentally 2006 seemed to result in both the Sydney & Melbourne stations of the Mix Network doing completely different TV ad campaigns, but this is something I’ll get to discussing at a future date.
The article (or press release republication) from RadioInfo the quote about that Early 2005 Mix ad campaign was taken from also makes reference to the Classic Hits Network branding relaunch which took place around then. I’d imagine these “Pen” and “Banana” commercials for the Jonesy & Amanda breakfast show on WSFM either would’ve been part of ARN’s major Early 2005 promotional push or one which happened not long after.
Looking at the songs played during the retrospective hour on Lava, they didn’t play the first song played on the station 40 years ago today, which of course was “FM (No Static At All)” by Steely Dan. They instead played “Wavelength” by Van Morrison, which was the song played on Vega (now Smooth) in Sydney on 1st August 2005, then “New Kid In Town” by The Eagles, which was the first song played on EON FM in Melbourne on 11th July 1980.
That said, at least “Wavelength” had something to do with radio broadcasts.
Heard the broadcast. It was a replay of the first few minutes of 96’s launch in 1980, including Steely Dan. Must have been played out as part of that package, hence it didn’t log
Wonder what frequency? Interesting the community radio enthusiasts were worried commercial radio would end up dominating the FM band. Now we are in the future 40 years, do you think thier concerns were valid? My view community radio is still alive and fairly well.
Not at all. There are way more community stations on the air in Sydney and Melbourne than commercial stations. In fact the whole process of allocating all of those low powered local community stations has meant that the FM band is “full”. Even though there should be a lot more commercial stations on there given the size of the population in those two cities.
