3GG had a âreal music varietyâ format under Resonate. With the change in ownership to Capital, the format went âforever classicâ and dropped all the newer rock that it used to play. I suspect that the old 3GG format wasnât that far removed from the Local Works format - especially given Resonate was closely aligned with SCA. Albeit 3GG is on AM, I suspect the old 3GG format didnât move mountains.
SeaFM converted to StarFM in 2005 when RG Capital was acquired (and I think around the same time as the Latrobe Valley frequency of 97.9FM commenced). As far as I can recall it has always been CHR from since SeaFM commmenced. In comparison to the âsolus stationâ time when 3UL/3GG had a lot more local content, StarFM really only has local brekky and lunch and 3GG sounds likes it run on an even tighter leash. (I loved the comment on 3GG at the start of Jan when the brekky announcer apologised for their being no local news as their journalist was on annual holidays - sheâll be back in the second half of Jan).
StarFm really struggles to hold its brekky show together, which working backwards has had the following combos in the last 10 years (as far as I can remember): Brad & Mandy, Huw & Stacey, Jake & Huw, Stampsy & Jake, Orion & Stampsy, Dan & Stampsy, Dan & Kymba, Dan & Pinky, Che & Pinky, Robbie & Pinky, Robbie & Sarah, Wilko & Sarah, Ant & Becks, Kristy & Brownie⌠âŚ
Both 3GG and StarFM have aussie rules, using CrocMedia and 3MMM coverage respectively. The West Gippsland area (inc Philip Island) can all easily pick up the Melbourne FM stations - and as soon as I can get their reception driving back to Melbourne, I flick stations. Bottom line, whilst a local works format could potentially grab listeners (and advertising dollars) for StarFM from ACE and Capital, its probably a marginal proposition and potentially would just force more West Gippsland listeners to the Melbourne stations.
In my opinion, if StarFM really want to make inroads, they need to get more local content, continuity in announcers and probably treat Melbourne as a true competitor and do a different format, such as what K-Rock used to do in the 90s/early noughties in competing from the other side of Melbourne. .That requires dollars and taking a risk - canât see SCA taking that approach. Far easier to leave it networked as is.