Sea FM is a commercial Australian radio network, consisting of stations in Queensland, New South Wales and Tasmania and is owned by Southern Cross Austereo. Some Sea FM stations were later sold to meet media ownership requirements. Prime Television Limited purchased Sea FM Townsville in Queensland and Grant Broadcasters purchased Sea FM stations in Devonport, Burnie and Scottsdale in Tasmania. All Sea FM stations currently owned by Southern Cross Austereo except Cairns, Mackay and Rockhampton / Gladstone, are now considered part of the Today Network after Southern Cross Media merged with Austereo.[1]
[edit] History
The Sea FM brand name and logo was created by Gold Coast Broadcasters Pty Ltd for one station - 90.9 Sea FM - after the Gold Coast was granted a new commercial FM licence. 90.9 Sea FM began broadcasting in 1989 with programming consulted by Austereo. The original Sea FM on-air line-up was a strong team of experienced Announcers, many having made their name previously in Capital City radio including - Craig Bruce (FOX FM) & Sammy Power, Ian 'Lofty' Fulton (4IP), Grahame "Durry" Rodgers (2SM & 2NX), Sue Moses (2MMM & Channel 10), Gregg Easton (2UW & 4BK), Joe Miller (3XY & EON FM), Dean Miller and Simon Franks. In the same year the Gold Coast's existing AM station 4GG was granted permission to convert to FM as 92.5 4GGG (later KROQ). In the early 90s Gold Coast Broadcasters purchased KROQ and also the Sunshine Coast's 92.7 Mix FM. The Sunshine Coast's 91.9 Sea FM was then launched as a supplementary licence. Gold Coast Broadcasters later became known as RG Capital with financial backing provided by Australian Media Tycoon Reg Grundy.
With the further purchase of existing radio stations and the launch of newly granted supplementary FM licences, RG Capital expanded the Sea FM brand name and logo throughout Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania. In 2004, RG Capital sold their regional stations to Macquarie Regional RadioWorks (now Southern Cross Austereo). Following RG Capital's purchase by Macquarie Regional Radioworks, RG Capital's FM stations in Victoria were rebranded to Star FM.
[edit] Programming
The network's stations are aimed at the under 40's section of the market, playing Top 40 and popular music. Most stations provide local breakfast and daytime programming, and also include a variety of networked programmes.
Original Management Team 20 March 1989:
- Managing Director: Stan Willmott
- Station Manager / Program Manager: Craig Denyer
- Music Director: Anna Willems
- Sales Manager: Warren Oliver
- Finance Manager: Chris Butcher
- Production Manager: Steve Hunt
- Chief Engineer: Jim Vasey
- Copywriter: Samantha Power (then went on-air as breakfast announcer), and Peter Maden
- News Director: Gary Hardgrave
- Surf Reporter: Andrew McKinnon (Andy Mac)
- Sports Reporter: Tim Bailey
- First Employee Recruited: Linda Graham (Sales then Promotions Director)
- First Song the Station played when it launched 4pm 20 March 1989: INXS "New Sensation"
- First Announcer to speak on-air when the station launched: Grahame 'Durry' Rodgers
- Launched with a live studio concert featuring Jimmy Barnes, Jon Stevens, Swanee, Big Pig, and Friends
[edit] Sea FM stations
[edit] Queensland
Stations known as C FM (due to their distance from the coast):
[edit] New South Wales
[edit] Tasmania
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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Queensland, New South Wales, Tasmania, Australia
