New FM
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| New FM | |
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| Broadcast area | Newcastle |
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| Frequency | 105.3 MHz FM |
| First air date | April 14, 1989 |
| Format | Rock |
| Owner | Broadcast Operations Group |
New FM (call sign: 2NEW) is an Australian radio station, licensed to, and serving Newcastle and its surroundings. It is owned by Broadcast Operations Group, and operates at 105.3 megahertz on the FM band. Its callsign is 2NEW, the 2 being a standard prefix for stations in New South Wales, and NEW short for Newcastle. Its sister station is 2HD. On the 24th of May 2005 New FM reverted back to their original logo of 1989.
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[edit] History
Newcastle FM trading as NEWFM was Newcastle's first commercial FM radio station.
NEWFM exploded onto the airwaves to the accompaniment of a blast of pyrotechnics and laser technology on the night of April 14 1989.
After a decade long pursuit to get an FM licence, the anticipation and expectation that greeted the slick music driven station was considerable.
Targeting the younger end of the 18-40 year old market, the rock music station put competitors on notice, predicting it would chew up a 30% chunk of the cities AM listening market and while the AM stations pulled out their guns in defence, nothing could have prepared them for the upheaval that was to follow.
Within its first ratings season, NEWFM fought its way to second place. By the next it was on top of the ratings ladder and was to stay there for several years to follow.
The stations smooth and innovative approach to radio soon became a breeding ground for a cool league of on-air operators such as John Paul Young, Peter Mobbs, Garth Russell, Steve Graham, Craig Lawson, Mathew White, Varity Webb, Phil O'Neil, Maynard, Debbie Spillane, Scott Bevan, Gary Who, Gavin Morris.
For NEWFM it was a honeymoon that lasted several years, until a ratings slide and a takeover by its Labour owned AM competitor, 2HD changed its course. The takeover lasting 19 weeks became one of the cities most dramatic media takeovers in years. It also put an end to Mike Webb's (the founder of NEWFM) dream as he was abruptly erased from the NEWFM picture.
While the stations new corporate controller 2HD said it didn't intend to compromise NEWFM's 'rock image' a reshuffle of the stations on-air line heralded a new ear onair. It also brought about the closure of NEWFM's Darby Street home when the station moved in with its Sandgate based de-facto.
In 1999 the stations were sold to Gold Coast businessman Bill Caralis and became part of the Super Radio Network.
[edit] Line-Up/Key Staff
Line Up Monday-Friday
- Scott Harlad (12am to 5:30am)
- Katie & Deze(5:00am to 9am)
- Blind Melon (9am to 2pm)
- Blanchy (2pm to 7pm)
- The Night Crew - Kimberley & The zookeeper (7pm to 12am)
Saturday
- Luke (12am to 6am)
- various (6am to 12pm)
- Poppy (12pm to 6pm)
- Australia's Biggest Party - with JK (6pm to 12am)
Sunday
- Rick Dees Top 40 (12am to 4am)
- Nick (6am to 10am)
- Poppy (12pm to 5pm)
- Homegrown (5pm to 6pm)
- J.K. (6pm to 12am)
Key Staff
- Jan Flaherty Manager
- Steve St John Program Director
- Luke Hetherington Promotions & Marketing Manager
- Ross McClymont Chief Engineer
- Guy Ashford Sales Manager
- Ian Crouch News Director
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
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