| Frequency | 103.9 MHz FM |
|---|---|
| Format | Regional Community Radio |
| Owner | Seymour Puckapunyal Community Radio Inc |
| Website | www.seymourfm.org.au |
Seymour FM is a community radio station, operating from the center of Seymour, which is a township located in the north central part of the state of Victoria, Australia. The radio station operates on a Temporary Community Broadcasting Licence, transmitting from temporary studios on Wimble Street, Seymour.
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Seymour FM was established in 2001, under the identity SPI FM. The station was originally intended as a local service for Seymour and nearby Puckapunyal. This service was lacking in key skill areas, and failed to attract the interest of listeners or sponsors, and faltered in 2004
In 2005, a new committee was established to restore a local Seymour based radio service. The new identity of FM 876 Seymour was established, and a series of new presenters commenced programs, along with promotions activity with the revised name and image.
Early in 2009, the radio station management took steps to further the radio station objectives to relaunch, and formally apply for a high power full service community broadcasting licence.
The proposed new higher power transmission would cover the northern Mitchell Shire, in the state of Victoria. This is the area north of the Great Divide. The southern half of the shire is served by Melbourne radio stations, however the availability of media north of the 'Great Divide' is severely limited, with only scratchy reception from Shepparton (ONE-FM) and Alexandra (UG-FM) based community radio, and the two Shepparton based commercial stations, and ABC.
With the limitation of available media choices in the region, the radio station has adopted the "Northern Mitchell Shire and Strathbogie Shire" as the registered geographic coverage area for its proposed higher power community radio service.
Additional coverage into the Strathbogie shire will permit coverage into neighbouring towns such as Avenel and Nagambie with future coverage extending to Euroa and Violet Town.
It is anticipated that the station will retain its identity as "Seymour FM" upon the change over to the higher powered TCBL service.
The southern section of the Mitchell Shire (including towns such as Kilmore & Wallan) is within the ACMA Melbourne Radio Zone, and is subject to Metropolitan frequency planning. The number of FM radio services in Melbourne exceed 30 and frequencies are unavailable for new services anywhere in the Melbourne Radio Zone. Therefore, Seymour FM hes established the northern Mitcell Shire (and part of the Strathbogie Shire) as its designated service area.
The station is announcing a number of new programs in the coming months, including a number of community organisation based programs.
MONDAY TO FRIDAY
16:00 - DRIVETIME SHOWS
19:00 - NIGHT SHOWS
21:00 - LATE SHOWS
Saturday
Sunday
Seymour-FM is establishing relationships with the emergency services, mainly the CFA (Country Fire Authority) to provide local information at a time of bushfire. This is also to be promoted as part of the radio station's key local responsibilities.
Members from the local community are being encouraged by the management of SeymourFM to participate in emergency broadcast training, and through local council and state government to secure funding for key broadcast linking facilities for use in time of emergency situations
Sports coverage includes the Country basketball League matches including the Seymour Blasters basketball team, and coverage of the Goulburn Valley Football League matches featuring the Seymour Lions. Coverage includes home and away fixtures for both competitions.
Seymour FM on April 3rd 2011, commenced broadcasting from new studio facilities in Emily Street, Seymour. The new facilities were designed, built and fitted out by the Facilities Subcommittee of Greg Sharp (Vice President), and Mathew Harper (Technical Manager).
The facilities provide for a new broadcasting studio, production facilities, presentation prep areas and meeting areas. The layout was changed many times in the construction phase, based on funds limitations, and donated materials and labour.
The technical team have secured the availability of an improved transmitter site for Seymour FM. The new site has also been approved by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) for a tranmission power of 500 W (ERP) on the present 103.9 MHz frequency.
It is estimated from this new site, coverage will comfortably extend to Avenel, Nagambie, Tullarook, and most probably reach well into the neighbouring towns of Broadford and Yea.
Seymour FM, in March 2011, completed its relocation of its broadcast studios and administration offices from the former Australian Army barracks complex in Wimble Street Seymour, to the Seymour Trade Centre in Emily Street, Seymour.