2YOU
88.9 FM (call sign 2YOU) is a community radio station broadcasting from Tamworth, Australia and is available online via iHeartRadio.
 | |
| Frequency | 88.9 MHz FM |
|---|---|
| Programming | |
| Language(s) | English |
| Format | Classic Hits |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Tamworth Broadcast Services Pty Ltd |
| History | |
First air date | 16 July 1983[1] |
Former frequencies | 95.5 MHz FM (1983–1999)[2] |
| Technical information | |
| Class | Community radio |
| Repeater(s) | 96.3 MHz FM Quirindi |
| Links | |
| Webcast | |
| Website | 889fmtamworth |
88.9 FM was the first FM station in Tamworth and has been broadcasting since 1983 across parts of the New England and Northwest. 88.9 FM is a member of the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia (CBAA) and aims to be a local voice for the Tamworth, New England/Northwest/Liverpool Plains area, offering regional news, outside broadcasts, local information, community announcements, coverage of major events and broadcasting essential emergency information.
The station's main frequency is 88.9 MHz on the FM band, with a repeater 96.3 MHz in the Liverpool Plains area covering Quirindi and Werris Creek.[3]
2YOU FM beginnings
2YOU FM started in tiny studios out the back of the old computer fiscal building in Marius Street Tamworth, although the studio, administration and library were actually in the rear off Dowe Ave in the old laundry rooms. The studio were lined with egg cartons for insulation it had two B&W turntables, a cassette player, a six-slider panel and a microphone. From such humble beginnings 2YOU FM had moved twice more, to 324A Peel Street in 1984 and to current studios the National Trust Railway Building in Darling Street East Tamworth.[4]
Change to 88.9 FM
In May 2014, the call sign 2YOU was dropped and the stations name was changed to its frequency 88.9 FM, which allowed listeners to remember the station. With the new image, included new presenters, a contracted national voice-over production company and to complement a strong music format.
The previous format was changed from numerous music genres and "ad hoc programs" that had poor listening audience into a format of '70s, '80s, '90s and the best in country.[5] Regular shifts across the board were implemented, new image jingles, regional news from 88.9 FM Newsroom plus Macquarie National News cross promotion with Prime 7 Television.
The station broadcasts from its own building and tower from Bald Hill at 956-meter's 5 kilometres east of Tamworth in its broadcast coverage, including Tamworth City, Tamworth Regional, [, New South Wales, Manilla, Quirindi and various towns in New England and The Northwest of New South Wales.[6]
In September 2019 after further research the station introduced a new theme "We've Got the Music" with new jingles to build on their 45 to 65 year old market. The station imaging is also on Regional/City Buses and posters in local shopping centres to promote the new image of the station.[7]
In June 2020, Tamworth Broadcasting Society serving the Liverpool Plains area as part of their licence on 96.3FM, therefore with 88.9FM the station now covers the New England/ Northwest and Liverpool Plains of New South Wales. In 2021 the station commenced both Streaming and iHeart Nationally and Internationally.
Programming
There is a mixed listening format all day with songs from the '60s, '70s, '80s, ‘90s and the best in country. 88.9 FM operates Locally from Tamworth 24/7. Including, Breakfast, Morning, Afternoon, Drive, Nights and Weekends. Overnight 7 Days 12 midnight 5:00am hit format
Segments on 88.9FM include:
- Howdy's Dateline (birthday’s and chart’s on this day)
- Cactus
- Fresh Produce Market Update with Brendon North
- Tech Talk with Adam Petronaitis
- Entertainment Emma Bailey
- Sport Mike Rabbitt.
- Weather NBN"s Gavin Morris
- 4 Regional Breakfast News Bulletins
- Cash Prizes Daily "Guess the Gob"
88.9 FM has its own news team providing six daily Regional and Local News Bulletins.
Hourly news bulletins by 9News (formally Macquarie National News).
Notable presenters
Former Presenters (2014–present)
- Ryan Sampson
- Pixie Jenkins
- Debbie G
- Jodie Crosby
Income
The station earns income mainly from sponsors, outside broadcasts and membership. Sponsorship takes the form of payment for on-air promotions of local business from a set Rate Card. 88.9 FM sales offers broadcast and social media packages.
88.9 FM has a full-time staff of 15, including administration, production, engineering, sales/marketing team, five permanent casuals, and five volunteers.
Technical data
- Frequency – 88.9 FM Tamworth
- Broadcasts Site – Bald Hill, 938 Metres high, 5 kilometres East of Tamworth City
- Multiplexed ZPG high gain antenna array
Photo taken from 88.9FM's transmitter site at Bald Hill - Transmitter 1 – 2016 BWFM transmitter
- Transmitter 2 – 2015 BWFM transmitter
- Full emergency backup power
- FM RDS
Liverpool Plains Repeater
- Frequency – 96.3 FM Quirindi
- Broadcast Site - Who‘d-A-Thought-It Lookout, 508 Metres high, 5 kilometres West of Quirindi
- Transmitter 1 - 2020 BWFM transmitter
Studios
- Automation System – Studio's A,C,D Newsroom all interfaced through automation;"Maximation 7"
- Production studios: Adobe
- Desk: Elan 'Kestral 12' Studio in A, Studio B custom Auditron news/producers desk, Studio C and D - Elan "Merlin" both set up with full digital editing facilities.
References
- "began full broadcast operations on July 16, 1983". The Northern Daily Leader.
- "2YOU FM began as a mono station as 95.5FM and went stereophonic in the late 1990s when it moved to 89.9FM". The Northern Daily Leader. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
- "88.9FM Gets Go Ahead". Retrieved 11 April 2020.
- "2YouFm Started in tiny studios".
- "'60s, '70s, '80s and country". The Northern Daily Leader. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
- "New England and North W". Retrieved 9 June 2016.
- "88.9fm celebrates 5 years". Retrieved 11 April 2020.