93.9 Bay FM
City | Geelong, Victoria |
---|---|
Broadcast area | Geelong |
Slogan | Love the Music |
Frequency | 93.9 MHz FM |
First air date | 10 December 1989 |
Format | Adult contemporary |
Language(s) | English |
ERP | 56 kW |
Class | Commercial |
Transmitter coordinates | -38.147011,144.360695 |
Owner |
Grant Broadcasters (Geelong Broadcasters Pty Ltd) |
Sister stations | 95.5 K-Rock |
Website |
www |
bay93.9 or BayFM (call sign: 3BAY) is a commercial FM radio station based in Geelong, Victoria. Commencing broadcasting in 1989, the station broadcasts an adult contemporary format.
History
Bay FM was originally licensed as part of a Commonwealth Government plan to increase the diversity of radio services in regional centres. The station's launch date is disputed - the Australian Communications and Media Authority, which oversees licensing of radio services in Australia, list the station's launch date as 10 December 1989,[1] however some listeners suggest that broadcasts began two days earlier on 8 December.[2]
Just before the official launch of the station, the parent company of Bay FM purchased the flagging 3XY in nearby Melbourne, from the then owners of 2SM Sydney. Once Bay FM commenced broadcasting, 3XY briefly simulcasted the station overnight, retaining its soft rock format during the day. However, once new studios in Corio Bay were completed, Bay FM and 3XY began full-time simulcasting, 3XY breaking only for exclusive Australian Football League coverage. After a period of 12 months, the then-Australian Broadcasting Authority demanded the two stations begin separate programming. While the two stations remained in their Corio studios, Bay FM relaunched with an easy listening format. In 1991, 3XY was sold to AWA Limited, owners of 2CH Sydney, and shut down later that year.
Bay FM was purchased by Grant Broadcasters, owners of rival 95.5 K-Rock, and the station relocated to the K-Rock building in the center of Geelong. In 1999, Bay FM adopted the adult contemporary format it broadcasts today. In December 2015 the station changed it's on-air name from "BayFM" to "bay93.9" looking to a future when broadcasting in the digital DAB+ format and following the trend of stations to drop reference to the "FM".
Announcers
Current Announcers
- Hayden Miller - The Morning Crew 06:00 - 09:00 weekdays
- Lisa (Milly) Millard - The Morning Crew 06:00 - 09:00 (6-9am) weekdays
- Craig Meddings - 10:00 - 14:00 (10am-2pm) weekdays including "The 80's Lunch" from midday to 1pm
- Daryl Reader - 14:00 - 16:00 (2-4pm) weekdays
- 16:00 - 18:00 (4-6pm) Weekdays The Catch Up with Daryl Reader & Monday - Roxie Bennett, Tuesday - Jade Augustine, Wednesday - Marg Linley, Thursday - Renee Enright, Friday - Sue Lawson
- Gary Newton - Bay Property Guide 8am - 10am Saturday
News Team
- Rob McLennan
- Victoria Webb-Taylor
- Rebecca McDonald
- Katie Boutchard
bay93.9's newsroom is shared with sister stations 95.5 K-Rock and 89.3 Hot Country.
Former announcers
- Denis Walter - Afternoons at 3AW Melbourne
- Laurie Atlas - The Daily Agenda at 4CA Cairns
- Paula Kontelj
- Ken Lane
- Frank McKay
- Roger Kent
- Geoff Mason
- Mark Girdwood
- John Hood
- Ronnie Swintek
- Phil Baildon
- Dave Gibney
- Richard Millis
- Rob Elliott
- Gary Collins
- Peter Mobbs
- Mark Hyland (Now bay93.9 Program Director and Vic/SA Regional Content Director)
References
- ↑ Australian Communications and Media Authority (1 August 2013). "Commercial Radio Broadcasting Licences" (PDF). Retrieved 30 April 2014.
- ↑ "20 years of Bay FM". 8 December 2009. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
Coordinates: 38°08′49″S 144°21′41″E / 38.1469°S 144.3614°E