93.1 Star FM

2WZD

2WG and 2WZD studios
City of license Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia
Broadcast area Riverina, South West Slopes
Branding 931 Star FM
Slogan Your Hit Music Station
Frequency 93.1 MHz FM
Repeaters 103.1 MHz FM
First air date July 1994
Format Contemporary Hits
Power 80,000 Watts
Class Commercial
Transmitter coordinates 35°02′57″S 147°33′33″E / 35.049111°S 147.559272°E / -35.049111; 147.559272
Owner Southern Cross Media Group
(Riverina Broadcasters Pty Ltd)
Sister stations 2WG
Website http://www.starfmwagga.com.au

2WZD, which is branded as 93.1 Star FM, is an Australian radio station that transmits on 93.1 MHz FM and is owned by Southern Cross Media.

History

On 14 November 1991 the Australian Broadcasting Tribunal (ABT) granted an FM commercial licence to Wagga and Riverina FM Stereo Broadcasters Pty Limited, which was to be Wagga FM but the incumbent, Riverina Broadcasters Pty Limited, the licensee of 2WG, successfully appealed in the Australian Federal Court in September 1992.[1][2]

The Federal Courts found that the decision the ABT made was an error of law. On 5 October 1992, the ABT and Broadcasting Act 1942 were replaced by the Australian Broadcasting Authority (ABA) and the Broadcasting Act 1992. On 2 December 1992, South West Media Ltd who were also competing for an independent FM licence, advised the ABA it was withdrawing its licence application.[1][2]

The ABA announced that an inquiry into the licence grant would be held on 19 – 20 May 1993 at The Old Wagga Inn. The inquiry would re-examine Wagga and Riverina FM Stereo Broadcasters application which Riverina Broadcasters had contested. The inquiry would also look at the application for a supplementary FM commercial licence from Riverina Broadcasters, and at the viability of Riverina Broadcasters if an FM commercial licence was granted to a second independent licensee in the city.[2]

On 12 October 1993, ABA announced that the FM commercial licence was granted to Riverina Broadcasters and it decided not to grant an independent FM licence, as the ABA found that the viability of Riverina Broadcasters would have been jeopardised if an independent FM licence was granted.[2]

Former FM93 logo

In July 1994 2WZD began broadcasting on 93.1 MHz as FM93.[3] The station and its sister station 2WG was sold to DMG Radio Australia in 1998 and FM93 was re-branded as Star FM by DMG Radio in 1999.

In 2000 the station sacked four of its radio presenters and began networking with the StarFM network hub in Albury.[4] On 11 April 2000 Duncan Potts and Leighton Marshall began broadcasting as breakfast announcers on the station.[4] On 6 June 2000, 2WZD relocated from its Fitzmaurice Street studios to the Prime Television studios in the suburb of Kooringal.[5] In September 2004, DMG Radio sold the stations to Macquarie Regional RadioWorks.[6] Star FM relocated to its new Forsyth Street studios on 6 October 2015.[7]

Announcers

Local[8][9]

  • Michael Whittington (Whitto)
  • Ashleigh Blucher (Ash)
  • Leigh Ryan (Leigh)

References

  1. 1 2 "ABA revisits Wagga Wagga for FM licence inquiry". Australian Broadcasting Authority. 1993-05-14. Retrieved 2008-04-27.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "New FM radio service for Wagga". Australian Broadcasting Authority. 1993-10-12. Retrieved 2008-04-27.
  3. "About Us". The Radio. 93.1 Star FM. Retrieved 2008-06-18.
  4. 1 2 Grimson, Ken (2000-04-12). "Wagga radio stars dumped". The Daily Advertiser. pp. 1, 4.
  5. Bartlett, Jason (2000-06-07). "Move marks start of a new era for Wagga broadcaster". The Daily Advertiser. p. 3.
  6. Catalano, Christian (2004-09-03). "Macquarie pays $194m in radio deal". Fairfax. The Age. Retrieved 2008-04-27.
  7. Owen, Brodie (6 October 2015). "2WG, Star FM move into new Forsyth Street studios". The Daily Advertiser. Retrieved 10 October 2015.
  8. "Pottsy and Leighton go from FM to AM". Radioinfo. 2013-11-24. Retrieved 10 October 2015.
  9. "Star Wagga’s New Breakfast line-up". Radio Today. 2015-02-02. Retrieved 10 October 2015.

Coordinates: 35°08′03″S 147°22′33″E / 35.13419°S 147.375718°E / -35.13419; 147.375718

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