SAFM (official callsign: 5SSA) is a commercial FM radio station owned and operated by Southern Cross Austereo as part of the Hit Network. The station is broadcast to Adelaide, South Australia from studios in Franklin Street.
 | |
| Frequency | 107.1 MHz FM |
|---|---|
| Branding | SAFM |
| Programming | |
| Language(s) | English |
| Format | Adult contemporary Hot adult contemporary |
| Affiliations | Hit Network |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| Triple M Adelaide | |
| History | |
First air date | 12 September 1980 |
Former frequencies | FM: 107.5 MHz (1980–1989) |
Call sign meaning | Stereo South Australia |
| Technical information | |
Licensing authority | ACMA |
| Class | Commercial |
| ERP | 20,000 watts[1] |
Transmitter coordinates | 34°58′52″S 138°42′29″E / 34.98104°S 138.708078°E |
| Repeater(s) | FM: 90.3 MHz Adelaide Hills |
| Links | |
| Website | Official website |
History
editThe station began broadcasting on 12 September 1980, on the frequency of 107.5 MHz, with a call sign of 5SSA and an original on-air branding of "Double SA-FM" which was very short-lived and soon replaced by "SA-FM". It was the first commercial radio station to broadcast on the FM band in Adelaide started by Paul Thompson of the Austereo Network. The first song played on air was "Sultans of Swing" by Dire Straits. Initially, SAFM was somewhat of a fringe operation, hampered largely by the fact that many houses, and more importantly most contemporary cars, did not have the ability to receive FM radio broadcasts.[citation needed]
In 1982 it changed its name to "SAFM" and in 1989 altered its frequency slightly to 107.1 MHz. A second frequency, 91.1 MHz, was added as what was the first of many repeater frequencies in Adelaide, required due to Adelaide's sometimes problematic television and radio reception idiosyncrasies.[citation needed] The frequency was later changed to 90.3 MHz and it continues to operate on that frequency.[citation needed]
SAFM was the first station in the world to have Black Thunder promotional vehicles and the annual Australia Day Sky-Show fireworks display was an Adelaide institution for many years.
Between 1984 and 1993 it was the highest rating station in Adelaide and achieving its best survey results in the late '80s, spearheaded by the "Morning Zoo" breakfast show.[citation needed] SAFM became number one again in 1999, holding that position until 2005, when it dropped back to third, behind the talk station FIVEaa and the music station Mix 102.3.
From its inception SAFM was an adult rock-based format, before switching to a contemporary hit radio (CHR) format in March 1996.[citation needed] In November 2003, the station adopted an adult contemporary music format,[2] reverting to CHR in December 2004 following the launch of rival station Nova 919.[3]
On 20 October 2014, the station was relaunched as Hit 107,[4] but reverted to SAFM on 27 July 2020 as part of a network-wide relaunch, shifting to a "pop-based" Hot adult contemporary music format in an attempt to target a 30–54-year-old audience.[5]
In October 2022, it was reported that the breakfast show Bec, Cosi and Lehmo would be axed. [6]
Programming
editLocal programming is produced and broadcast from the station's Franklin Street studios from 6am–3pm weekdays. The station's local output consists of a three-hour breakfast show, Emma and Bernie, presented by Bernie Vince and Emma Georgiadis, a three-hour morning show presented by Nicole and a three-hour afternoon show presented by Sean Craig Murphy. In addition, the station's breakfast show is also broadcast on its Mount Gambier sister station.
Networked programming originates from studios in Melbourne and Sydney.
Digital radio
editSAFM is simulcast on DAB+ Digital radio in Adelaide.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Radio and television broadcasting stations: Internet edition (PDF). Australian Communications and Media Authority. October 2019. pp. 37, 96, 101.
- ^ "Craig Bruce reveals 5MMM changes to radioinfo". Radioinfo.com.au. 3 November 2003. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
- ^ "Today network changes begin in Adelaide". Radioinfo.com.au. 10 December 2004. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
- ^ "hit107 | Adelaide's Hit Music Station revealed". Radio Today (Australia). 16 October 2014.
- ^ Challenor, Jake (27 July 2020). "Hit Network set for biggest overhaul in half-decade". Radio Today (Australia). Retrieved 20 August 2020.
- ^ Keller, Lisa (28 October 2022). "Huge changes to radio stations across Adelaide as Cosi axed from SAFM". Glam Adelaide.