3YB FM
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3YB FM is a radio broadcaster based in
The station has one of the most unusual histories of any Australian radio station, having commenced broadcasting in 1931 as a mobile station, prior to permanently settling in Warrnambool in 1935.
History
The 1930s: Mobile Station, and the move to Warrnambool
Between October 1931 and November 1935 3YB was a mobile station,
but the concept of the station was the brainchild of one of the station's original broadcasters and engineers Jack Young of Ballarat, after whom the station is named.The mobile station had a limited power of 25 watts, meaning that it could only be heard in a small regional area at any given time.
The way the station operated was that it would move into a selected town for three weeks. The first week was occupied with setting up the station, particularly the broadcasting mast and other technical gear. Concurrently, local businesses were visited and advertising was sold, although Dinenny also secured a few national advertisers. During the second and third weeks the station broadcast daily from 6.00 to 10.00 pm. The record library was divided into 14 complete programs, ensuring that there was no repetition of records during the two weeks that the station broadcast from a town. The first town to be visited, in October 1931, was Creswick.[1]
There were Warrnambool links from the commencement of the station: radio pioneer Oscar V. Henry; technician and manager Harry S. Fuller; and salesperson Sid Kemp were all involved when the station began mobile broadcasting.[5]
As more and more rural stations opened in Victoria, the concept of a mobile station became less practical. Therefore, Dinenny applied for and received licences for two non-mobile (or conventional) stations, one in Warrnambool and the other being
The opening of the Warrnambool station, which retained the call sign 3YB, was due to take place on 27 December 1935 but, due to problems with the transmission tower, the opening was postponed to 8.00 pm on Saturday 18 January 1936.[5]
Ownership
Within a few years of moving to Warrnambool, 3YB became part of the Argus Broadcasting Services network, along with
In the late 1980s/1990s and into the early 21st century, the
Studios
The first 3YB studio in Warrnambool (and its first permanent studio) was at the property Wentworth on Weir Road. On 16 April 1945 there was a disastrous fire at the studio and transmitter complex at Wentworth, and 3YB was forced off the air for three weeks! On 5 May 1945 the station re-opened, broadcasting from new studios on the 1st floor of the T & G building on the corner of Leibig and Lava Streets. This studio served the station well until August 1968 when new purpose-built studios were opened at 95 Timor Street.[5]
Broadcasters
Many prominent broadcasters commenced their careers at 3YB. These include: Ron Cadee, Vern Haycroft, Denzil Howson, Rod Kilgour, Mike Menner, Barry Seeber, Rod Spargo, Michael Taft, and Mal Walden.[5][9]
Long serving news presenter Lois Chislett has won a number of Australian Commercial Radio Awards for best news presenter for a country station including in 2012.[10]
Move to FM
On 2 July 2018, 882 3YB converted to the
On-Air Schedule
Weekdays
- 12:00am–5:30am – Australia Overnight
- 5:30am–6:00am – Country Today
- 6:00am–8:30am – The Morning Rush with Sean Cullen, Matthew Monk & Niamh McMahon
- 8:30am–12:00pm – Neil Mitchell
- 12:00pm–1:00pm – 70's and 80's Lunchbox
- 1:00pm–6:00pm – Dave Drinkell
- 6:00pm–8:00pm – Sportsday
- 8:00pm–12:00am – Better Music, More of it
Saturdays
- 12:00am–6:00am – Australia Overnight
- 6:00am–7:00am – Reel Adventures
- 7:00am–8:00am – 3YBFM Sports Saturday
- 8:00am–9:00am – Good, The Bad And The Ugly
- 9:00am–10:00am – The 3YBFM Racing Show
- 10:00am–12:00pm – Off The Bench
- 12:00pm–6:00pm – Better Music, More of it
- 6:00pm–12:00am – Saturday Night Songfest
Sundays
- 12:00am–6:00am – Saturday Night Songfest
- 6:00am–9:00am – Sunday Country
- 9:00am–10:00am – Dave Drinkell
- 10:00am–12:00pm – Classic Hits Countdown
- 12:00pm–9:00pm – Better Music, More of it
- 9:00pm–12:00am – Down Memory Lane[13]
References
- ^ a b R. R. Walker, The Magic Spark, Hawthorn Press, 1973
- ^ 3YB was born on wheels The Argus 9 May 1953 page 7
- OCLC 19676396.
- ^ Watt, Jarrod (11 May 2013). "Ballarat heritage: broadcasting pioneers of radio and television". Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
- ^ a b c d Hugh Adams, 3YB: Pioneer of Country Broadcasting 1931-1981, Collett, Rain & Gaspar, Warrnambool, 1981
- ^ "The "Argus" Broadcasting Services". tdgq.com.au. Archived from the original on 11 March 2019. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
- ^ "History: Jimmy rocking the Bay". The Standard. 22 October 2015.
- ^ "Ace Radio Broadcasters". www.aceradio.com.au.
- U3ADeepdene, Melbourne, during which he showed photos of his time at 3YB
- ^ "ACE boss on the ACRA's". Radio Today. 15 October 2012.
- ^ "3YB and Vision Australia swap radio bands". 2 July 2018. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
- ^ "Vision Australia radio ready to make the big switch". 2 July 2018. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
- ^ "882 3YB".