SAFM

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This article is about a radio station in Australia. For the national radio station in South Africa, see SAfm.

SAFM
SAFM new logo 2020.png
CityAdelaide, South Australia
Frequency107.1 MHz FM
BrandingSAFM
Programming
Language(s)English
FormatHot adult contemporary
AffiliationsHit Network
Ownership
OwnerSouthern Cross Austereo
(SCA Digital Pty Ltd)
Triple M Adelaide
History
First air date
12 September 1980 (1980-09-12)
Former frequencies
FM: 107.5 MHz (1980–1989)
Call sign meaning
Stereo South Australia
Technical information
Licensing authority
ACMA
ERP20,000 watts[1]
Transmitter coordinates
34°58′52″S 138°42′29″E / 34.98104°S 138.708078°E / -34.98104; 138.708078Coordinates: 34°58′52″S 138°42′29″E / 34.98104°S 138.708078°E / -34.98104; 138.708078
Repeater(s)FM: 90.3 MHz Adelaide Hills
Links
WebsiteOfficial website

SAFM (official callsign: 5SSA) is a commercial 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.

History[]

The station commenced broadcasting in 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, SA-FM 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]

Between 1984 until 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" music format in an attempt to target a 30–54 year old audience.[5]

Programming[]

Local 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 presented by Rebecca Morse, Andrew Costello and Anthony Lehmann, a three-hour mornings show presented by Sean Craig Murphy, and a three-hour afternoons show presented by English Chris. 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[]

SAFM is simulcast on DAB+ Digital radio in Adelaide.

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Radio and television broadcasting stations: Internet edition (PDF). Australian Communications and Media Authority. October 2019. pp. 37, 96, 101.
  2. ^ "Craig Bruce reveals 5MMM changes to radioinfo". Radioinfo.com.au. 3 November 2003. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  3. ^ "Today network changes begin in Adelaide". Radioinfo.com.au. 10 December 2004. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  4. ^ "hit107 | Adelaide's Hit Music Station revealed". Radio Today (Australia). 16 October 2014.
  5. ^ Challenor, Jake (27 July 2020). "Hit Network set for biggest overhaul in half-decade". Radio Today (Australia). Retrieved 20 August 2020.

External links[]

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