2YOU

88.9FM 2YOU FM

Broadcast area	Tamworth,Northwest,New England NSW
Frequency	88.9 MHz FM
First air date	1983
Format	60’s, 70's, 80's and the best in country
ERP	2000 watts
Owner	Tamworth Broadcasting Society Inc

2YOU FM now known as RADIO 88.9FM TAMWORTH is a community licensed station broadcasting to Tamworth, NSW, Australia. The station has been broadcasting for over 30 years across New England and Northwest NSW. It is , and is a member of the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia (CBAA). The station aims to be a local voice for the Tamworth New England and Northwest area, offering regional news, outside broadcast and coverage of major events.

2YOUFM started in tiny studios out back of the old computer fiscal building in Marius street , although the studio, administration and library were actually in the rear off Dowe Ave in the old laundry rooms! The studio was lined with egg cartons for insulation, had two B&W turntables , a cassette player, a six slider panel and a microphone. From such humble beginnings 2 YOU FM had moved twice more, to 324A Peel street in 1984.

After over 20 years of operation it moved into the National Trust Railway Gatekeeper’s Building in East Tamworth, in 2013 2youFM faced serious financial issues created by increase running costs and lack of sponsor support. The newly appointed directors faced some serious considerations on the stations future.They appointed a senior radio broadcast manager and he implemented a previous conducted survey of what the market both thought and required of the station. Management implemented A robust plan that was put into place to correct the stations financial problems including implementing the research. The station adopted an aggressive new image and station format early 2014. 2youfm now became 88.9 FM.this included music formats, contracted a national voice over production studios to compliment a strong music format. The previous format was changed from numerous music genres and “ad hoc programs” that had poor listening audience into a format of 60’s, 70, 80,s and the best in country. Regular shifts across the board were implemented, new image jingles, local daily local news services jointly with Fairfax owned, The Northern Daily Leader,plus MacQuarie national news cross promotion with Prime 7 Television, and major sponsors. The reaction from across the broadcast area was almost immediate and revenue increased from sponsors following the stations aggressive marketing plus funds on hand allowed a complete overhaul of new digital production studios, to meet growing sponsor needs, upgrades of main studio, new formats and computer program schedules, utilizing the Maximation broadcast system. An upgrade of the transmission tower, antenna array and a new and more powerful transmitter to allow the station to now broadcast clearly to its broadcast licensed area. The station broadcasts from its own building and tower from Bald Hill @ 956 meter's 10 kilometers east of Tamworth with 2,000 watts ERP and reaches over 90,000 people in its broadcast coverage, including Tamworth City, Tamworth regional, Gunnedah, Manilla, Quirindi and various towns in New England and the Northwest NSW.

There is a mixed listening program format 60's 70's ,80's and the best in country. 88.9FM operates 24 hours a day 7 days per week. 88.9 FM has a full time staff of 13, plus 5 casuals, and 5 volunteers. Including, Breakfast, Morning, Afternoon drive, night and weekend presenters. Administration, production, engineering and sales personnel, Current Top 20 County Music Count Down is featured once per week, Friday 6-7pm. The "Pulse" with joint presenters covers all the information, political entertainment, interviews mixed with the radio music format. Work day afternoon music requests mon-fri. Weekends follow the non stop music format. Saturdays local sports show at 8:00 am.

Income

The station earns income mainly from sponsor, outside broadcasts and membership. Sponsorship takes the form of payment for on-air promotions of local business from a set Rate Card.

Technical data

• Frequency - 88.9FM
• Licensed Power - 2 Kw.
• Effective Radiated Power (ERP) - 2000 watts / 2 Kilowatts
• Transmitter - 1,000 watt 2014 BWTX21,000 FM Transmitter into twin array omni antennae
• Transmitter 2 1,000 watt R.V.R PJ1000
• Studio automation; uses "Maximation"
• Production; "Adobe Audition"
• Desk; Elan 'Kestral 12'Studio in A, Studio B custom auditron news/producers desk, C Studio Elan "Merlin" Studio C set up with full digital editing facilities.
• WEBSITE WWW.889fmtamworth.com.au (STREAMING ON THIS SITE)

Related links

• [1] 2YOU FM website
• [2] CBAA website