4RGK
Encyclopedia
4RGK is a radio station
in Central Queensland
, broadcasting as Sea FM
.
The station is owned and operated by Macquarie Southern Cross Media out of studios in Rockhampton, Queensland
.
4RGK began test broadcasts in Rockhampton and Gladstone
in September 2000, and officially launched as Sea FM in October 2000.
When the station was launched, it was owned by RG Capital Radio
, which already owned the existing Rockhampton AM station 4RO
.
A rival radio company, DMG Regional Radio
, also launced their FM station in Rockhampton at the same time, with Hot FM
beginning transmission in Central Queensland.
RG Capital Radio and DMG Regional Radio both successfully bid for the FM licenses
in 1998, eventually leading to the launch of both stations in 2000.
Unlike Sea FM, which began broadcasting a 'live and local' format between 5am and 6pm, Hot FM heavily relied on networking from their hub in Townsville between 10am and 5am, similar to their former AM sister station 4CC.
Sea FM's music format has varied since its launch, with the station currently playing a mild classic hits format with some new music included.
The station has a local breakfast show between 5:30am and 10am hosted by Mark "Chooky" Edwards and Brad Villiers, with Glenn "Minty" Mintern (10am - 1pm) and Tim Aquilina (1pm - 4pm) announcing during the day. From January 2009, Sea FM also begin taking the nationally syndicated "Hamish and Andy" drive time show between 4pm and 6pm.
Sea FM also broadcasts a local news service, with local journalist Lisa Benoit reading the local news during the breakfast show at 6:30am, 7:30am, 8:30am, and reading a mixture of local and national news at 9am, 10am, 11am and midday.
All of the other news bulletins are provided by the Macquarie Southern Cross Media newsrooms in either Townsville or the Gold Coast
.
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
in Central Queensland
Central Queensland
Central Queensland is an ambiguous geographical division of Queensland that centres on the eastern coast, around the Tropic of Capricorn. Its major regional centre is Rockhampton and the Capricorn Coast and the area extends west to the Central Highlands at Emerald, north to the Mackay Regional...
, broadcasting as Sea FM
Sea FM (Australian radio network)
Sea FM is a commercial Australian radio network, consisting of stations in Queensland, New South Wales and Tasmania and is owned by Southern Cross Austereo. Some Sea FM stations were later sold to meet media ownership requirements...
.
The station is owned and operated by Macquarie Southern Cross Media out of studios in Rockhampton, Queensland
Rockhampton, Queensland
Rockhampton is a city and local government area in Queensland, Australia. The city lies on the Fitzroy River, approximately from the river mouth, and some north of the state capital, Brisbane....
.
4RGK began test broadcasts in Rockhampton and Gladstone
Gladstone, Queensland
- Education :Gladstone has several primary schools, three high schools, and one university campus, Central Queensland University. It is also home to CQIT Gladstone Campus.- Recreation :...
in September 2000, and officially launched as Sea FM in October 2000.
When the station was launched, it was owned by RG Capital Radio
RG Capital Radio Network
Before being sold to Macquarie Bank, RG Capital was in a majority ownership by Australian gameshow king Reg Grundy.-Timeline:*1995 - Reg Grundy acquires SEA FM radio group for $66m*2000 - Floated on ASX...
, which already owned the existing Rockhampton AM station 4RO
4RO-AM
4RO is an Australian radio station in Rockhampton, Queensland, broadcasting since 1932.-History:The station was launched on 2 July 1932. The opening of 4RO resulted in Rockhampton being the first regional town in Queensland, to have two stations....
.
A rival radio company, DMG Regional Radio
DMG Radio Australia
DMG Radio Australia operates commercial radio networks in metropolitan and regional areas of Australia. The company is 50% owned by United Kingdom company, Daily Mail and General Trust Group. Lachlan Murdoch's Illyria Pty Ltd bought 50% of the company in November 2009.DMG Radio Australia was formed...
, also launced their FM station in Rockhampton at the same time, with Hot FM
Hot FM (Australian radio network)
Hot FM is an Australian radio network, consisting of stations in north and central Queensland and Western Australia.The brand was created by DMG Radio Australia, before they sold their regional stations to Macquarie Regional RadioWorks in 2004.Hot 91.1 is not owned by Southern Cross Austereo; DMG...
beginning transmission in Central Queensland.
RG Capital Radio and DMG Regional Radio both successfully bid for the FM licenses
Broadcast license
A broadcast license or broadcast license is a specific type of spectrum license that grants the licensee the privilege to use a portion of the radio frequency spectrum in a given geographical area for broadcasting purposes. The licenses are generally straddled with additional restrictions that...
in 1998, eventually leading to the launch of both stations in 2000.
Unlike Sea FM, which began broadcasting a 'live and local' format between 5am and 6pm, Hot FM heavily relied on networking from their hub in Townsville between 10am and 5am, similar to their former AM sister station 4CC.
Sea FM's music format has varied since its launch, with the station currently playing a mild classic hits format with some new music included.
The station has a local breakfast show between 5:30am and 10am hosted by Mark "Chooky" Edwards and Brad Villiers, with Glenn "Minty" Mintern (10am - 1pm) and Tim Aquilina (1pm - 4pm) announcing during the day. From January 2009, Sea FM also begin taking the nationally syndicated "Hamish and Andy" drive time show between 4pm and 6pm.
Sea FM also broadcasts a local news service, with local journalist Lisa Benoit reading the local news during the breakfast show at 6:30am, 7:30am, 8:30am, and reading a mixture of local and national news at 9am, 10am, 11am and midday.
All of the other news bulletins are provided by the Macquarie Southern Cross Media newsrooms in either Townsville or the Gold Coast
Gold Coast, Queensland
Gold Coast is a coastal city of Australia located in South East Queensland, 94km south of the state capital Brisbane. With a population approximately 540,000 in 2010, it is the second most populous city in the state, the sixth most populous city in the country, and also the most populous...
.