95.3 FM (Sydney Radio Station)

95.3 FM

Broadcast area	Sydney, Australia
Slogan	Classic Songs. Classic Rock.
Frequency	95.3 MHz FM
First air date	August 1, 2005 (2005-08-01)
Format	Classic rock
ERP	150 kw
Former callsigns	Classic Rock 95.3 (2010) Vega 95.3 (2005–2010)
Owner	DMG Radio Australia
Website	95.3 FM

95.3 FM (call sign: 2PTV) is an Australian commercial radio station operated by DMG Radio Australia in Sydney.

History

In contrast to DMG's other Australian radio brand, the pop/rock Nova network, Classic Rock (originally named Vega) was originally positioned to target the baby boomer market of listeners in the 40 to 60 age bracket, with a mix of talk and music from the 1960s to the 2000s. This changed in 2006 when it moved to a music position, scrapping the talk content. Classic Rock 95.3's major rivals in the Sydney market are WSFM 101.7, Mix 106.5 and Triple M (104.9).

The music played on the station is Classic Rock and features rock acts from the 70s, 80s and also some acts from the 90s (Such as Live, Pearl Jam, Metallica and Guns N' Roses). Alice Cooper started on the station as host of the night show on March 12, 2010, coinciding with the end of Vega, and the launch of the new Classic Rock 95.3 station.

During its first ACNielsen ratings survey (No. 8, 2005, covering mid-September to November of that year), Vega 95.3 had failed to attract a significant audience, with a 1.8 percent audience share. However, station management state that the slow take-up was to be expected, claiming the target audience will be slower than some audience groups to try a new station.

In June 2006 [1] the station dropped its "40 years of music" slogan and moved drive-time hosts Rebecca Wilson and Tony Squires to share the breakfast slot with Angela Catterns. The changes were slow in growing market share, with the audience falling to 1.7%(No. 6, 2006.

By the end of 2006, Vega 95.3 had reached their ratings peak to that time, reaching a 2.8% share.

In January 2007, Vega 95.3 expanded its "Vega Variety" positioner to include "the 70s, 80s and the best new songs", and also put out advertisements in the form of billboards and on the side of buses, based around that expanded positioner. It was hoped that it would get more listeners to sample the station.

In the first radio survey of 2007, Vega 95.3 had small increases, reaching 3%.

Throughout 2007 and 2008, vega 95.3 gradually grew its audience. In survey 7/2008, it finally shed its perennial position as the lowest rated commercial FM station in Sydney, passing 2MMM. In survey 8/2008, its audience had increased to 5.7%. In its target age groups, it rated 4th. commercial FM with 7.9% in the 25 to 39 bracket, and 4th. in 40 to 54 with 8.6%.

On the 12th of March 2010, Vega 95.3 ceased transmission after just five years on air and the station was replaced with Classic Rock 95.3, which includes (appropriately enough) a classic rock format.^[1]

Announcers

• The More Music Breakfast Show with Anthony Maroon
• Kate Mac
• A Flock of 80s
• Alex Dean
• 2pm 2ups
• The Tom Williams Show
• Barry Bissell’s Cover To Cover
• Nights with Alice Cooper
• Classic Albums
• Deep Cuts

Classic Rock Newsroom

At 95.3 FM News happens every hour.

• Monique Dews (Breakfast)
• Lisa Herbert (On Holidays)
• Natasha Lee (Filling in for Lisa - Friday mid-morning, Saturday)
• Brooke Munro (Mon-Thurs Mornings, Sunday)
• Leonie Ryan (Drive)
• Ange Anderson (Fill-in)
• Denee Savoia (DMG Radio News Director)
• Jo Abi (Traffic Reporter)

Former Announcers

• Angela Catterns
• Tony Squires
• Rebecca Wilson
• Mikey Robins
• Jason Staveley
• Trevor Sinclair
• Nathan Hardy
• Jen Oldershaw
• Wendy Harmer
• Chris North
• Dave Evans
• Bogart Torelli
• Alex Dalrymple
• Jacqui Kassulke

References

1. ^ Bodey, Michael (12 March 2010). "Vega axed for classic rock". The Australian: p. 3. 

• Nielsen Media Research (2005-12-06). Survey Results: Sydney, Survey No. 8, 2005. Retrieved on 2006-02-17.

External links

• Official site

Coordinates: 33°52′11″S 151°11′25″E / 33.86972°S 151.19028°E / -33.86972; 151.19028