Sea FM 90.9 (call sign: 4SEA) is a radio station on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia. It is part of Southern Cross Austereo's Hit Network, and is also the network hub for the regional Hit Stream, broadcasting shows at times from 9 am - 12 am across the Hit Networks across Australia.

Sea FM 90.9
Broadcast areaGold Coast RA1 ([1])
Frequency90.9 MHz FM
BrandingSea FM 90.9
Programming
Language(s)English
FormatTop 40 (CHR)
AffiliationsHit Network
Ownership
Owner
Triple M Gold Coast
History
First air date
19 March 1989 (1989-03-19)[1]
Technical information
ERP25,000 watts
HAAT406 m[2]
Transmitter coordinates
27°58′11″S 153°12′48″E / 27.96972°S 153.21333°E / -27.96972; 153.21333
Links
WebsiteSea FM 90.9 Gold Coast

History

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The Sea FM brand name and original logo was created by Gold Coast Broadcasters Pty Ltd for just the one station - 90.9 Sea FM - after the Gold Coast was granted a new commercial FM licence. 90.9 Sea FM began broadcasting in 1989 with programming consulted by Austereo. The original Sea FM on-air line-up was a strong team of experienced Announcers, many having made their name previously in Metropolitan radio including - Craig Bruce (Fox FM) & Sammy Power, Ian 'Lofty' Fulton (4IP), Grahame "Durry" Rodgers (2SM & 2NX), Sue Moses (Triple M Sydney & Network 10), Gregg Easton (2UW & 4BK), Joe Miller (3XY & Eon FM), Dean Miller and Simon Franks.

In November 2011, controversy erupted after rumours surfaced that popular long-term breakfast co-host, Moyra Major, was to be replaced by entertainer Charli Robinson, after Robinson had filled in for six weeks while Major was on maternity leave.[3] It was reported that Major had been replaced due to a significant increase in ratings for the breakfast show during Robinson's stint as co-host.[3] Robinson and her co-host Paul Gale were replaced by Heather Maltman, Dan Anstey and Ben Hannant on 5 December 2016.[4]

On 15 December 2016 Sea FM Gold Coast became known as Hit 90.9 Sea FM in Southern Cross Austereo’s mass re-branding of its regional radio network. Along with Sea FM Central Coast they were able to retain their heritage name for the moment.[5]

On 3 July 2018 Sea FM Gold Coast had dropped the word "Hit" out of its station name "Hit 90.9 Sea FM", reverting to its original name "90.9 Sea FM", as well as its sister station 101.3 Sea FM on the Central Coast of New South Wales.

On 12 July 2019, SCA’s Hit Network announced the Gold Coast’s Sea FM would rebrand becoming Hit90.9 from 29 July 2019.[6] The rebrand came with a new Breakfast show with Dan Anstey and Ben Hannant joined by Lise Carlaw and Sarah Wills.

In July 2020, Carlaw and Wills resigned and it was later announced that Bianca Dye would join the team with the show titled Bianca, Dan & Ben.[7] In August 2021, it was rebranded back to Sea FM.[8]

In June 2022, Anstey resigned to join Triple M Brisbane's Big Breakfast with Marto, Margaux and Dan Anstey.

References

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  1. ^ "Commercial Radio Broadcasting Licences" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
  2. ^ HAAT estimated from http://www.itu.int/SRTM3/ using EHAAT.
  3. ^ a b Meers, Daniel; Jones, Katrina (19 November 2011). "Moyra axed from Sea FM breakfasts". goldcoast.com.au. Archived from the original on 23 November 2011. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
  4. ^ Simonot, Suzanne (21 November 2016). "Meet Sea FM's new brekkie crew". Gold Coast Bulletin. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
  5. ^ "The Big Brand Flip Completed". 14 December 2016.
  6. ^ "Sea FM Gold Coast rebrands to Hit90.9 with new Breakfast team". 12 July 2019.
  7. ^ Blackiston, Hannah (27 July 2020). "SCA revamps Adelaide and Brisbane stations, signs Anthony 'Lehmo' Lehmann and Bianca Dye". Mumbrella. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  8. ^ 90.9 Sea FM is back on the Gold Coast, as Hit90.9 switches to its heritage name Radio Info 11 August 2021