PBA-FM 89.7 (call sign: 5PBA) is a community radio station in Adelaide, South Australia, and broadcasts to the Northern Suburbs.
History[]
PBA-FM was established in 1979 as a community radio station broadcasting on 89.7 MHz across the Northern Suburbs of Adelaide, South Australia. The station was originally a portion of the Salisbury Teachers College which later became the South Australian College of Advanced Education and then the University of South Australia Salisbury campus, along with Foundation Studios (Defunct). Although established in 1979, broadcasting did not commence until January 1983.
Only a few years after the station had begun broadcasting, (and due to mismanagement), in 1989, Foundation Studios was closed. The remaining Community Print building moved off campus, and the remaining buildings became small halls used occasionally for community workshops and projects. The last of Foundation Studios was demolished in February 2005. The same effect started applying to the main studio. In 2005 plans began to relocate the station to the former Country Fire Service station in Salisbury after development group Lifestyle SA purchased the former campus land for a housing development. The station relocated to the former CFS building, part of a new complex, on August 4, 2007.
PBA-FM commenced streaming live online in April 2010.
Format[]
PBA-FM airs over 60 diverse programs going to air each week, including several multicultural shows and non English speaking programs. The station also allows the general public to broadcast a show in one of the station time slots for a small fee.
Announcers are free to choose the music that they present, and there are no restrictions on the types of music playable, as long as the music is non-explicit. Each night specialist programs broadcast a specific genre of music, ranging from classical, world, rock and roll, jazz, country, progressive rock and rhythm and blues.
PBA FM is home to "This Is Our Sound" a local music program hosted by Clint Brice. During the night the station airs the show "Music Throughout The Night", which is a random compilation of songs from several different artists and genres.
Staff[]
PBA-FM is staffed by a team of over 150 volunteers. All contribute to the station by working on a regular basis in various areas including on-air presentation, program production, administration, technical, research, library, training and promotions.