2WZD

Infobox Radio station
name = 2WZD


city = Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia
area = Riverina, South West Slopes
branding = Star FM
slogan = Your Hit Music Station
frequency = 93.1 MHz FM
repeater = 103.1 MHz FM
airdate = July 1994
share =
share as of =
share source =
format = Contemporary Hits
power =
erp =
haat =
class = Commercial
facility_id =
coordinates =
callsign_meaning =
former_callsigns =
affiliations =
owner = Macquarie Southern Cross Media
licensee = Riverina Broadcasters Pty Ltd
sister_stations = 2WG
webcast =
website = http://www.theradio.com.au

2WZD, which is branded as 93.1 Star FM, is an Australian radio station that transmits on 93.1 MHz FM and is owned by Macquarie Southern Cross Media.

History

On November 14 1991 the Australian Broadcasting Tribunal (ABT) granted an FM commercial licence to "Wagga and Riverina FM Stereo Broadcasters Pty Limited" which was to be Wagga FM but the incumbent, "Riverina Broadcasters Pty Limited", the licensee of 2WG, successfully appealed in the The Federal Court in September 1992cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = ABA revisits Wagga Wagga for FM licence inquiry | work = | publisher = Australian Broadcasting Authority | date = 1993-05-14 | url = http://www.acma.gov.au/WEB/STANDARD/1001/pc=PC_90311 | format = html| doi = | accessdate = 2008-04-27] cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = New FM radio service for Wagga | work = | publisher = Australian Broadcasting Authority | date = 1993-10-12 | url = http://www.acma.gov.au/WEB/STANDARD/1001/pc=PC_90341 | format = html | doi = | accessdate = 2008-04-27] .

The Federal Courts found that the decision the ABT made was an error of law. On October 5 1992 the ABT and Broadcasting Act 1942 were replaced by the Australian Broadcasting Authority (ABA) and the Broadcasting Act 1992. On December 2 1992, "South West Media Ltd" who were also competing for an independent FM licence, advised the ABA it was withdrawing its licence application.

The ABA announced that an inquiry into the licence grant would be held on 19 and 20 May 1993 at The Old Wagga Inn. The inquiry would re-examine "Wagga and Riverina FM Stereo Broadcasters" application which "Riverina Broadcasters" had contested. The inquiry would also look at the application for a supplementary FM commercial licence from Riverina Broadcasters, and at the viability of Riverina Broadcasters if an FM commercial licence was granted to an second independent licensee in the city..

On October 12 1993 ABA that announced the FM commercial licence was granted to "Riverina Broadcasters" and it decided not to grant an independent FM licence, as the ABA found that the viability of Riverina Broadcasters would been jeopardised if an independent FM licence was granted.

In July 1994 2WZD began broadcasting on 93.1 MHz as FM93 [cite web | title = About Us | work = The Radio | publisher = 93.1 Star FM | url = http://theradio.com.au/content.aspx?PageID=1074&Station=STAR_93.1FM_WaggaWagga | format = html | doi = | accessdate = 2008-06-18 ] . The station and its sister station 2WG was sold to DMG Radio Australia in 1998 and FM93 was rebranded as Star FM by DMG Radio in 1999. In September 2004, DMG Radio sold the stations to Macquarie Regional RadioWorks [cite web | last = Catalano | first = Christian | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Macquarie pays $194m in radio deal | work = Fairfax | publisher = The Age | date = 2004-09-03 | url = http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/09/02/1093939069043.html | format = html | doi = | accessdate = 2008-04-27 ] .

References