Triple M Darling Downs Explained

4GR is an Australian commercial radio station located in Toowoomba, Queensland, currently broadcasting as Triple M on 864 AM.[1]

The station was the first commercial radio station to broadcast in Queensland.

4GR was the brainchild of Edward Gold[2] who had conducted test radio broadcasts in a shed from his experimental radio station 4EG prior to obtaining Queensland's first commercial radio licence to establish 4GR, which began broadcasting on 17 August 1925.[3]

Transmitter power is 2 KW.

In 2015, 4GR celebrated its 90th birthday.[4]

Despite the station identifying itself as its original callsign 4GR for more than 90 years, the on-air branding was changed to Triple M in December 2016 as part of Southern Cross Austereo's branding overhaul of its regional radio networks.[5]

4GR's name change came under fire from some quarters. An online reader's poll run by The Chronicle newspaper in Toowoomba found that 74% of respondents were unhappy with 4GR taking on the Triple M brand.[6]

References

-27.5624°N 151.961°W

Notes and References

  1. https://www.triplem.com.au/darlingdowns Triple M Darling Downs website
  2. http://www.thechronicle.com.au/news/the-way-we-were-radio-pioneer-article-submitted-by/2137086 The Way We Were: Radio Pioneer
  3. http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/20952558 Wireless Station Opened At Toowoomba
  4. http://www.radiotoday.com.au/news/whats-new/7461-4gr-90-years-queensland-s-first-commercial-station.html 4GR: 90 Years - Queensland's first commercial station
  5. http://www.southerncrossaustereo.com.au/media/2016/09/26/scas-hit-and-triple-m-to-become-the-two-largest-commercial-radio-networks-in-australia-2 SCA's Hit and Triple M to become the two largest commercial radio networks in Australia
  6. http://www.thechronicle.com.au/news/residents-say-changes-historic-radio-station-poor-/3095086 Historic radio station re-brand 'a very poor move'