_Media_Logo.png){kind=logo} | |
| Broadcast area | Melbourne, Victoria[1] |
|---|---|
| Frequency | FM: 90.7MHz DAB+: 9B |
| Programming | |
| Language | English |
| Format | Student radio |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| History | |
First air date | 28 January 2003; 22 years ago (2003-01-28) |
Call sign meaning | 3 – Victoria StudentYouthNetwork |
| Links | |
| Webcast | Web stream |
| Website | SYN 90.7 |
SYN/sɪn/ (ACMA callsign:3SYN) is an Australiancommunity radio station broadcasting toMelbourne, Victoria. First broadcast in January 2003, the station is operated bySYN Media under a youth license, with programming presented entirely by volunteers aged 12–25 years old. The station broadcasts from studios on the campus ofRMIT University, with additional content syndicated from other community radio stations in Australia.
Between 2014 and 2019, SYN Media operated a secondary station –SYN Nation – broadcast onDAB+digital radio in Melbourne. On 16 April 2019, SYN Media announced the two stations would merge to create a single station, broadcasting on 90.7FM and DAB+ digital radio. The newly merged SYN commenced broadcasting on 22 April 2019.[2]
SYN first launched at 12pm on 28 January 2003 asSYN FM,[3] following a successful application to the then-Australian Broadcasting Authority for acommunity radio FM license in 2001.[4] This followed the amalgamation of 3TD atThornbury Darebin College and the Student Radio Association based atRMIT University intoSYN Media in 2000.
In May 2004, the Australian Broadcasting Authority removed a power restriction on the station's signal, which was in place to avoid interference from theABNT television service broadcasting fromLaunceston, Tasmania on VHF channel 3.[5] The restriction also applied to89.9 LightFM and the then-unallocatedsmoothfm 91.5.[5]
On 14 April 2011, the station launched onDAB+digital radio, alongside fellow community broadcasters3CR,3KND,3MBS,3RRR,3ZZZ,89.9 LightFM,PBS 106.7FM andVision Australia Radio.[6] This saw the station rebrand asSYN Radio.
On 7 May 2013, the station ceased transmitting on both FM and DAB+ for 24 hours in protest of funding cuts to thecommunity radio sector in the2013 Australian federal budget.[7][8] This formed part of a largercall to action "Commit to Community Radio" by industry body theCommunity Broadcasting Association of Australia, as well as theCommunity Broadcasting Foundation.
On 1 April 2014, the station ceased broadcasting on DAB+ digital radio, and was replaced with a digital radio-only sister stationSYN Nation. Following an organisation-wide rebrand, SYN Radio was rebranded asSYN 90.7, emphasising content made by young people in Melbourne. On 22 April 2019 the station was again rebranded asSYN, as the station became available on DAB+ digital radio once again.[2]
Today, SYN operates on a schedule updated with new presenters – all under the age of 26 – and programming every 12 weeks, across two tiers of programming: flagship shows and seasonal shows. Flagship shows operate year round in fixed timeslots under the management of anexecutive producer, a role rotated yearly, while seasonal shows air for up to six months at a time, and cover a variety of topics and music.
Music flagships
Genre flagships
Access flagships
In addition to programming produced in Melbourne, a number of shows presented by young people across Australia are syndicated on SYN as part of the SYN Nation project. Current affiliates include2BOB,Gippsland FM,Woroni Radio,Wangki Radio andRadio Fremantle.[2]