2SER (which stands for Sydney Educational Radio) had its origins in the burgeoning community broadcasting movement of the early 1970’s when it was proposed that an educational radio station be established based on a consortium of Sydney universities. 2SER made its broadcasting debut on October 1, 1979, with the support of many hundreds of groups and individuals.
Today, 2SER operates as a company limited by guarantee and is jointly owned by Macquarie University and the University of Technology, Sydney. Both institutions contribute an annual grant to 2SER, however the station is largely self-supporting, relying upon revenue raised through programming, sponsorship, fund-raising events and listener subscriptions.
2SER holds a community broadcasting license with a special interest defined as educational broadcasting. Through its programs, and the making of programs, 2SER aims to stimulate learning and educate its listeners and is committed to social change, access and diversity.
Sydney radio broadcasting was about to experience a major growth in the industry.
A number of experimental licenses were issued throughout Australia.
Announcement that Sydney would have three public FM stations.
September
UTS (then NSW Institute of Technology), Sydney
University and Macquarie University jointly appear before the
Australian Broadcasting Tribunal (under Chairman Bruce Gyngell) and
succeed in obtaining the offer of a Category “E” (for education)
license.
5th March
Sydney Educational Broadcasting Ltd was
incorporated. The Dept of Post & Telecommunications advised the
station’s call sign would be 2SER-FM (the first choice had been
2SEB-FM).
1 October
2SER-FM transmissions commenced. The station was opened by the Federal Minister for Education, Senator John Carrick.
5th June
2SER was relicensed to broadcast with a power of 1.5KW.
28th July
2SER’s aerial power was increased to 4KW, awaiting a further increase to 7.5KW.
17th October
Macquarie North Ryde studio was opened by the State Minister for Education, Mr Paul Landa
2SER’s license renewed.
2SER’s license renewed.
16th December
2SER-FM Station Charter determined.
Quadphobia, a quadrophonic simulcast between 2SER & 2MBS. Livewire weekend broadcast of live music and spoken word, celebrating 9 years at the forefront of independent radio.
New program format launched, and with it public radio’s first
satellite delivered national daily news and current affairs program
Undercurrents.
Gaywaves simulcast with Brisbane’s 4ZZZ for
Stonewall Day in June.
Building Bridges – 2SER joined with other
stations on a weekend in September to provide a national broadcasting
forum for the National Coalition of Aboriginal Organisations.
All That
Flows – live broadcast from the Performance Space, wins PBAA/BASF Award
For Excellence In Feature Programming.
New program format launched, and with it public radio’s first
satellite delivered national daily news and current affairs program
Undercurrents.
Gaywaves simulcast with Brisbane’s 4ZZZ for
Stonewall Day in June.
Building Bridges – 2SER joined with other
stations on a weekend in September to provide a national broadcasting
forum for the National Coalition of Aboriginal Organisations.
All That
Flows – live broadcast from the Performance Space, wins PBAA/BASF Award
For Excellence In Feature Programming.
2SER wins several awards including a Silver Medal from the New York International Radio Festival, a Certificate of Commendation from the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Media Awards and three Awards for Excellence in Programming for the Public Broadcasting Association of Australia.199
Introduction of a satellite distribution system for community radio, ComRadSat.
As
part of International Year of the Indigenous Person, 2SER put
indigenous issues firmly on the agenda and had several significant
showcases including Pillars Of Society – Education and Employment,
several documentaries, specials on Open Mind and Tiddas Talk.
Outside broadcast from the Big Day Out, the first Mosaic Mix broadcast (24 hours of music presented by 24 DJs over the Queen’s Birthday long weekend).
Awarded CBAA Best Broadcast Spoken Word Program for Open Mind.
Media Magazine Highly Commended in the same category.
Panacea receives MBF Media Award for the Best Metropolitan Report.
Collaboration between the Sydney Morning Herald’s Metro and 2SER to present monthly live broadcasts called Sydney Sounds Like…
Music feature Neckathon, 5 hour The Necks special.
The first Freaky Loops party, experimental film and music night.
2SER participated in trials of Digital Sound Broadcasting (DSB) technology.
Undercurrents wins CBAA award for Best News Story of the Year (for ‘Wik Millionaires’).
Longstanding 2SER country music broadcaster Barbara Morison was inducted into the Country Music Broadcasters Hall Of Fame.
Freaky Loops II and III were staged over 3 floors of Manning Building.
Outside broadcasts from Mardi Gras parade and the Sydney Film Festival.
A successful fourth Freaky Loops fundraiser event, with 4000 people
crammed into the Wentworth Building while another 2000 were turned
away.
A double Freaky Loops CD was produced featuring local electronic
acts.
2SER is awarded 3 CBAA Awards for Excellence in Community Broadcasting:
Best News Story (Undercurrents), Best Special Spoken Word program (This
Old Thing); Best Marketing or Promotional Achievement (Underground
Radio - Anatomy of an Image Change).
Gaywaves program celebrates 20 years of broadcasting.
Release
of second Freaky Loops CD in conjunction with Creative Vibes.
Another
Freaky Loops event on 30th October sells out. The ABA allocates 2SER a
power increase of 50kw.
Launch of 2SER’s first website.
Freaky Loops wins Best Compilation award at the Australian Dance Music Awards.
2SER provided support for fledgling broadcasters in East Timor with donations of equipment and logistical support.
2SER joins forces with the Newtown Festival to stage the Microgallery
Award for Sydney artists.
2SER-FM is awarded for its contribution to
the development of Australian Music at the CBAA Awards in Tasmania.
2SER’s new program grid is launched and the Sydney Morning Herald declares “there is an alternative to Triple J”.
Successful Turnover and Audiomatic fundraisers held.
Big Day Out and Mosaic Mix broadcasts.
Pluratones fundraiser held at Metro featuring The Bird, The Herd, Biftek and more.
Kate Hairsine is the fourth 2SER volunteer to be awarded a prestigious internship with the German National Broadcaster, Deutsche Welle.
