Stereo 974 no longer

President Ted Parker · Sun Feb 22, 2004 1:18 pm

i recently rang the station to see if they were broadcasting Williamstown games this year and I was told they had pulled the pin after one year.
Pretty disappointing I would have thought as enjoyed the extra information and coverage we got from these guys.

They didn't give any reasons.

Dale I wondef if you know anymore about this and if so what were the reasons?

Dale61 · Post by **Dale61** » Sun Feb 22, 2004 2:50 pm

Pres, I have just sent off an email seeking clarification on this, and as soon as I receive a reply, I will post it here.

Dale61 · Post by **Dale61** » Sun Feb 22, 2004 8:02 pm

Have just heard from Mark Stone, and he informs me a decision is yet to be made regarding Stereo974 broadcasting the Williamstown games this year.

At this stage, it is all a rumour, but once a final decision is made, people will be informed.

Joel · Post by **Joel** » Mon Feb 23, 2004 2:03 pm

So the Prez TP, got told the wrong info? I wish if people didn't actually know the right information, that they would just admit to that, and say "We're not too sure at the moment if we are going to broadcast", than a straight out, "the pin has been pulled".

Tank36 · Post by **Tank36** » Mon Feb 23, 2004 2:35 pm

It's funny actually because I heard the same thing as Pie man Ted. I often use to listen to the radio while watching the Willi game it was good but according to some officials at williamstown the station broadcasting Live Williamstown games is definitely a no go.

I hope what you said is right Dale, and it is only a rumour.

Dale61 · Post by **Dale61** » Mon Feb 23, 2004 2:36 pm

Prez, if you do some research, you'll find that the games were broadcast for more than one year.

Would be interested to know who it was at the station that you spoke to.

Tank36 · Post by **Tank36** » Mon Feb 23, 2004 2:44 pm

Dale i can't really speak on the behalf of President Ted but i think you find that it was the stations first year at calling VFL football. They called only Western Region games in 2002. My nephew plays for Spotswood I use to see them calling games there on a Saturday.

I will do some research myself and see what i can find out.

Dale61 · Post by **Dale61** » Mon Feb 23, 2004 2:46 pm

Tank36 wrote:

..according to some officials at williamstown the station broadcasting Live Williamstown games is definitely a no go.

Really?

My impression was that the Williamstown FC were more than happy with the broadcasting of Williamstown games.

Can't understand why the Supporters Group presented a Certificate of Appreciation to Stereo974 if the club wasn't happy with the broadcasts. I was present on the day the award was presented, and surely the club President and GM, who were also there, would have prevented this from happening if they weren't happy.

Sounds like another rumour to me.

Dale61 · Post by **Dale61** » Mon Feb 23, 2004 2:53 pm

My apologies. I misread the press release on the Stereo974 website. It mentions they have been broadcasting football for 5 years but only started VFL last year.

Tank36 · Post by **Tank36** » Mon Feb 23, 2004 3:10 pm

Sorry Dale I should have explained it better. The officials (more social committee at Willamstown) said that they were happy with the station and wanted them to continue with the live calling. I think they had built a very good affiliation with the football club. What i understand it was purely the stations decision to stop.

I just had a look at 974's Website and they still have all the photos of the commentary team so you would think if they had decided to stop they would have got rid of all that stuff.

Dale61 · Post by **Dale61** » Mon Feb 23, 2004 4:03 pm

Apologies again, but it seems as though Pres Ted was correct. Have just received an email from a very reliable source (who wishes to remain nameless) informing me of the following (have cut and pasted the relevant details):
'The station is definitely not covering VFL live. It was a radio management decision not a club decision. We have been given no firm reason for the pull out.'
'FActs are No stereo 974 football radio coverage in 2004.
Stereo 974 management decision not a club or VFL decision.'
'The Footy team are all not happy as are many of your listeners but sadly we all have no say.
Maybe Greg Swann and Eddie can put some pressure on the station?'

Note to moderators: With this info now official, please remove the Stereo974 logo from the top of the page.

President Ted Parker · Tue Feb 24, 2004 8:58 am

Dale when i rang i the station i spoke to te 'station manager'. Ron Boyd I think his name was.

If it has been purely been a station decision and nothing to do with the the club I think they (the station) owe the community som explanation for not continuing. Afterall it is a community radio station.

To pull the pin with no expalnation is simply not good enough.

Dale61 · Post by **Dale61** » Tue Feb 24, 2004 9:14 am

Going by the website, Stereo974 are instigating new programs all over the place. The Vietnamese community have now got a program, there are programs for 4WD enthusiasts (taking the slot of the VFL saturday morning show), a country-and-western midnight to 6am program, and who knows what else is being scheduled.

Ted, as you said, to pull the pin without an explanation is not a good way to get the communities support. Would be interested to know how many listeners they will now lose. I have removed the station from all my radios, as well as my favourites, and I have asked for the logo at the top of this page to be removed, but may have to PM a mod and ask again.

Remember, that it's not only the Williamstown FC supporters that lose, Werribee FC also misses out on coverage. A very broad demographic indeed.

President Ted Parker · Tue Feb 24, 2004 10:16 am

Enough said by me on the matter. If Country music, a trucking programme and vietnemese news has more interest than football then obviously I'm following the wrong hobby.

I might get myself a truck, a cowboy hat and head off to vietnam for a while.

Anyway thanks for the clarification Dale. Appreciate it.

Tank36 · Post by **Tank36** » Tue Feb 24, 2004 1:43 pm

That's bull**** right!

As far as I know Community radio stations are accountable to the people who keep them on air. The community. When the only answer you get is that it was managements decision to not call football then I believe that stinks of hypocrisy. On the one hand the station boasts of serving the community and continually tells us that VFL football is important to them. They recieve a certificate of appreciation from the Seagulls and what I am lead to belive is that The Williamstown football club also funded their trip to Launceston last year.

Next thing you know there is no consultation with the listeners of the station just a flimsy old excuse about managements decision to stop calling. I have also had a recent look at their website Dale and it wouldn't surprise me whether if that 4WD programme which has replaced the VFL show (I use to listen to the vfl regularly it was excellent) on Saturday mornings has pumped serious money into the station.

Seems to me it was a money decision. Not a decision based on what the community likes and wants. Which is what a community radio station represents.

A very poor decision on behalf of Stereo974. I'm with you Dale I have now removed the station from my radios as well.

Just out of interest Dale how did the Station's logo find its way onto The Williamstown factor?

Edited by bbmods

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Stereo 974 no longer

Stereo 974 no longer