Triple S (callsign: 1SSS) was a community FM radio station in Canberra, on the frequency 103.9 MHz. The station was managed by Jim Paterson for the station's whole 18-year lifespan, beginning his appointment in 1985.[4][5]

Triple S (1SSS)
Frequency103.9 MHz
Programming
FormatEasy listening[1]
Horse racing[2]
Sports radio[2]
Ownership
OwnerJim Paterson[3][4]
History
First air date
4 November 1986; 38 years ago (1986-11-04)
Last air date
31 January 2003; 21 years ago (2003-01-31)
Former call signs
2SSS (1986–1993)
Technical information
ClassCommunity radio

History

edit

It began broadcasting on 4 November 1986, as 2SSS, mainly broadcasting horse racing programs.[6] The station began test transmissions on 28 October 1986.[7] The station was Australia's first public sports radio station, and originally also had an easy listening music format when not broadcasting sport programming.[1] The station changed callsign to 1SSS on 13 September 1993, in line with the Australian Broadcasting Authority's then-new voluntary code for Australian Capital Territory (Canberra) radio stations which were now regarded as being in their own state. The station was informed by the ABA about the call sign change.[8] The station was branded as Triple S between 1993[9] and 2003.[4]

The station ceased broadcasting horse racing programs on 30 June 2002, after ACTTAB made a deal with Melbourne horse racing and sports station Sport 927.[2] At the time, Triple S planned to survive as a sports radio station.[2][10] The station broadcast the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly's Question time in 2003,[3] however the station ceased broadcasting later that year on 31 January 2003.[4] Its frequency was then used by ABC NewsRadio.[11][12]

Notable personalities

edit

Many notable personalities worked at Triple S including:[4][5]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c Hobson, Karen (19 January 1987). "2SSS FM off and racing". The Canberra Times. Vol. 61, no. 18, 735. Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. p. 19. Retrieved 31 October 2023 – via National Library of Australia. 2SSS is Australia's first sports public station, which means that about two-thirds of air time is sports oriented. Program coordinator Bill Brasscll said this would probably increase to three-quarters this year. An easy-listening music format fills the remaining time. One of the volunteers will be Rosemary Church, who has a music program, Church on Sunday, from 9am to midday. Church said her initial interest had been in working on the news service.
  2. ^ a b c d Thomson, Geoff (30 June 2002). "Melbourne radio station ready to race with ACTTAB money". The Canberra Times. Canberra, Australian Capital Territory: Rural Press. p. 73. ProQuest 1016109508. Radio 2SSS-FM will broadcast racing for the last time today. It then hopes to survive as a sports broadcaster. ... 'The ACTTAB board made a commercial decision that it had value in working with 927 and we will be on air 365 days of the year. We will hold regular discussions with the three codes to provide us with information and the TAB will be the central clearing house for that.'
  3. ^ a b "Assembly on air". The Canberra Times. Canberra, Australian Capital Territory: Rural Press. 21 November 2002. p. 23. ProQuest 1016079419. Canberra radio station 2SSS plans to begin broadcasting the Legislative Assembly's Question Time from next year. Station manager Jim Paterson said yesterday 2SSS had thought this would provide greater understanding of what was happening in the territory and be a community service.
  4. ^ a b c d e f "Final siren for Triple S FM ?". radioinfo Australia. 20 February 2003. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  5. ^ a b c Giesecke, Terry (24 February 2003). "Final siren for Triple S". Google Groups. Archived from the original on 23 March 2024. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  6. ^ "2SSS-FM on the air". The Canberra Times. Vol. 61, no. 18, 661. Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. 4 November 1986. p. 21. Retrieved 31 October 2023 – via National Library of Australia. Canberra's newest radio station, 2SSS-FM, will officially begin broadcasting today.
  7. ^ "Sport FM testing". The Canberra Times. Vol. 61, no. 18, 650. Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. 24 October 1986. p. 20. Retrieved 31 October 2023 – via National Library of Australia. The tests, on 103.9MHz, should first be heard between 3pm and 7pm on Tuesday and regular broadcasts should be operating in time for the Melbourne Cup.
  8. ^ Wallace, Mark (20 September 1993). "A disaster for KIX, triumph for the ABC". High Frequency. The Canberra Times. Vol. 68, no. 21, 342. Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. p. 32. Retrieved 31 October 2023 – via National Library of Australia. INCIDENTALLY, 2SSS-FM is now correctly known as 1SSS-FM in line with the Australian Broadcasting Authority's new voluntary code for ACT radio stations which are now regarded as being in a state of their own. SSS was informed by the ABA last week that it was the first ACT station to adopt the new 1 prefix to its call sign.
  9. ^ Swinnerton, Russ (23 July 1993). "Motoring Riders deserve better coverage". The Canberra Times. Vol. 67, no. 21, 283. Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. p. 22. Retrieved 23 March 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. ^ Thomson, Geoff (21 June 2002). "Sport stays as race broadcasts cease". The Canberra Times. Canberra, Australian Capital Territory: Rural Press. p. 27. ProQuest 1016147364. Radio station 2SSS-FM will continue broadcasting from the beginning of July but only as a sports station, with racing coverage to cease at the end of June.
  11. ^ "Frequency changes for Canberra and Cooma regions". radioinfo Australia. 13 November 2003. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  12. ^ Cassidy, Frank (13 November 2003). "ABC Newsradio goes to FM band". The Canberra Times. Canberra. Australian Capital Territory: Rural Press. p. 8. Archived from the original on 21 April 2024. Retrieved 21 April 2024 – via NewsBank.
  13. ^ "Outgoing ABC News boss reflects on achievements, pressure from powerful people and the future of newsgathering". ABC Backstory. ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 28 November 2021. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  14. ^ "ABC news director Gaven Morris to leave the public broadcaster". Mediaweek. 7 October 2021. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  15. ^ "Former ABC director of news Gaven Morris to take over as Bastion Transform CEO". Mediaweek. 13 December 2021. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  16. ^ Raffacle, Garry (19 March 1990). "2SSS-FM's 'D Mix' is given de flick". Raffaele on Radio. The Canberra Times. Vol. 64, no. 20, 063. Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. p. 28. Retrieved 23 March 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  17. ^ Pryor, Sally (1 February 2018). "2CC presenter Chris Coleman is leaving radio after 32 years". The Canberra Times. Canberra, Australian Capital Territory: Fairfax Media. p. 2. ProQuest 1992876411. Archived from the original on 21 April 2024. Retrieved 21 April 2024. That was 32 years ago, when Coleman, pictured, was a "callow teenager", doing his first radio show on Canberra's old sports and racing station, SSS.