ABC Upper Hunter
Encyclopedia
ABC Upper Hunter is an Australian radio station
. It is the Upper Hunter
service of the ABC Local Radio
network, and serves Muswellbrook and surrounding areas.
's 2NC (now 1233 ABC Newcastle
) in 1964. While there was some local information on the station, the reporter responsible was based in Newcastle. It wasn't until 1990 when a local office of the ABC was established in the Upper Hunter, basing itself in Market Lane Muswellbrook. Mike Pritchard joined the broadcaster from the Scone Advocate newspaper, and has been the station's rural reporter ever since, even acting as the lone employee in the region on occasion. In 1997, the station moved to its current facilities in Brook Street.
Throughout 2009, the station's programming went on hiatus while the studios were upgraded with digital equipment. Rural programming came from ABC New England North West
, while local news and other programming continued to originate from ABC Newcastle. Regular programming resumed mid-year once the upgrade was complete.
The main AM signal, with the callsign 2UH (as in Upper Hunter), operates on 1044 kHz, and reaches most of the Upper Hunter. This signal is transmitted from the Broadcast Australia site on Sandy Creek Road just outside Muswellbrook.
The station relays its programs on the FM band from three transmitter sites, all using the callsign 2HVR (as in Hunter Valley Radio).
Two rural reports are produced, one for the Lower Hunter and transmitted on the Radio National frequency at 5.30am weekday mornings and infrequently podcast online. The second is an Upper Hunter-focused report, and airs at 6.35am on ABC Upper Hunter's local frequencies following a news bulletin from the Muswellbrook studios.
A local breakfast program follows at 7.00am with another news bulletin transmitted at 7.30am before crossing to the network for the national news and AM
.
The station opts out of lunchtime programming from 1233 ABC Newcastle to carry The Country Hour at 12.00pm, followed by The World Today
on a one-hour delay at 1.00pm. A Hunter-based news bulletin is aired during the Country Hour at 12.30pm from the Newcastle studios. This is simulcast on the Newcastle Radio National frequency.
Outside of these times, the station carries ABC Newcastle and national programming, including Newcastle Knights
and Newcastle Jets games, provided other sports coverage (such as cricket
) does not force local sports coverage onto the Newcastle ABC NewsRadio
frequency (incidentally, the former frequency of fellow Muswellbrook station 2NM
).
Radio National program Late Night Live
often originates from these studios, as presenter Phillip Adams
and his partner Patrice Newell
own an organic farm in the area.
In mid-2009, the station launched a new hour long program called Upper Hunter Weekend, which previews events in the Upper Hunter for the coming weekend. It airs Friday mornings at 11am, and is hosted by Silas Moss and Niav Owens.
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
. It is the Upper Hunter
Upper Hunter
The Upper Hunter Shire is a Local Government Area in the Hunter Region of New South Wales, Australia. It was formed in May 2004 from Scone Shire and parts of Murrurundi and Merriwa shires. The shire council's vision is "A Quality Rural Lifestyle - in a caring and thriving community"...
service of the ABC Local Radio
ABC Local Radio
ABC Local Radio is a network of publicly owned radio stations in Australia, operated by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.ABC Local Radio stations broadcast across the continent using terrestrial transmitters and satellites...
network, and serves Muswellbrook and surrounding areas.
History
ABC Upper Hunter commenced as a local relay of NewcastleNewcastle, New South Wales
The Newcastle metropolitan area is the second most populated area in the Australian state of New South Wales and includes most of the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie Local Government Areas...
's 2NC (now 1233 ABC Newcastle
1233 ABC Newcastle
1233 ABC Newcastle is an Australian radio station. It is the Newcastle station of the ABC local radio network, and is licensed to, and serving Newcastle and surrounding areas. It operates on the AM band at 1233 kilohertz...
) in 1964. While there was some local information on the station, the reporter responsible was based in Newcastle. It wasn't until 1990 when a local office of the ABC was established in the Upper Hunter, basing itself in Market Lane Muswellbrook. Mike Pritchard joined the broadcaster from the Scone Advocate newspaper, and has been the station's rural reporter ever since, even acting as the lone employee in the region on occasion. In 1997, the station moved to its current facilities in Brook Street.
Throughout 2009, the station's programming went on hiatus while the studios were upgraded with digital equipment. Rural programming came from ABC New England North West
ABC New England North West
ABC New England North West is an ABC Local Radio station based in Tamworth and broadcasting to the regions of New England, the Northern Tablelands and North West Slopes in New South Wales...
, while local news and other programming continued to originate from ABC Newcastle. Regular programming resumed mid-year once the upgrade was complete.
Frequencies
ABC Upper Hunter transmits on both the AM and FM bands from four transmitter sites in the Upper Hunter.The main AM signal, with the callsign 2UH (as in Upper Hunter), operates on 1044 kHz, and reaches most of the Upper Hunter. This signal is transmitted from the Broadcast Australia site on Sandy Creek Road just outside Muswellbrook.
The station relays its programs on the FM band from three transmitter sites, all using the callsign 2HVR (as in Hunter Valley Radio).
| FM Frequency | Transmitter Site | Area Served |
|---|---|---|
| 105.7 mHz | Rossgole Lookout, Aberdeen | Muswellbrook, Scone Scone, New South Wales Scone is a town in the Upper Hunter Shire in the Hunter Valley region of New South Wales, Australia. At the 2006 census, Scone had a population of 4,624 people. It is located on the New England Highway north of Muswellbrook about 270 kilometres north of Sydney, and is part of the Hunter and Upper... , Aberdeen Aberdeen, New South Wales Aberdeen is a small town in the upper Hunter Valley region of New South Wales, Australia, in Upper Hunter Shire. It is located about 12 kilometres north of Muswellbrook on the New England Highway. Aberdeen is named after Aberdeen, Scotland. At the 2006 census, Aberdeen had a population of... and Singleton Singleton, New South Wales -Industry & Commerce:Major industries near Singleton include coal mining, energy generation, light industry, vineyards, horse breeding and cattle production. Dairying was once a mainstay in the area, but has declined.... |
| 101.9 mHz | Banderra Downs, Merriwa | Merriwa Merriwa Merriwa may refer to:* Merriwa, Western Australia* Merriwa, New South Wales... |
| 96.9 mHz | Mt Helen, Murrurundi | Murrurundi |
Programming
The station produces local programming for both its local frequencies and for Newcastle's ABC Radio National frequency.Two rural reports are produced, one for the Lower Hunter and transmitted on the Radio National frequency at 5.30am weekday mornings and infrequently podcast online. The second is an Upper Hunter-focused report, and airs at 6.35am on ABC Upper Hunter's local frequencies following a news bulletin from the Muswellbrook studios.
A local breakfast program follows at 7.00am with another news bulletin transmitted at 7.30am before crossing to the network for the national news and AM
AM (ABC Radio)
AM, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's flagship current-affairs radio program, is one of Australia's longest-running productions. Its tagline is Ensure you are informed.-History and timeslots:...
.
The station opts out of lunchtime programming from 1233 ABC Newcastle to carry The Country Hour at 12.00pm, followed by The World Today
The World Today
BBC World News is the standard news bulletin featuring the latest international news broadcast throughout most of the day on BBC World News. Some editions also feature brief business and sport reports as well...
on a one-hour delay at 1.00pm. A Hunter-based news bulletin is aired during the Country Hour at 12.30pm from the Newcastle studios. This is simulcast on the Newcastle Radio National frequency.
Outside of these times, the station carries ABC Newcastle and national programming, including Newcastle Knights
Newcastle Knights
The Newcastle Knights are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Newcastle, New South Wales. They compete in Australasia's premier rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
and Newcastle Jets games, provided other sports coverage (such as cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
) does not force local sports coverage onto the Newcastle ABC NewsRadio
ABC NewsRadio
ABC NewsRadio is an Australian Broadcasting Corporation radio service devoted to delivering live and 24-hour news updates and information. The service is available on a number of broadcasts right around Australia, including AM/FM radio, some pay-TV platforms and online via the Internet.Originally...
frequency (incidentally, the former frequency of fellow Muswellbrook station 2NM
2NM
2NM is a local radio station in the Upper Hunter Valley of New South Wales, Australia. It is based in Muswellbrook and serves listeners in Muswellbrook, Singleton, Scone, Aberdeen, Merriwa, Murrurundi and surrounding areas....
).
Radio National program Late Night Live
Late Night Live
Late Night Live is an Australian radio program broadcast by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's Radio National as well as on Radio Australia shortwave radio and podcast and streamed over the World Wide Web....
often originates from these studios, as presenter Phillip Adams
Phillip Adams
Phillip Andrew Hedley Adams, AO is an Australian broadcaster, film producer, writer, social commentator, satirist and left-wing pundit. He currently hosts a radio program, Late Night Live, four nights a week on the ABC, and he also writes a weekly column for the News Limited-owned newspaper, The...
and his partner Patrice Newell
Patrice Newell
Patrice Lesley Newell is a former model, TV presenter, turned author, alternative lifestyle advocate and biodynamic farmer...
own an organic farm in the area.
In mid-2009, the station launched a new hour long program called Upper Hunter Weekend, which previews events in the Upper Hunter for the coming weekend. It airs Friday mornings at 11am, and is hosted by Silas Moss and Niav Owens.
On-Air Staff
- Mike Pritchard - Hunter Rural and Resources Report and breakfast presenter.