In a statement last week, Ian Williams, Marketing Manager of the newly named Zinc FM was quoted as saying: “Zinc FM is not a Noosa radio station but a Noosa-based station with a very wide reach throughout the Sunshine and Cooloola Coast region”.

In reply Mike Toone, General Manager of Sea Fm and Mix Fm has pointed out to radioinfo: “Despite the coming name change from Heat to Zinc FM, the station is, and always will be, a Gympie licensed radio station. Zinc FM will continue to be required to serve the Gympie licence area.”

“Our understanding is that Zinc FM will broadcast primarily from studios in Maroochydore. Given this, it is unclear how Zinc Fm can call itself a ‘Noosa-based’ station.”

“As the broadcast pattern and transmission strength of the station will remain unchanged, the primary listening audience for the Zinc FM service will continue to be the Gympie region.”

“It simply cannot be suggested that Zinc FM is a new radio service for the entire Sunshine Coast”.

“The three real Sunshine Coast commercial radio stations are
91.9 SEA FM (Number One all people 10+)*
92.7 MIX FM (Number Two all people 10+)*
91.1 HOT FM (Number Three all people 10+)*”

*Source Nielsen Media Research, Sunshine Coast Radio Survey, 2005

Heat becomes Zinc this Wednesday
.