Northside Radio’s Story
Northside Broadcasting Co-operative (2NSB) is a community radio station based in Chatswood, Sydney. It operates on the FM99.3 frequency and is referred to as the North Shore’s FM99.3 on-air and for business purposes. From January 2010 the station began restructuring its programs and music content to reflect the expressed wishes of the North Shore community. This was confirmed during a 2011 survey of listeners, supporters and subscribers, who asked for more music they couldn’t hear anywhere else, music that was not played on other radio stations and more local news, views and matters of local interest. In 2018 FM99.3 celebrated its 35th anniversary.
The station began broadcasting in May 1983 from a property in Orchard Road, Chatswood, transmitting to the North Shore – an area that covers the Municipalities of Willoughby, Lane Cove, North Sydney, Mosman and Ku-ring-gai. The station was originally broadcasting on FM91.5. Following a move to the FM99.3 frequency in 2003, the station was rebranded Rhythm & Jazz, encompassing a range of genres from traditional jazz to smooth jazz, funk, soul, blues and world music. The station now serves the whole of the North Shore community with a mix of music best described as ‘adult contemporary’, with a wide range of news, views, information and just good fun.
The station is funded by listener donations and sponsorship from businesses across Sydney’s North Shore and greater Sydney area. It runs as a cooperative, managed by a board of seven directors. Each director serves up to three years in office, with three directors elected at each annual general meeting (November). There are as many as 120 volunteers who donate their personal time to keep the radio station running through activities such as on-air presenting, technical support, program production, bookkeeping, general administration and even cleaning. There is a permanent station manager and several commission-based sales staff.
