Serving the southeast corridor of Perth since launching on Australia Day in 1998, 107.3 HFM has built a loyal following across the Shire of Serpentine-Jarrahdale and the Cities of Gosnells, Armadale and Canning. The station's programming reflects the diversity and spirit of the region, from a Croatian music and news show to a Writers Circle program featuring members from the local Gosnells and Armadale writing communities, alongside a locally focused magazine program and a strong music-led schedule.
HFM is no stranger to showing up for their community in person either, having hosted outside broadcasts at Anzac Day dawn services, Australia Day celebrations, agricultural shows, youth expos and school wellbeing events. But keeping that two-way connection alive between broadcasts was a challenge they knew they needed to solve.
Frank Scatchard, who has been involved with HFM since 2007 and now serves as vice chairperson, has seen the station's technology evolve firsthand. Their longest-running show, ROCKARIA, now in its 13th year, has been at the centre of that journey.
"Studiio has been a huge advancement as we now have regular messages from people that would be unlikely to call to chat."
The Challenge
For many years, a single phone line was HFM's only channel for listener contact. With just one announcer in the studio at any given time, simultaneously managing talk breaks, cueing music and keeping the show running, taking calls was easier said than done.
"For many years we only had a phone communication with our community, and with only one line in and nobody except the announcer to take calls, many were not taken due to being on air at the time, not wanting to take calls or not noticing them."
The result was a wall of missed opportunities. Listeners with requests, feedback, or quiz answers had no reliable way to get through, and presenters had no practical way to engage without breaking their flow. There was no messaging system in place at all.
"We didn't have a message system previously, but even if we did have a designated mobile phone, it is so much easier to glance at the Studiio panel on one of our monitor screens without having to pick up a gadget."
The Solution
The change came when a new member, Jason Jordan, joined HFM's technical team. Jason introduced the station to Studiio, seeing its potential to transform the way presenters and listeners interacted.
The setup process was smooth from day one, and when questions did arise, the Studiio team was quick to help.
"It's always been smooth, and if there were any issues or queries, the support was a massive highlight!"
The SMS feed quickly became the most-used feature, visible at a glance on a monitor screen in the studio. Presenters also took advantage of the weather panel and natural time display, handy tools that made on-air delivery that little bit easier. The station's email channel also found an unexpected audience, with local musicians using it to pitch their work.
As with any new tool, adoption took time. But the results spoke for themselves, and so did the people using it.
"Like anything, lots of people take time to accept new things, and it was a huge surprise when our most non-tech-savvy announcer eventually embraced it and even manages to send direct replies."
Results
Since introducing Studiio, HFM has seen a clear shift in how connected their listeners feel to the station. The real-time feedback loop that SMS messaging creates has opened up engagement that simply wasn't possible before.
"I think we just love to know that people are listening and interested. Receiving a message is icing on the cake."
Presenters can now take quiz answers, requests and shout-outs without missing a beat, and the ability to respond directly to listeners has added a personal touch that the old phone system never could.
"It has definitely enhanced our connection to the community, without a doubt!"
For a station that has always prided itself on being part of the local fabric, Studiio has become an essential part of the studio setup. For Frank and 107.3 HFM, the verdict is simple.
"If you want community engagement, online listener statistics, announcer benefits, a program guide... Studiio has it all and more, and can be formatted to suit your station's preferences. I honestly can't give enough praise and definitely would hate to lose it!"