pbs 106.7fm

What pbs 106.7fm does

PBS 106.7FM, legally Progressive Broadcasting Service Cooperative Ltd., is a community radio station established in 1979 and based in Collingwood (Naarm/Melbourne), Australia. It broadcasts at 106.7FM across the Melbourne metropolitan area and supplements over-the-air transmission with global digital streaming through its website (pbsfm.org.au) and mobile applications for iOS and Android. The station's core product is curated music programming focused on under-represented genres and artists — including jazz, blues, rock, electronic, hip-hop, global, and roots — with flagship editorial properties such as Studio 5 Live (weekly in-studio live performance broadcasts) and the Wuigada First Nations music space co-developed with Kutcha Edwards. Content is produced by volunteer announcers supported by a small paid staff of 11–50 employees and is accompanied by physical (Waves magazine) and digital (weekly eNewsletter) member communications.

The business operates as a member-owned cooperative funded across four streams: individual membership subscriptions priced from $40 (Junior) to $2,000 (Friend for Life) including concession and Performer tiers; business memberships from $750 to $5,500 (Platinum Business with a 10-year commitment); one-time donations and sponsorships; and grants from the Victorian State Government (Community Support Fund) and the Australian federal government (Music Australia, Creative Australia). Members receive a PBS pack, weekly on-air acknowledgements at higher tiers, event access, and discounts at 100+ partner businesses. Distribution is multi-channel: FM broadcast, website streaming, mobile app, and YouTube (Studio 5 Live recordings), with live events and festivals (Leaps and Bounds, Radio Festival, NAIDOC Week, High Ground, Now or Never, Town Folk, Strawberry Fields) extending the brand into physical venues across Victoria.

Name

pbs 106.7fm

Legal name

Progressive Broadcasting Service Cooperative Ltd.

Website

https://www.pbsfm.org.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

PBS 106.7FM is a Melbourne-based community radio cooperative broadcasting at 106.7FM and online, serving music enthusiasts with curated programming that amplifies under-represented and local artists, supported by member subscriptions, sponsorships, and government arts funding.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Radio Broadcasting

NAICS

Radio Broadcasting Stations (51611), Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (5162)

SIC

Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)

akta.pro primary industry

Public/Community Local Stations (PBS Member Stations, Community Radio, LPFM) (MPABACAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community/Low-Power Nonprofit Radio (LPFM/Community Radio) (MPABADAE), Internet Radio & Streaming Broadcast Stations (Simulcast/Online-only) (MPAIAEAE)

Keywords

• Community radio broadcasting
• Music streaming service
• Membership programming
• Live music events
• Arts broadcasting

Headquarters

HQ city

Fitzroy

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Membership Subscriptions: Individual memberships ranging from $40 to $2,000 annually, including Junior, Proud, Passionate, Patron, Friend for a Decade, and Friend for Life tiers. Also includes Performer Memberships for musicians.
2. Business Memberships: Business memberships at $750 and Platinum Business at $5,500, providing promotional benefits and visibility for business supporters.
3. Donations: One-time donations accepted from supporters, with specific donation pages available on the website.
4. Sponsorships: Sponsorship opportunities available for businesses and organizations wanting to support the station.
5. Government Funding: Supported by Victorian State Government through Community Support Fund and Australian Government through Music Australia and Creative Australia.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

PBS 106.7FM is a community radio station broadcasting at 106.7FM in Melbourne on a cooperative, member-supported model. It amplifies under-represented music genres and supports the local music community through FM broadcasting, digital streaming, weekly live performance broadcasts (Studio 5 Live), a dedicated First Nations music platform (Wuigada), event programming (PBS Presents), and a tiered membership program with associated benefits including a member magazine (Waves).

Product overview

PBS 106.7FM is a community radio station operating as a single unified platform with integrated broadcasting services. The station operates multiple interconnected offerings including FM radio broadcasting, live streaming, Studio 5 Live performance broadcasts, Feature Sounds album showcases, the Wuigada First Nations music space, and a tiered membership program. These services are supported by the PBS Presents event series, PBS App, weekly eNewsletter, and Waves Magazine. The station focuses on amplifying under-represented music and supporting the local Melbourne music community.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Wuigada: A dedicated space on the PBS 106.7FM website where First Nations musicians can share and celebrate music made by First Nations musicians, developed in partnership with Kutcha Edwards. The name means 'to sing' in Mutti Mutti language.
• Studio 5 Live
• Waves

Products and services

• PBS FM Radio Broadcasting Community radio broadcast service transmitted at 106.7FM across the Melbourne metropolitan area, providing diverse music programming focused on under-represented genres for individual listeners and the local music community.
• Studio 5 Live

Quantifiable outcome

• Provides airplay and promotion for under-represented music genres
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.

• Port Fairy Folk FestivalmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 March 2027PBS proudly presents the Port Fairy Folk Festival, with the 50th anniversary celebration scheduled for March 2027.
• Carlton Audio VisualcoreTechnology or IntegrationEquipment and technical support provider for Studio 5 Live broadcast sessions, enabling professional live music recordings.
• Yarra City CouncilmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-presenter of Leaps and Bounds Festival, a ten-day winter music festival celebrating pubs, clubs, venues and bars in Yarra.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• 3RRR (Triple R): Melbourne-based community radio station broadcasting on 102.7FM with a similar member-supported, volunteer-driven model and a focus on independent and under-represented music, arts, and culture. Operates on a cooperative/association structure highly comparable to PBS.
• FBi Radio: Sydney community radio station (94.5FM) operating as a non-profit focused on independent and emerging music. Closely mirrors PBS's community-supported, volunteer-driven model with a similar commitment to local and under-represented artists.
• SYN Media: Melbourne-based community broadcaster producing youth-focused radio and multimedia content with volunteer presenters. Operates a similar non-commercial, community-supported model targeting local emerging talent and culture.
• JOY 94.9: Melbourne community radio station serving the LGBTQ+ community with volunteer-driven programming and member-supported funding. Comparable as a non-profit community broadcaster with tiered memberships and government/community funding support.

Regional players

• 4ZZZ: Brisbane-based community radio station (102.1FM) operating as a non-profit with volunteer programmers and member support. Comparable community-supported, independent-music-focused model serving a different Australian metropolitan market.
• RTRFM: Perth community radio station (92.1FM) operating as a non-profit with volunteer programmers, member subscriptions, and a focus on local and independent music. Comparable cooperative community-radio operating model in a different Australian market.
• Radio Adelaide: Adelaide community radio station broadcasting diverse music and spoken-word programming under a community-supported model. Comparable in scale, programming philosophy, and reliance on volunteers and government grants.

Broad incumbents

• ABC Radio: Australia's national public broadcaster, offering a portfolio of radio networks including music-focused services. Comparable as a public-service audio broadcaster with government funding, though at vastly greater scale and broader scope than PBS.
• Triple J: ABC-owned national youth music radio network focused on Australian and emerging artists, with strong live performance programming (e.g., Like a Version). Comparable in its commitment to under-represented and local music, but operates at national scale with full-time professional staff.

Others

• PBS (US): U.S. national public television network with an overlapping brand name ('Public Broadcasting Service'). Not directly comparable as an operating peer, but adjacent as a public-service broadcaster with similar member-supported funding concepts.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/pbsfm
• Facebookfacebook.com/pbsfm
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pbsfm

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about pbs 106.7fm