Test & Mike
The Test & Mike Show is the Friday afternoon show of Australian radio network PBA-FM, alternating with the We Don't Exist show. It broadcasts to the Northern Suburbs of Adelaide, South Australia.
The Show
Only broadcasting to Adelaide, the Test & Mike show is hosted by Michael and 'TEST', two radio hosts who formed the show after discontinuing the Problem Children show, formerly broadcasting in the same timeslot.
The show is broadcast over 89.7 on the FM band from 5pm to 6pm Friday fortnights, and contains many segments including Obscure News, Listener Feedback and Topic Of The Week as well as many MusicAL segments in which the show focuses on varying genres of music.
The show rarely has guests and is very confined to its own hosts. Occasionally former members and staff join the show, but only on special occasions or promotions.
History
The Test & Mike show formed from a previous show in the timeslot, the Problem Children, following disagreements with the other hosts which caused the separation of the team. To maintain a full hour show with only two hosts proved to be difficult, especially since the team had relied on each other's services heavily prior to the division of the group. In their first segment of the first show, Michael announced to the listeners "that the show will have a broader range of music and topics, in doing so we will not let the show slide". Doubts were raised to the show's potential success after it became known that the name "Test & Mike" was unfinalised, with names such as "Test & The Tech" being aired. The shift in names suggested to some the show was temporary, or to some, unfinalised and not ready for air.
Eventually the name stuck, and the show began to set down foundations for the format and genres. Michael focused on current events and topics in discussion, and TEST took the obscure approach to the news. Music was selected from personal collections and preference for the first three weeks, after which the music began to vary in to other artists and genres. The first new format show went to air on February 9, 2007 as a tribute to Billy Thorpe.
The show has since followed the same guidelines set down since it's beginnings. On the most recent show plans were announced to set down new material and restructure the show, however the introduction of new alternating shows in the timeslot have left the show's changes delayed, most likely until PBA-FM relocates the station.
In March 2007 the team entered an agreement with the SPARK radio project to allow several new entrants on to the show and eventually in to their own timeslot. The new show replaced one episode of the Test & Mike show. Partner show We Don't Exist did the same.
Trivia
- Michael has made it clear on air several times he owes his on air style to Australian show Get This and the podcast This Week in Tech.
- The group has placed out at least one radio promo, aired only once during the 50th show as the Problem Children.