Triple M Newcastle

Last updated

Triple M Newcastle
City Newcastle, New South Wales
Broadcast areaHunter Valley, Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Central Coast
Frequency 102.9MHz
Branding102.9 Triple M Newcastle
Programming
Format Mainstream Rock
Network Triple M Network
Ownership
Owner Southern Cross Austereo (Radio Newcastle Pty. Ltd.)
History
First air date
August 1, 1931 (1931-08-01)
Former call signs
2KO (1931–1992)
Former frequencies
1415 kHz (1931–1935)
1410 kHz (1935–1978)
1413 kHz (1978–1992)
Call sign meaning
2K KOtara from former call sign 2KO
Technical information
ERP 20,000 watts
Links
Website

102.9 Triple M Newcastle (call sign: 2KKO) is an Australian radio station, licensed to, and serving Newcastle and surrounds. It broadcasts at 102.9 megahertz on the FM band from its studios in Newcastle. It is owned by Southern Cross Austereo and Its sister station is hit106.9.

Contents

History

The station commenced operations on 1 August 1931 as 2KO, based in the Newcastle suburb of KOtara, hence the call-sign. [1] Founded by Allen Fairhall (later Sir Allen Fairhall) 2KO was licensed to The Newcastle Broadcasting Company. The station operated on 1415 kHz [2] with a transmission strength of 25 watts. The station launched from the backyard of a resident's home, with the licensee's dining room being the only studio the station had at the time. Programs ran from 7 to 10 p.m., later moving into daytime programming. Ten minutes of ad time was sold during the week, selling around 15 pounds ($30 today) of revenue for the station. Chief Engineer was K. N. Greenhalgh AMIRE. Studio & Production Manager was 2KO Chief Announcer Harold Pickhover. Advertising & Merchandising Manager was Keith F. Winser F.O.A.

Two years later in 1933, the station moved its AM transmitter to Sandgate, and was operated from several locations including 72 Hunter Street, Newcastle until January 1937, when new studios and offices in the heart of Newcastle in the CML Building at 110 Hunter Street. In its time on the AM band, the station had its power increased twice, first to 2,000 watts, and then to 5,000 watts, using a directional aerial system.

In the days before television, peak listening time was around 8pm, but with television arriving in the country in the late 1950s, the station had to change formats to survive the new medium. This was even more the case when 2KO's owners at the time, United Broadcasting Company (Australia) (who also owned Sydney's 2UE), itself owned by the local Lamb family, was part of the consortium that brought television to Newcastle, launching NBN Television on channel 3 in 1962.

These changes led to 2KO becoming a Top 40 music radio station. This took the audience by storm, and helped re-established radio as the personal medium.

Until 1978 there was a 10 kHz gap between radio stations. However, the Geneva Frequency Plan of 1975 changed this to a 9 kHz gap, thus allowing more stations on the AM band. Therefore, on 23 November 1978, most Australian stations changed their frequencies and 2K0 went from 1410 kHz to 1413 kHz.

In May 1988, 2KO moved to facilities at 252 Pacific Highway Charlestown. KOFM / NXFM use MAESTRO for music play out & Automation after network programs until live assist.

On 12 October 1992, 2KO converted to the FM band, changing its callsign to 2KKO, and branding itself as KOFM 102.9. Four years later, on 22 January 1996, the parent company of KOFM (and of NXFM), Radio Newcastle Pty. Ltd., was purchased by Austereo. A few more years later, Austereo sold 50% to RG Capital Radio Network, whose stake in the station then transferred in 2004 to Macquarie Regional RadioWorks, upon the purchase of RG Capital's stations. In April 2011 Southern Cross Media bought out Austereo for $714 million giving Southern Cross Media full ownership of KOFM.

In late June 2017, the station again moved but this time to state of the art facilities in 18 Honeysuckle Drive.

On 9 November 2018, KOFM was renamed to 102.9 Triple M Newcastle. [3] [4]

Presenters

On air line-up

Monday-Friday

Weekends

News

Rugby League coverage

Following Broadcast Operations Group's decision not to carry the Continuous Call Team from 2GB in Sydney, and therefore, ruling that rival 2HD could not carry Newcastle Knights games, KOFM picked up the program (and rights to Knights games), beginning 2006. They also poached long time 2HD commentator Gary Harley to continue his role as commentator on Knights games until dismissal early 2014. They do not carry 2GB's coverage anymore due to 2MMM's Successful bid for NRL Broadcast rights (but will broadcast Knights games with local content).

Former presenters

Related Research Articles

Austereo

Austereo was an Australian mass media company based in Melbourne. It was founded in 1980 by Paul Thompson, and operated 16 radio stations in metropolitan and regional Australia under the Today Network and Triple M brands. In 2011, the company's majority shareholder Village Roadshow sold its shareholding to Southern Cross Media Group, which began trading as Southern Cross Austereo from 21 July.

B105 is a commercial FM radio station broadcasting in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, on a frequency of 105.3 MHz, and is part of Southern Cross Austereo's Hit Network. The station has undergone numerous branding changes over the years; it was branded as B105 following its conversion from AM to FM. This lasted until a co-branding as Hit 105.3 B105, then as Hit B105 and finally back to B105 in July 2020.

2GB Radio station in Sydney, Australia

2GB is a commercial radio station in Sydney, Australia broadcasting on 873 kHz, AM. In 2010, 2GB held 14.7% of the total radio ratings share, making it the one of the most widely listened-to radio stations in Sydney.

2NM is a local radio station in the Upper Hunter Valley of New South Wales, Australia. It is based in Muswellbrook and serves listeners in Muswellbrook, Singleton, Scone, Aberdeen, Merriwa, Murrurundi and surrounding areas.

2HD Radio station in Newcastle, Australia

2HD is an Australian radio station in New South Wales. Owned and operated as part of the Super Radio Network of stations, it currently broadcasts a news talk and classic hits format to Newcastle, New South Wales and the surrounding Hunter region. First broadcast on 27 January 1925, it was established by founder Harry Douglas - from which the station derives its name - and is based in studios in Sandgate alongside sister station New FM.

hit106.9 Newcastle Radio station in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia

hit106.9 is a commercial FM radio station broadcasting in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, on a frequency of 106.9 MHz, and is part of Southern Cross Austereo's Hit Network. Triple M is a sister station sharing the same building.

ABC Upper Hunter is an Australian radio station. It is the Upper Hunter service of the ABC Local Radio network, and serves Muswellbrook and surrounding areas.

Southern Cross Austereo

Southern Cross Media Group Limited, doing business as Southern Cross Austereo, is an Australian media company which operates broadcast radio and television stations. It is the largest radio broadcaster in Australia, operating 86 radio stations, and has a reach into every state and territory.

Ugly Phil O'Neil is a radio DJ/announcer. He was born in the United Kingdom, and lived the majority of his life in Australia. Before adopting the on-air name of Ugly Phil he was known on-air as Phil O'Neil. Phil has hosted the Hot30 Countdown, Drive at Nova 969, and Evenings at Triple M several times.

Triple M Perth is a commercial radio station owned and operated by Southern Cross Austereo as part of the Triple M network. The station is broadcast to Perth, Western Australia from studios in Subiaco.

2CC Radio station in Canberra, Australia

2CC is a commercial radio station on the AM band in Canberra, Australia. It began broadcasting on 1210 kHz in 1975 changing to 1206 kHz in 1978. It is jointly owned by Capital Radio Network and Grant Broadcasters.

Triple M Melbourne is a radio station broadcasting in Melbourne, Victoria. Its target demographic is the 18-54 age group. Triple M Melbourne is part of Southern Cross Austereo's Triple M Network and broadcasts on the 105.1 MHz frequency.

Allen Fairhall Australian politician

Sir Allen Fairhall KBE FRSA was an Australian politician who served in the House of Representatives from 1949 to 1969, representing the Liberal Party. He was a government minister under four prime ministers, most notably as Minister for Defence from 1966 to 1969.

Triple M Riverina Radio station in New South Wales, Australia

Triple M Riverina is an Australian radio station which transmits on 1152 kHz on the AM band. It is licensed to the city of Wagga Wagga, New South Wales. The station is the first radio station to have a radio receiver built in regional New South Wales and was originally owned by a husband and wife team, the late Eric and Nan Roberts, who were both formerly school teachers in Narrandera. It officially commenced broadcasts from the former Hardys' Building in Fitzmaurice Street overlooking the Wollundry Lagoon, broadcasting on the Oura Road Transmitter site with 2,000 watts on 29 June 1932 and operated between 6.00 am and 11.00 pm. In 1995 2WZD (FM93) began broadcasting.

5MMM is a radio station broadcasting in Adelaide, Australia. Its target demographic is the 30-54 age group. Triple M Adelaide is part of Southern Cross Austereo's Triple M Network and broadcasts on the 104.7 MHz frequency.

Triple M Sydney is a radio station broadcasting in Sydney, Australia. Triple M Sydney is part of Southern Cross Austereo's Triple M network and broadcasts on the 104.9 MHz frequency.

Triple M Townsville Adult contemporary radio station in Townsville, Queensland

102.3 Triple M is an Australian radio station in Queensland. Owned and operated as part of Southern Cross Austereo's Triple M network, it broadcasts an adult contemporary format to Townsville, Queensland. First broadcast in 1931 on 1170 kHz AM, later 780 kHz, then became 774 kHz in the 1978 shakeup when all AM transmitters were shuffled into the 9 kHz spacing regime. In 1998 the station transferred to the FM band, under ownership of dmg Regional Radio – later sold to Macquarie Regional RadioWorks and Southern Cross Media Group. The station broadcasts all North Queensland Cowboys NRL matches, and has previously networked music programming to the regional LocalWorks network.

Central Queensland's Triple M is a commercial radio station broadcasting from Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia. It is currently owned by Southern Cross Austereo and broadcasts an Adult Contemporary (AC) format. It features both locally produced content & nationally syndicated content. They have two repeaters, one at Gladstone (95.1FM) & Mount Murchison (101.1FM). It was previously known as '101.5/95.1 Sea FM' until it was rebranded as Triple M in December 2016, alongside many other Southern Cross Austereo stations. It is a part of the Triple M - Greatest Hits network.

Monday Night Football on Triple M broadcasts each Monday night NRL game, ever since its most recent inception in 2007.

References

  1. "Additional Newcastle Station". The Sydney Morning Herald . 5 August 1931. p. 5. Retrieved 26 April 2010.
  2. "New Broadcasting Station". The Newcastle Sun . No. 4257. New South Wales, Australia. 1 August 1931. p. 2. Retrieved 30 October 2017 via National Library of Australia.
  3. Carr, Matt (6 August 2018). "KOFM name to go under rebranding for Newcastle radio station". Newcastle Herald. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
  4. "KOFM To Become Triple M Newcastle". Triple M. 6 August 2018. Retrieved 9 November 2018.