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* Breakfast with [[Alan Jones (radio broadcaster)|Alan Jones]]
* Breakfast with [[Alan Jones (radio broadcaster)|Alan Jones]]
* Mornings with [[Ray Hadley]]
* Mornings with [[Ray Hadley]]
* Afternoons with Chris Smith
* Afternoons with [[Chris Smith (broadcaster)|Chris Smith]]
* Sydney Live with [[Ben Fordham]]
* Sydney Live with [[Ben Fordham]]
* Money News with [[Ross Greenwood (journalist)|Ross Greenwood]]
* Money News with [[Ross Greenwood (journalist)|Ross Greenwood]]

Revision as of 23:40, 3 November 2012

2GB
File:2GB (AM Radio Station) logo.jpg
  • Sydney, Australia
Broadcast areaSydney, Australia
Frequency950 kHz AM (1926–1935)
870 kHz AM (1935–1978)
873 kHz AM (1978–)
Programming
Formattalkback radio station
AffiliationsMTR 1377
Ownership
Owner
2CH
History
First air date
23 August 1926
Links
Webcast[1]
Website2gb.com.au

2GB is a commercial radio station in Sydney, Australia broadcasting on 873 kHz, AM. It is Australia's most popular talk-back radio station, and is the number one station in Sydney.[1]

History

The station commenced broadcasting in August 1926.[2] The operator, Theosophical Broadcasting Station Pty Ltd, owned by interests associated with the local branch of Theosophical Society Adyar, was granted a radio broadcasting licence for the Sydney, area.[3]

In 1933, 2GB became the first Australian station to play transcription records, and had the world's largest transcribed record library at the time.[4]

In 1936 the controlling interest in the station was purchased by Denison Estates Ltd. A new board of directors was appointed under chairman Sir Hugh Denison and included Frederick Daniell and A. E. Bennett, who continued as Station Manager.[5]

In what radio historian Richard Lane termed "The Golden Age of Australian Radio Drama", Denison and his media adviser Daniell inaugurated the B.S.A. Players (for Broadcasting Service Association), renamed Macquarie Players in 1938. Apart from locally-written and produced serials such as Dolly and Dan and Doctor Mac, they presented a full-length drama on Sunday afternoons. Writers included John E. C. Appleton, Lynn Foster, E. Mason Wood, William L. Power (who dramatised Helen de Guerry Simpson's Boomerang,[6] a series on "Famous Escapes",[7] and Tales Told to Peter and Pam, a very popular children's series[8]), E. V. Timms and Ken Pawley. Actors included James Raglan, Lou Vernon, Peter Finch, Betty Suttor and Harry Dearth.[9]

In February 1938, the station launched the Macquarie Radio Network, in competition with the Major Network, started by fellow Sydney station 2UE.[4]

In 1940, the station became the largest producer of radio drama programs in the Southern Hemisphere.[4] During World War II, 2GB provided transcription records to the Australian Army's network of radio stations in Papua New Guinea and the Pacific Islands.[4]

On 27 August 1955, station announcer Ted Harris[disambiguation needed], aided by American Ted Schroeder, became the first man to give a direct ball-by-ball description of the Davis Cup from Forest Hills to Australia.[10] Two years later, 2GB became the first Australian station to air news bulletins on the hour, every hour during its broadcast day.[4]

Prior to 1964, the controlling interest (45%) was held by Broadcasting Associates Pty Ltd., with 14% owned by the John Fairfax group of companies, and the balance owned by various smaller shareholders. Broadcasting Associates was owned by A.T.V. (Australia) Pty. Ltd., the Australian subsidiary of ITV company Associated Television.[11] In 1964, Fairfax purchased ATV's Australian assets, including the 45% share in 2GB.[11]

Although the ownership of the station has subsequently passed to strictly commercial interests, the society was broadcasting on the station as late as 1975.[12]

2GB currently has a transmission tower on Wentworth Point at Homebush Bay. Its location is visible via the Ryde Bridge, and also via the train line to Rhodes and Concord train stations.

In October 2012, following the Alan Jones shame controversy, 2GB suspended advertising on the Alan Jones show.[13]

Callsign and frequency

The number 2 of the callsign refers to the state of New South Wales which also has postcodes starting with 2. The two letters GB indicate an AM station, and were chosen to honour the Italian philosopher Giordano Bruno[14] who was much admired by Theosophists. Its original frequency allocation was 950kHz and moved to 870 kHz in 1935[15] then to 873 in November 1978 when channel separation was reduced from 10kHz to 9 kHz.

Weekday presenters

Weekend presenters

Fill-in presenters

Macquarie Radio Network

Former presenters

References

  1. ^ Major players maintain leading shares in second radio ratings survey of 2010
  2. ^ "New Station Opened". The Sydney Morning Herald. 24 August 1926. p. 10. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
  3. ^ Roe, J.I. (2006). "Arundale, George Sydney (1878–1945)". Australian Dictionary of Biography, Online Edition,. Australian National University. Retrieved 12 January 2009. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
  4. ^ a b c d e http://radioyesteryear.org.au/timelines.htm
  5. ^ "STATION 2GB. Sale of Controlling Interest". The Sydney Morning Herald. 13 November 1936. p. 11. Retrieved 26 April 2010.
  6. ^ "Famous Novel Dramatised for Radio". The Australian Women's Weekly (1933–1982). 1933–1982: National Library of Australia. 21 August 1937. p. 37. Retrieved 3 May 2012.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  7. ^ "Famous "Escape" Stories to Be Radio Plays". The Australian Women's Weekly (1933–1982). 1933–1982: National Library of Australia. 8 January 1938. p. 30. Retrieved 3 May 2012.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  8. ^ "Success of William Power". The Australian Women's Weekly (1933–1982). 1933–1982: National Library of Australia. 23 January 1937. p. 24. Retrieved 3 May 2012.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  9. ^ Lane, Richard The Golden Age of Australian Radio Drama Melbourne University Press 1994 ISBN 0-522-84556-8
  10. ^ http://www.commercialradio.com.au/index.cfm?page_id=1009
  11. ^ a b http://www.takeovers.gov.au/content/Resources/cslrc/cslrc_discussion_paper_no_7.aspx
  12. ^ "Christmas Universal". Theosophical Society in Tasmania. 21 December 1975. Retrieved 12 January 2009. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  13. ^ "2GB drop all advertising on Jones Show". www.radiotoday.com.au. www.radiotoday.com.au. 7 October 2012. Retrieved 7 October 2012.
  14. ^ Kohn, Rachael (15 November 2006). "Theosophy Today". The Spirit of Things (Transcript). Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 12 January 2009. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  15. ^ Wavelengths and Frequencies The Argus (Melbourne) 16 February 1935 Retrieved 16 September 2011

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