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96.5 Wave FM

96.5 Wave FM (2UUL)
Frequency96.5 MHz FM
BrandingIllawarra's Best Music
Programming
Language(s)English
FormatHot adult contemporary
Ownership
Owner
  • ARN
  • (Wollongong Broadcasters Pty Ltd)
Hot Tomato
History
First air date
18 July 1931 (1931-07-18)
Former call signs
2WL
Former frequencies
1435 kHz AM (1931–1935),[1] 1430 kHz AM (1935–1978),[2] 1314 kHz AM (1978–1992)
Call sign meaning
Three-letter variation on former 2WL call sign
Technical information
Licensing authority
ACMA
ERP40 kW
Links
Websitewavefm.com.au

96.5 Wave FM (call sign 2UUL) is a commercial radio station broadcasting on the FM band to the Illawarra region[3] of New South Wales, Australia. It is owned by ARN after ARN's purchase of the Grant Broadcasters radio network.[4] 96.5 Wave FM competes with rival i98 at the top of the Illawarra's ratings for radio listenership.[5]

History

The station was born as 2WL and commenced broadcasting on 18 July 1931. The station was owned by Wollongong Broadcasting Pty Ltd. The station studio and offices were in Edward Street, Wollongong and were linked to a broadcasting antenna at Unanderra.[6] The station was officially opened by J. P. Caddy, president of the Illawarra Chamber of Commerce and Industry.[7]

In November 1980, 2WL went off air briefly after a tornado brought down one of their two Windang transmitter towers.[8] After 61 years of AM broadcasting, the station moved to the FM band in July 1992.[9]

In July 2021, it was announced that prominent i98 announcers Lyndal Rogers and Ryan Cram would be moving to the competition, joining Wave FM to host a new drive show. Their show replaced the nationally syndicated Nova program Kate, Tim & Joel.[10]

In November 2021, ARN announced the acquisition of Grant Broadcasters which included Wave FM.[4]

In September 2021, former Australian Idol winner Damien Leith joined the breakfast show as an announcer after a successful stint doing breakfast radio at sister station Power FM 98.1 in Muswellbrook.[11]

Presenters

  • Damien Leith[11], Breakfast
  • Jade Tonta, Breakfast
  • Dean Kesby, Mornings
  • Matthew Brokenbrough, Workday[12]
  • Lyndal Rogers,[10] Drive
  • Ryan Cram,[10] Drive

References

  1. ^ "Australian and New Zealand Station List". The Listener In. The Herald and Weekly Times. 10 August 1935.
  2. ^ "Australian and New Zealand Station List". The Listener In. The Herald and Weekly Times. 10 August 1935.
  3. ^ "Wave FM 96.5". Radio Alive. Archived from the original on 1 April 2018. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
  4. ^ a b "ARN acquires Grant Broadcasters for $307 million". Radio Today. 11 November 2021. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  5. ^ "Wollongong Ratings: i98 remains dominant in the 'gong". Radio Today. 4 October 2019. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  6. ^ "Radio Station-2WL | Illawarra Museum & Historical Society". www.illawarramuseum.com. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  7. ^ "Radio 2WL The South Coast Station". www.radioheritage.net. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  8. ^ "The Vault: 2WL Wollongong". Radio Today. 21 June 2012. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  9. ^ Andrew (20 June 2012). "2WL Studios 1970". The Radio Antenna. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  10. ^ a b c "Crammy and Lyndal Wave goodbye to i98FM". RadioInfo Australia. 18 July 2021. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  11. ^ a b "Damien Leith heads to Wave FM Breakfast". Radio Today. 1 September 2020. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  12. ^ "Matthew 'MJ' Brokenbrough". RadioInfo Australia. 8 March 2022. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
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