Radio 2 (Australian radio station)

Radio 2 was a narrowband Australian radio network owned and operated by WorldAudio Limited. The network was broadcast on frequencies between 1611 and 1629 kHz via a series of 50 AM transmitters across Australia, as well as by satellite (including through Austar and Foxtel) and through the network's website.

For the similarly named British radio station, see BBC Radio 2.

Radio 2

City	Sydney, New South Wales
Broadcast area	Australia
Frequency	Various
Branding	Radio 2
Slogan	Your National Commercial Broadcast Network
Programming
Format	Classic hits, talk
Ownership
Owner	WorldAudio Limited
History
First air date	October 2001 (2001-10)
Last air date	21 July 2006 (2006-07-21)

History

Radio 2 began in Blacktown, New South Wales in Western Sydney on 1611 AM in October 2001, broadcasting under a Section 40 licence - meaning it could only operate on narrowband AM frequencies (1611–1701 kHz), and with narrow spectrum - 5 kHz, rather than the full 9 kHz which other commercial radio stations use. Branded "The New Voice Of Western Sydney", the station focused on live and local content, similar to 2WS in its heyday.

In 2002, Radio 2 was a broadcast partner of the 2002 FIFA World Cup, broadcasting live coverage of matches, with the call lead by Colin Turner.[1] In 2003, Radio 2 was a broadcast partner of the AFL, hosting live coverage of Sydney Swans home games from the SCG and Telstra Stadium.[2]

National expansion

In November 2003, owners WorldAudio Limited acquired a series of 14 additional transmitters, forming a "national" commercial AM radio network.[3] This did not come without drama - a legal battle had begun between owners WorldAudio and GB Radio in Melbourne, over the use of the 1620 AM licence[4] - WorldAudio would eventually use 1629 AM in Melbourne instead. In April 2005, owners WorldAudio signed Mikey Robins and Ian Rogerson to host The Big Australian Breakfast, Nick Bennett to host the Nick's Nation drive show, and former Seven Nightly News presenter Ross Symonds to host Sunday morning business program The Bottom Line.[5]

In May 2005, the station launched nationally to a network of 50 stations around the country, dropping the Western Sydney focus and moving to programming of national significance. At launch, WorldAudio CEO boasted the station "[could] be picked up by 93% of all radio receivers."[6] Additional programming included Sportswatch Australia with Colin Turner, She Said with Sophie Falkiner and Katrina Warren, and Politically Direct with Paul Makin.[7] The network had an emphasis on sporting coverage, with coverage of A-League and English Premier League soccer, AFL (including Sydney Swans and Brisbane Lions games, plus the 2005 AFL Grand Final), and the NBL.

Downfall and closure

However, the network's success wasn't to be. A combination of minimal listenership and low advertising lead to a trading halt being placed on parent company WorldAudio, with the announcement that administrators had been appointed to the company a week later. Administrators halted all talk based content, leaving the station to broadcast non-stop music.

Radio 2 temporarily ceased broadcasting as of Friday, 21 July 2006. Broadcasting on the WorldAudio Groups licences will resume at Christmas 2006. Administrators Hall Chadwick are selling off World Audio's Radio 2's studio equipment at auction.

— Radio 2 website, 21 July 2006

Radio 2's frequencies were later sold, either to Rete Italia, the start-up Vision Radio Network, or to the similarly ill-fated Goanna country music network.

Availability (at time of closure)

Licence area	Frequency	Frequency currently occupied by
Nationwide	Austar channel 2[8] Foxtel channel 831[8]	Defunct MAX 70s Hits[9]
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory	1620 AM[8][10]	Defunct
Cowra, New South Wales	1611 AM[8]	Defunct
Dubbo, New South Wales	1611 AM[8][10]	Defunct
Eden, New South Wales	1620 AM[8]	Defunct
Griffith, New South Wales	1611 AM[8][10]	Defunct
Grafton, New South Wales	1629 AM[8]	Defunct
Lismore, New South Wales	1611 AM[8]	Defunct
Newcastle, New South Wales	1620 AM[8]	Defunct
Port Macquarie, New South Wales	1611 AM[8]	Defunct
Sydney, New South Wales	1611 AM[8][10]	Vision Radio Network[11][12]
Tamworth, New South Wales	1629 AM[8][10]	Defunct
Wagga Wagga, New South Wales	1620 AM[8][10]	Defunct
West Wyalong, New South Wales	1629 AM[8]	Defunct
Yamba, New South Wales	1620 AM[8]	Defunct
Yass, New South Wales	1629 AM[8]	Defunct
Alice Springs, Northern Territory	1611 AM[8]	Defunct
Darwin, Northern Territory	1611 AM[8]	Niche Radio Network[13]
Bowen, Queensland	1611 AM[8]	Defunct
Brisbane, Queensland	1620 AM[8][10]	Defunct
Cairns, Queensland	1620 AM[8]	Defunct
Dalby, Queensland	1611 AM[8]	Defunct
Gladstone, Queensland	1620 AM[8]	Niche Radio Network
Gold Coast, Queensland	1620 AM[8]	Niche Radio Network
Hervey Bay, Queensland	1611 AM[8]	Defunct
Mackay, Queensland	1611 AM[8]	Niche Radio Network
Redcliffe, Queensland	1629 AM[8]	Defunct
Sunshine Coast, Queensland	1620 AM[8]	Niche Radio Network
Toowoomba, Queensland	1620 AM[8]	Defunct
Townsville, Queensland	1611 AM[8]	Defunct
Adelaide, South Australia	1629 AM[8][10]	SEN SA
Mount Gambier, South Australia	1629 AM[8]	SEN SA
Port Augusta, South Australia	1629 AM[8]	Defunct
Victor Harbor, South Australia	1629 AM[8]	Defunct
Whyalla, South Australia	1611 AM[8]	Defunct
Devonport, Tasmania	1611 AM[8]	Niche Radio Network
Hobart, Tasmania (South)	1611 AM[8]	Niche Radio Network
Launceston, Tasmania	1611 AM[8]	Niche Radio Network
Echuca, Victoria Moama, New South Wales	1620 AM[8]	Defunct
Melbourne, Victoria (North)	1620 AM[8] 1629 AM[8]	3CW 1620AM Program ACR Chinese Radio[14]
Portland, Victoria	1611 AM[8]	Defunct
Albany, Western Australia	1629 AM[8][10]	Defunct
Broome, Western Australia	1611 AM[8]	Defunct
Bunbury, Western Australia	1629 AM[8][10]	Defunct
Esperance, Western Australia	1611 AM[8]	Niche Radio Network
Geraldton, Western Australia	1620 AM[8]	Defunct
Kalgoorlie, Western Australia	1611 AM[8]	Niche Radio Network
Perth, Western Australia	1620 AM[8][10] 1629 AM[8]	Defunct Defunct

References

1. Pearlman, Jonathan (31 May 2002). "Small radio station scores World Cup, but few will hear the call". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
2. "Radio 2 secures AFL rights". Radioinfo.com.au. 21 February 2003. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
3. "World Audio deploys transmission network". Radioinfo.com.au. 6 November 2003. Retrieved 25 May 2014.
4. "Bitter expat radio row for control of airwaves". The Age. Fairfax Media. 20 June 2003. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
5. "More Big Names for Radio 2". Radioinfo.com.au. 21 April 2005. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
6. "Radio 2 Launches across Australia". Radioinfo.com.au. 16 May 2005. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
7. "Radio 2 - Australia's Digital Voice". 1 December 2005. Archived from the original on 1 December 2005. Retrieved 25 May 2014.
8. "Radio 2 Frequencies". Radio 2. Archived from the original on 5 January 2006. Retrieved 25 May 2014.
9. "Foxtel Tunes - Channels". Foxtel. Retrieved 25 May 2014.
10. "Australian Radio Stations". thinkingaustralia.com.au. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
11. "List of Stations by State - Vision Radio Network". Vision Radio Network. Retrieved 25 May 2014.
12. "VISION 1611AM Sydney - Vision Radio Network". Vision Radio Network. Retrieved 25 May 2014.
13. "Tune In | Niche Radio". Niche Radio Network. Retrieved 25 May 2014.
14. "Re: MF AM signal on 1629 KHz in Melbourne splattering on adjacent NAS frequencies". Google Groups. Retrieved 27 July 2014.