2CA
Encyclopedia
2CA is a commercial
radio station
on the AM band in Canberra
, Australia
, which originally began broadcasting on 1050 kHz changing to 1053 kHz in 1978. 2CA has had many owners since its inception and is currently jointly owned by regional
radio operators the Capital Radio Network
and Grant Broadcasters
. The station's current format is classic hits
music and targets a mature audience aged 45+.
In 1975, Canberra’s second commercial radio station, 2CC
, began broadcasting and soon topped the Canberra ratings survey, continuing its dominance over 2CA throughout the latter half of the 70s and most of the 80s. In 1988, FM 104 (now 104.7) & Kix 106 (now Mix 106.3
) went to air as Australia's first supplementary FM licences (also the first commercial FM licences in Australia since 1980). FM 104 was a supplementary licence of 2CA, and Kix 106 a supplementary licence of 2CC.
Over the years the 2CA studios were housed in numerous buildings in the City including 64 Northbourne Avenue (until the site was re-developed as an office building in 1983) and then the Jolimont Building, also on Northbourne Avenue. The 2CA studios had to be evacuated on 29 November 1993 when a man crashed his car into the ground floor of the Jolimont Building and tried to blow up the building. Staff from both 2CA and FM104.7 had to be rescued from their first floor studio by smashing a window and climbing down a ladder.
In the mid-1990s, Austereo, owner of 2CA & 104.7 and ARN
, owner of 2CC & Mix 106.3, merged together to form a joint venture ownership of both FM stations - Canberra FM Pty Ltd, selling off 2CA and 2CC to the Capital Radio Network. Both 2CA and 2CC were then moved to their current shared studio building in the Canberra suburb of Mitchell
.
In 2004 Grant Broadcasters purchased part ownership of Radio Canberra Pty Ltd (2CA & 2CC) to form a joint venture with the Capital Radio Network.
Commercial broadcasting
Commercial broadcasting is the broadcasting of television programs and radio programming by privately owned corporate media, as opposed to state sponsorship...
radio station
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
on the AM band in Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, which originally began broadcasting on 1050 kHz changing to 1053 kHz in 1978. 2CA has had many owners since its inception and is currently jointly owned by regional
Régional
Régional Compagnie Aérienne Européenne, or Régional for short, is a subsidiary airline wholly owned by Air France which connects hubs at Paris, Lyon, Clermont-Ferrand, and Bordeaux to 49 airports in Europe. The airline operates in Air France livery, retaining its name in small titles and logo on...
radio operators the Capital Radio Network
Capital Radio Network
Capital Radio Network is an Australian radio company, which owns stations in Canberra, Goulburn, Cooma, the Snowy Mountains and Perth.-Owned and Operated Stations:*Canberra**2CC 1206 AM...
and Grant Broadcasters
Grant Broadcasters
Grant Broadcasters is an Australian regional radio network that also includes a small number of metropolitan radio stations. It is a privately owned company, held by Janet Cameron and her family. The company was started by Cameron's father, Walter Grant in the 1970s.-CHR/Rock:*Hot 100 100.1 FM and...
. The station's current format is classic hits
Classic hits
Classic hits is a radio format which generally includes rock and pop music from 1964 to 1989. The term is sometimes erroneously used as a synonym for the adult hits format, but is more accurately characterized as a contemporary style of the oldies format...
music and targets a mature audience aged 45+.
History
Established by Albert John (Jack) Ryan, an AIF veteran and former signaller during the first World War, Canberra's first commercial radio station - 2CA - began broadcasting with just a small 50 watt transmitter from the back of Jack's electrical repair shop in the Canberra suburb of Kingston on 14 November 1931. By 1933 the station had increased its transmitter to 500 watts and moved to a small purpose built studio on a low hill close to the Queanbeyan - Canberra road (near what is now the intersection of Hindmarsh Drive and Canberra Avenue). The hill quickly became known as "Radio Hill". By the late 1930s the 2CA studios were moved from Radio Hill to a new building in Mort Street, Canberra City, next to the Civic theatre. The transmitter power was increased again from 500 watts to 2,000 watts and moved to Gungahlin.In 1975, Canberra’s second commercial radio station, 2CC
2CC
2CC is a commercial radio station on the AM band in Canberra, Australia. It originally began broadcasting on 1210 kHz in 1975 changing to 1206 kHz in 1978. It is jointly owned by regional radio operators Capital Radio Network and Grant Broadcasters....
, began broadcasting and soon topped the Canberra ratings survey, continuing its dominance over 2CA throughout the latter half of the 70s and most of the 80s. In 1988, FM 104 (now 104.7) & Kix 106 (now Mix 106.3
Mix 106.3
MIX 106.3 is a commercial radio station in Canberra, Australia and is owned by the Australian Radio Network and Southern Cross Austereo....
) went to air as Australia's first supplementary FM licences (also the first commercial FM licences in Australia since 1980). FM 104 was a supplementary licence of 2CA, and Kix 106 a supplementary licence of 2CC.
Over the years the 2CA studios were housed in numerous buildings in the City including 64 Northbourne Avenue (until the site was re-developed as an office building in 1983) and then the Jolimont Building, also on Northbourne Avenue. The 2CA studios had to be evacuated on 29 November 1993 when a man crashed his car into the ground floor of the Jolimont Building and tried to blow up the building. Staff from both 2CA and FM104.7 had to be rescued from their first floor studio by smashing a window and climbing down a ladder.
In the mid-1990s, Austereo, owner of 2CA & 104.7 and ARN
Australian Radio Network
The Australian Radio Network is a group of commercial radio stations around Australia and New Zealand. A joint venture of Australian media conglomerate APN News & Media and United States radio company Clear Channel Communications, the group is the largest radio company in Australasia...
, owner of 2CC & Mix 106.3, merged together to form a joint venture ownership of both FM stations - Canberra FM Pty Ltd, selling off 2CA and 2CC to the Capital Radio Network. Both 2CA and 2CC were then moved to their current shared studio building in the Canberra suburb of Mitchell
Mitchell, Australian Capital Territory
Mitchell is a light-industrial estate of Canberra, Australia in the district of Gungahlin. Mitchell was named in honour of Major Sir Thomas Livingston Mitchell, an explorer of inland New South Wales and Surveyor-General of New South Wales. The streets in Mitchell are named after Australian...
.
In 2004 Grant Broadcasters purchased part ownership of Radio Canberra Pty Ltd (2CA & 2CC) to form a joint venture with the Capital Radio Network.
Ratings
| 104.7 | 18.8 (18.0) |
| 666 ABC 666 ABC Canberra 666 ABC Canberra is an ABC Local Radio station based in Canberra and broadcasting to the Australian Capital Territory and surrounding New South Wales region. This includes the cities and towns of Queanbeyan, Yass and Bungendore.... |
15.9 (17.3) |
| Mix 106.3 Mix 106.3 MIX 106.3 is a commercial radio station in Canberra, Australia and is owned by the Australian Radio Network and Southern Cross Austereo.... |
15.8 (15.5) |
| Triple J Triple J triple j is a nationally networked Australian radio station intended to appeal to listeners between the ages of 18 and 30. The government-funded station is a division of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation... |
10.9 (9.0) |
| ABC Classic FM ABC Classic FM ABC Classic FM is a classical music radio station available in Australia, and internationally online. It is operated by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation . It was established in 1976 as "ABC-FM", and later for a short time was known as "ABC Fine Music" , before adopting its current name... |
8.4 (9.2) |
| 2CC 2CC 2CC is a commercial radio station on the AM band in Canberra, Australia. It originally began broadcasting on 1210 kHz in 1975 changing to 1206 kHz in 1978. It is jointly owned by regional radio operators Capital Radio Network and Grant Broadcasters.... |
7.4 (5.8) |
| ABC Radio National | 6.9 (8.0) |
| 2CA | 5.6 (5.7) |
| ABC NewsRadio ABC NewsRadio ABC NewsRadio is an Australian Broadcasting Corporation radio service devoted to delivering live and 24-hour news updates and information. The service is available on a number of broadcasts right around Australia, including AM/FM radio, some pay-TV platforms and online via the Internet.Originally... |
4.6 (4.2) |