2SM
Encyclopedia
2SM is an Australian radio station
, licensed to and serving Sydney, New South Wales, broadcasting on 1269 kilohertz on the AM band. It is owned and operated by Broadcast Operations Group
. The SM call sign was taken from Sydney's St Mark's Church (not as many believe from St Mary's Cathedral).
2SM's programs are heard across the 2SM Super Radio Network in regional New South Wales
and Queensland, consisting of 32 AM and FM stations.
on 24 December 1931, and was owned by the Roman Catholic Church
. Religious programming was, for most part, not its focus and it was a leading force in the Sydney radio scene. In the 70s it dominated popular music radio in Sydney and was at or near the top of the ratings.
The introduction of new AM station, 2WS
in 1978, and FM stations 2DAY and 2MMM
at the start of the 1980s saw 2SM's glory days end. In the early 1980s the station retained reasonable ratings with contemporary music formats and slogans such as "More Music", "Rock of the 80s" and "The Power". In 1988 the station dropped its Top 40 format as well as the 2SM brand when it become "Lite & Easy 1269". Its final rating as a Top 40 station had been 6.9%. The years since have seen its format undergo numerous changes, including easy listening and country formats (KICK AM). The ratings never again surpassed 4%
In the 90s, the station regained its original callsign (2SM) and recorded some of the lowest ratings ever by a Sydney commercial radio station. In February 1992 a commercial syndicate headed by John Brown attempted to purchase the station. In July the station was finally sold to Wesgo, who sacked the entire on air staff and put the station into automation. Wesgo relaunched the station with a country music format in October. With the station still last place in the ratings, it went back to easy listening in May 1994, adopting the new name Gold 1269. In late 1994 Wesgo was purchased by Australian Provincial Newspapers, who later purchased the Australian Radio Network
in March 1995, requiring some stations to be sold due to media ownership rules. The station was sold to Kick Media, headed by former INXS manager, Chris Murphy. It was rebranded Kick AM in mid-October with a format comprising country, rock and blues. RG Capital Radio Network
bought a 40% stake in February 1996. By the end of 1996 the station still had low ratings, causing the owners to relaunch it on Christmas Eve 1996 as The New 2SM, with a format of hits from the 60s to 80s.
In 2002 the night time show, hosted by Graeme Gilbert, scored a rating of just 0.1%, the lowest rating ever recorded for a commercial program in a metro market in Australia. 2SM subsequently withdrew from the Sydney radio ratings.
Weekends
Former Announcers
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...
, licensed to and serving Sydney, New South Wales, broadcasting on 1269 kilohertz on the AM band. It is owned and operated by Broadcast Operations Group
Broadcast Operations Group
Owned by Bill Caralis, Broadcast Operations Group operates a number of radio stations in northern New South Wales & southern Queensland, Australia. These are collectively known as the "Super Radio Network"...
. The SM call sign was taken from Sydney's St Mark's Church (not as many believe from St Mary's Cathedral).
2SM's programs are heard across the 2SM Super Radio Network in regional New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
and Queensland, consisting of 32 AM and FM stations.
History
The station was opened by Archbishop KellyMichael Kelly (bishop)
Michael Kelly was an Australian Roman Catholic clergyman, the fourth Archbishop of Sydney.Born at Waterford, Ireland, to James Kelly, a master mariner, and Mary née Grant, Kelly was educated at Christian Brothers’, Enniscorthy and the Classical Academy, New Ross.Kelly received his seminary...
on 24 December 1931, and was owned by the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
. Religious programming was, for most part, not its focus and it was a leading force in the Sydney radio scene. In the 70s it dominated popular music radio in Sydney and was at or near the top of the ratings.
The introduction of new AM station, 2WS
2WS
101.7 WSFM is a FM band radio station broadcasting in Sydney, Australia. Its main content is commercial music, in particular classic hits from the 1960s to the Early 2000s, with a greater focus on the 70's, 80's and 90's...
in 1978, and FM stations 2DAY and 2MMM
2MMM
2MMM is a radio station broadcasting in Sydney, Australia. Triple M Sydney is part of the Austereo Triple M network and broadcasts on the 104.9 MHz frequency.-The Early Days:...
at the start of the 1980s saw 2SM's glory days end. In the early 1980s the station retained reasonable ratings with contemporary music formats and slogans such as "More Music", "Rock of the 80s" and "The Power". In 1988 the station dropped its Top 40 format as well as the 2SM brand when it become "Lite & Easy 1269". Its final rating as a Top 40 station had been 6.9%. The years since have seen its format undergo numerous changes, including easy listening and country formats (KICK AM). The ratings never again surpassed 4%
In the 90s, the station regained its original callsign (2SM) and recorded some of the lowest ratings ever by a Sydney commercial radio station. In February 1992 a commercial syndicate headed by John Brown attempted to purchase the station. In July the station was finally sold to Wesgo, who sacked the entire on air staff and put the station into automation. Wesgo relaunched the station with a country music format in October. With the station still last place in the ratings, it went back to easy listening in May 1994, adopting the new name Gold 1269. In late 1994 Wesgo was purchased by Australian Provincial Newspapers, who later purchased the Australian Radio Network
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...
in March 1995, requiring some stations to be sold due to media ownership rules. The station was sold to Kick Media, headed by former INXS manager, Chris Murphy. It was rebranded Kick AM in mid-October with a format comprising country, rock and blues. RG Capital Radio Network
RG Capital Radio Network
Before being sold to Macquarie Bank, RG Capital was in a majority ownership by Australian gameshow king Reg Grundy.-Timeline:*1995 - Reg Grundy acquires SEA FM radio group for $66m*2000 - Floated on ASX...
bought a 40% stake in February 1996. By the end of 1996 the station still had low ratings, causing the owners to relaunch it on Christmas Eve 1996 as The New 2SM, with a format of hits from the 60s to 80s.
In 2002 the night time show, hosted by Graeme Gilbert, scored a rating of just 0.1%, the lowest rating ever recorded for a commercial program in a metro market in Australia. 2SM subsequently withdrew from the Sydney radio ratings.
Line-up
Monday-Friday- Talk Overnight with Gary Stewart (12am to 5am)
- Breakfast with Grant GoldmanGrant GoldmanGrant Goldman is an Australian radio and TV personality. Goldman began his radio career at the age of 14, and has worked for numerous stations, including 2TM, 2GB, 2UE, 2WS, and 2DAY. He was educated in Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia, and is married with 6 children and 3 grandchildren,...
(5am to 9am) - John LawsJohn LawsRichard John Sinclair "John" Laws, CBE , an Australian radio presenter, sometimes known as Lawsie, was from the 1970s until his retirement in 2007, the host of a hugely successful morning radio program, which mixed music with interviews, opinion, live advertising readings and listener talkback...
Morning Show (9am to 12pm) - Richard King Afternoon Show (12pm to 3pm)
- Talkin' Sport (3pm to 7pm)
- Talk Tonight with Graeme GilbertGraeme GilbertGraeme Gilbert is an Australian host of nightly radio program Talk Tonight With Graeme Gilbert on Sydney station 2SM and the Super Radio Network. In 2002 Gilbert's night time show on 2SM scored a rating of 0.1% in Sydney, the lowest rating ever recorded for a commercial program in a metro market in...
(7pm to 12am)
Weekends
- Classic Hits Overnight (Saturday and Sunday, 12am to 4am)
- Hi-Tide Fishing Show (Saturday and Sunday mornings 4am to 7am)
- Straight Talk With Poppy Savakis (Saturday 7am to 12pm, Sunday 12pm to 6pm)
- Talkin Sport (Saturday 12pm to 6pm)
- Carter Edwards Country (Saturday and Sunday 6pm to 12am)
- John Carroll Sunday Morning (8am to 12pm)
Former Announcers