96fm (Perth radio station)

96fm (call-sign: 6NOW) is a radio station broadcasting in Perth, Western Australia.

Radio station


erp = 40 kW
name = 96fm
airdate = 1980
frequency = 96.1 MHz FM
area = Perth
format = Pop, Rock,
owner = Fairfax Media
slogan = "Perth's Best Music"
website = [http://www.mytalk.com.au website 96FM]

History

96fm began broadcasting on 96.1 MHz on August 8, 1980 as Perth's first commercial FM radio station. The first record played at the 4pm launch was "Steely Dan's "FM (No Static at all)" with Gordon O'Byrne the first live "jock" to air.

96fm was the sole commercial FM station in Perth for the next decade - until such time as 6PM and 6KY successfully bid for the right to convert from the AM band to FM in the early 1990s.

By 1985, 96fm had reached #1 in the Perth radio ratings for the first time although 990 6PM on the AM band continued to be a strong number 2 for the remainder of the decade until 6PM converted to FM in 1990 as 92.9 6PMFM, then PMFM and now 92.9.

In 1993, Village Roadshow, owners of the Triple M network in the eastern states, bought out 96fm and renamed the station Triple M, though with the Today Network CHR music format, as opposed to the harder rock format of its eastern Triple M counterparts. The revamped station failed to make a major impact up against its FM rivals.

In 1997, Village Roadshow purchased PMFM and KYFM from local entrepreneur Jack Bendat. Australian media ownership laws required the divestiture of the station, and Village Roadshow subsequently sold it to Southern Cross Broadcasting which also owned AM radio station 6PR.

Southern Cross returned the station back to its original 96fm branding, with a new logo.

96fm is fast gaining a reputation for constantly changing it's breakfast team on a yearly basis, mainly due to the poor management of Declan Kelly the GM. Since 2002 the following teams have been on air. In contrast rival station Mix 94.5 has stayed with Botica's Bunch.

*2002- Gary and Jane
*2003- Gavin, Belinda and Fitzi
*2004- Steve, Belinda and Fitzi
*2005- Steve, Fitzi and Shannaz
*2005- Tony, Belinda and Fitzi
*2006- Tony, Fitzi and Andrea
*2007- Tony and Fitzi
*2008- Rod and The Flack
*2008- Gary, Fitzi and Aleysha

Transmission

96fm transmits on 96.1 MHz across Perth and surrounding areas. It currently transmits on the Perth Radio Services tower adjacent to the Channel 7 tower in Television Rd, Bickley. It's ERP is 40KW omni-directional, which is the standard of the commercial FM stations in Perth. As well as covering Perth, 96fm can be heard as far North as New Norcia, South to Waroona and East to Northam. The studio itself, however, is located at 169 Hay Street, East Perth.

Current Lineup

* Breakfast - Gary, Fitzi & Aleysha
* Mornings - Steve Fitton
* Afternoons - Darren de Mello
* Drive - Gavin Miller
* Evenings - Daniel Gunn "'

Network Programs

Nights with Alice Cooper (Weeknights 10pm - 12am)My Generation (Saturdays 4pm to 6pm)Planet Rock Evolution (Sundays 8pm to 10pm)

Notable Past Announcers

Fred Botica
Gordon O'Byrne
Peter 'Brownie' Browne
Bob Stuart
Ben Wasley
Rod And The Flack
The Vixen (Claire Marshall)