2NM

Infobox Radio station
name = 2NM


city = Muswellbrook, New South Wales
area = Upper Hunter
branding = "981 2NM"
slogan = "The Heart Of The Hunter, 981 2NM"
airdate = January 9 1937 "(as 2CK)"
January 14 1954 "(as 2NM)"
frequency = 981 kHz AM
(was 1460 kHz prior to 1978, 1458 kHz from 1978 to 1980)
format = adult contemporary, talk radio, sport
power = 5Kw
erp =
class =
callsign_meaning = dervived from former sister station 2NX, also could stand for 2 Newcastle Muswellbrook
former_callsigns = 2CZ (proposed)
2CK (1937-1954)
owner = Grant Broadcasters
licensee = Radio Hunter Valley Pty. Ltd.
sister_stations = Power FM 98.1
webcast =
website = [http://www.2nm.com.au 2NM.com.au]
affiliations = 2UE (news, weekday evening and overnight programs)
2GB (rugby league coverage and weekend news during football season only)

2NM (branded as "981 2NM") is a local radio station in the Upper Hunter Valley of New South Wales, Australia. It is based in Muswellbrook and serves listeners in Muswellbrook, Singleton, Scone, Aberdeen, Merriwa, Murrurundi and surrounding areas.

History

1937-1950s - 2CK Cessnock

2NM was originally licensed to Cessnock as "2CZ", owned by Coalfields Broadcasting Co. Pty. Ltd., but the station's call letters were changed to "2CK" prior to its launch on January 9, 1937. The station operated on 1460 kHz, with a power output of 300 watts, and was managed by Albert Ryan.

The station catered for the mining community of Cessnock and surrounding areas, and was the official station of Australian Coal & Shale Employees Federation. A feature of their programs included a mining news bulletin, transmitted at 5.34am, 6.15pm and 9.00pm, relying on information from mine officials and managements. Because of the working hours of the local industry, the station commenced operations at 5.30am, with the first national news program in the country for the day transmitted at 5.45am, using the resources of the "Newcastle Herald".

This was complemented with local and district news, racing programs from 2UW, the "Daily Telegraph" "Sports Parade" program (exclusive to 2CK in the region) and other programs of local interest. The station transmitted between the hours of 5.30am and 11am and from 5.30pm to 10pm weekdays, 5.30am to 11pm Saturdays and 9.00am to 10.00pm Sundays.

2CK was closed down after a fire burnt the studios down late one night after the announcer had finished the station's transmission for the night at 10pm, and left in rush for his bus back to Maitland, leaving the electric heater on.

1937-1950s - 2HR Singleton/Maitland

The Upper Hunter had its own station based in Singleton, "2HR", owned by Hunter River Broadcasters Pty. Ltd. The station launched on August 30, 1937. The owners included the "Singleton Argus" and the Robinson family. Three years later, they moved to Lochinvar, near Maitland.

1954-1980s - 2NM Muswellbrook / 2NX Newcastle

Hunter Broadcasters purchased the two stations in the 1950s, moving 2HR's transmitter to Bolwarra, and changing the callsign to 2NX, and moved the 2CK license to the Upper Hunter, and recalled it "2NM", located in Muswellbrook. 2NM was launched on January 14, 1954, from facilities located along the McCully's Gap road just outside Muswellbrook.

The callsign was created by station manager Ken Robinson, who was in the Army, and his army identification number included the letters "NX". Therefore, the Newcastle station was given the 2NX name. 2NM's callsign was created only after trying out other combinations that could smoothly follow 2NX. 2NM could also represent "2" "N"ewcastle "M"uswellbrook.

Sometime between the 1950s and the 1970s, Hunter Broadcasters were taken over by Catholic Broadcasting Company, owned by the Roman Catholic Church. During this time, while during the day 2NX and 2NM were operated separately, from 6pm overnight, 2NM relayed 2NX's programming, and was identified as "2NXNM" and as "Upper Hunter 2NX".

In 1978, the station moved from 1460 to 1458 kHz, as part of a nationwide radio frequency adjustment. Two years later, on August 2, 1980, 2NM changed its frequency again from 1458 kHz to 981 kHz to improve reception in parts of the Upper Hunter, with the transmitter being moved to Mount Arthur. 1458 kHz was reassigned as the Newcastle frequency for ABC NewsRadio.

The overnight simulcast of 2NX came to an end in July 1989, due to the opening of Newcastle's first FM station, New FM, which was taking listeners away from 2NX, and as a result, 2NX changed formats to compete.

1990s-Today - Independence and Expansion

In the early 1990s, the station was sold to Grant Broadcasters, and moved to new studios in Muswellbrook. In the mid 1990s, the station opened a supplementary FM station, Power FM, on 98.1 kHz (coincidentally sharing the same numbers in its frequency as 2NM), which lead to 2NM focusing on an older demographic.

Programming

2NM currently broadcasts an adult contemporary format, aimed at an audience over 35. As of January 2007, programming between 6am and 6pm comes from their Muswellbrook studios. Syndicated programming as a result has been reduced, leaving only 2UE's evening and overnight programming, 2GB's football coverage and other programs such as "My Generation".

Distance Reception

2NM's signal is well known for its ability to travel long distances in favourable conditions, with reports of reception in New Zealand (blocking out state radio services on occasion), as well as many parts of New South Wales.

Former jingles and slogans

*"In the Hunter, north to Tamworth, east to the Barringtons and west to Cassilis, this is 981 2NM" - used at the time of the 1980 frequency switch
*"Upper Hunter 2NX" - used during 2NX simulcast periods
*"2NXNM" - used during 2NX simulcast periods

ee also

*NXFM - 2NM's former sister station
*Power FM 98.1 FM - Current sister station
*List of Australian radio stations

External links

* [http://www.2nm.com.au 2NM AM981 Online]
* [http://www.countrywideradio.com.au/station2nm.htm Countrywide Radio Sales profile]
* [http://www.radioheritage.net/Story95.asp History of 2CK]