KOFM (Newcastle)

Infobox Radio station
name = KOFM (2KKO)


city = Newcastle, New South Wales
area = Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Maitland and surrounds
branding = KOFM
slogan = Playing Newcastle's Widest Variety Of Music
airdate = August 1, 1931 (as 2KO)
October 12, 1992 (as 2KKO)
frequency = 102.9 mHz (was 1413 kHz prior to 1992)
format = Adult Variety
power = 20,000 watts
erp =
class =
callsign_meaning = derived from former callsign 2KO
2KO: KOtara.
former_callsigns = 2KO (1931-1992)
owner = Radio Newcastle Pty. Ltd.
50% Austereo
50% Macquarie Regional RadioWorks
webcast =
website = [http://www.kofm.com.au KOFM.com.au]
affiliations = Triple M ()
2GB/Macquarie Radio Network (football season only)

KOFM (call sign: 2KKO) is an Australian radio station, licensed to, and serving Newcastle and surrounds. It broadcasts at 102.9 megahertz on the FM band from its studios in Charlestown. It is owned by Radio Newcastle, a joint venture of Austereo and Macquarie Regional RadioWorks, following Macquarie Bank's purchase of stations owned by RG Capital Radio Network in 2004 . Its sister station is NXFM.

History

The station commenced operations as 2KO, based in the Newcastle suburb of Kotara on August 1, 1931. Founded by Allen Fairhall (later Sir Allen Fairhall) 2KO was licensed to The Newcastle Broadcasting Company. The station operated on 1410 kHz with a transmission strength of 25 watts. The station launched from the backyard of a resident's home, with the licensee's dining room being the only studio the station had at the time. Programs ran from 7 to 10 p.m., later moving into daytime programming. Ten minutes of ad time was sold during the week, selling around 15 pounds ($30 today) of revenue for the station. Chief Engineer was K. N. Greenhalgh AMIRE. Studio & Production Manager was 2KO Chief Announcer Harold Pickhover. Advertising & Merchandising Manager was Keith F. Winser F.O.A.

Two years later in 1933, the station moved its AM transmitter to Sandgate, and was operated from several locations including 72 Hunter Street, Newcastle until January 1937, when new studios and offices in the heart of Newcastle in the CML Building at 110 Hunter Street, Newcastle. In its time on the AM band, the station had its power increased twice, first to 2,000 watts, and then to 5,000 watts, using a directional aerial system.

In the days before television, peak listening time was around 8pm, but with television arriving in the country in the late 1950s, the station had to change formats to survive the new medium. This was even more the case when 2KO's owners at the time, United Broadcasting Company (who also owned Sydney's 2UE), itself owned by the local Lamb family, was part of the consortium that brought television to Newcastle, launching NBN Television on channel 3 in 1962.

These changes led to 2KO becoming one of the first, if not the first, Top 40 music radio stations in Australia. This took the audience by storm, and helped re-established radio as the personal medium.

In 1978, as part of a nationwide realignment of radio station frequencies, 2KO moved to 1413 kHz.

In May 1988, 2KO moved to its current facilities at 252 Pacific Highway Charlestown.

On October 12, 1992, 2KO converted to the FM band, changing its callsign to 2KKO, and branding itself as "KOFM 102.9". Four years later, on January 22, 1996, the parent company of KOFM (and of NXFM), Radio Newcastle Pty. Ltd., was purchased by Austereo. A few more years later, Austereo sold 50% to RG Capital Radio Network, whose stake in the station then transferred in 2004 to Macquarie Regional RadioWorks, upon the purchase of RG Capital's stations.

Former presenters

*Harold Pickhover *James Aloyius Montgomery Max *Emma Gibbs *Ron Roberts
*John O'Brien *Pat Barton *Bert Burns *Ron Gibson *David Mulley
*Cliff Musgrave *Leon Bailey *Peter Harn *Phil Hunter *Ron Hurst *John Jones
*Sam Kronja *Allan Lappan *John Laws *Gary Meadows *John Melouney
*Warwick Teece *John Thompson *Gray Clark *Mal Elliott *Mike Jefferys
*"Big Steve" Wakely *Alan McGirvan *Peter Meehan *Ed Webster *John Waite
*Tony Stanton *Tony "Music" Williams *Lee Cornell *Chuck Hobler *Art Ryan
*Peter O'Callaghan *Jim Stewart (Jim Ball) *Matt Tapp *Brian Towers (Wayne Kerrick)
*Tommy Tucker *Paul Turner *Ray Waite *Ross Weldon *Tim Webster *Vince Neill
*Barry Coleman *Iain Edwards *Bob Gallagher *Peter Graham programmanager *Bill Grundy *David Jones
*Paul Hardy *John Henry *Stewart Horne *Selwyn Jones *Wayne Mason (Frank Fursey)
*John O'Callaghan *John Paige *David Ross *Mike Ahern *Peter Brennan* Mike Duncan* The 80's Guys* Jo King* Barry Graham

Rugby League coverage

Following Broadcast Operations Group's decision not to carry the "Continuous Call Team" from 2GB in Sydney, and therefore, ruling that rival 2HD could not carry Newcastle Knights games, KOFM picked up the program (and rights to Knights games), beginning 2006. They also poached long time 2HD commentator Garry Harley to continue his role as commentator on Knights games. They do not carry 2GB's coverage on Sundays (but will broadcast Knights games should be played on a Sunday).

Line-up

Monday-Friday
* David & Tanya For Breakfast, with Johnno The Sports Guy (5:30 a.m. to 9 a.m.)
* Nick "Nicko" Condon (9 a.m. to Midday)
* Al "Albie" Dobie(Midday to 3 p.m.)
* The Little A Experience with Andy Simpson (3 p.m. to 7 p.m.)
* Cold 30

Weekends
* The Weekender with The Little A (6 a.m. to 9 a.m. Saturday)
*"Continuous Call Team" (Saturdays only, midday to 8 p.m.)
*Newcastle Knights games
*Jukebox Saturday Night with Dr Dave (non football times Saturday 6 p.m. - midnight)