3AW

History

3AW was created when a company formed by Allans, J.C. Williamson's and David Syme (then publishers of The Age newspaper) was granted a radio broadcasting licence, with the first broadcast on 22 February 1932. The "AW" in 3AW comes from the names of part-owners "Allans" and "J. C. Williamson". 3AW's first studio was situated in His Majesty’s Theatre, Melbourne (now Her Majesty’s Theatre).

3AW's original broadcast frequency was 1425 kHz and changed to 1280 kHz on 1 September 1935 as part of a national reshuffle of the radio broadcasting spectrum. On 23 November 1978 the station changed to 1278 kHz with the introduction of 9 kHz spacing on the AM band. Due to poor reception problems, at 7:15 a.m. on 1 May 2006, 3AW swapped with its sister station Magic 1278 (now Talking Lifestyle) to its present frequency of 693 kHz. The station's broadcast signal originates from a transmitter in Werribee.

3AW studios are located at Media House, 655 Collins Street, Docklands, in Melbourne and shares facilities with Magic 1278, Fairfax Digital, The Australian Financial Review and The Age newspaper. The studios were previously located at Bank Street, South Melbourne from 1991 until March 2010.

Technical innovations

In April 2007, 3AW introduced cameras into their main studio so that fans, via the 3AW website, can watch the program being broadcast, as well as listen. The cameras do not operate during news services, commercial breaks, or outside broadcasts.

In August 2009, 3AW "went digital", offering a superior quality sound and other features, for those with digital receivers. Stations utilising the digital signal can also offer multi-channels and interactive features. The digital format used in Australia is DAB+, reportedly a superior technology to other digital formats.

In October 2011 (iPhone) and mid 2012 (Android), 3AW introduced an application (App) for smartphones or tablets. The application allows users to listen to the current program, read or listen to current news articles, get weather updates, contact the station via phone, email, Twitter or Facebook and also has an alarm clock feature.

Current presenters and programs

News

3AW provides news reports every half hour between 6am and 9am each weekday, with hourly bulletins thereafter. Bulletins are produced under the banner of Macquarie National News - part of the Macquarie network that includes 2GB, 4BC, and 6PR.

Newsreaders and reporters:

Traffic Reporters

Traffic reports from The Australian Traffic Network (ATN) air LIVE seven days a week. Monday to Friday, from 5:30am to 6:30pm each hour (every half hour during morning/afternoon peak) & weekends, from 6am to 5pm each hour (every half hour from 6am to 12pm and only during this time for AFL season).

Former traffic reporters include:

Fill-in presenters

Former presenters

(not a complete list)

3AW Football (AFL)

'3AW Football' is the brand under which 3AW broadcasts Australian rules football and the station broadcasts football on all AFL match days.

3AW Football dates back to before 1960 and legendary commentators such as Norman Banks and Harry Beitzel have spent time calling games at 3AW. Rex Hunt called football at 3AW for 21 years before moving to rival Triple M in 2010.

Matthew Lloyd and Dr Peter Larkins joined 3AW Football in 2012. The team for 2013 had a number of changes too. Stephen Quartermain called on weekends, alongside either Tim Lane or Tony Leonard and the expert commentators. Cameron Ling has an expert commentary role on Friday nights, Saturday afternoons and Sunday afternoons (interchangeably).

2014 saw the departure of Stephen Quartermain, now the chief newsreader at Network Ten Melbourne and the recruitment of Nathan Brown as a ball-by-ball commentator for Saturday night and Sunday twilight matches.

Former 3AW Football team members

(not a complete list)

¹left at the end of 2013 season

Cricket

On 1 November 2013, 3AW's parent company, Fairfax Radio Network (FRN), announced that it had signed a five-year non-exclusive contract commencing with the 2013/2014 Australian cricket season, to broadcast the Boxing Day and Sydney Test matches, all One Day Internationals, the Big Bash League (BBL) and International T20 matches on network stations including 3AW. Subsequently, in December 2013, FRN decided on an earlier start to their coverage by including the Perth test match which commenced on 13 December 2013. Fairfax stated that "Fairfax Radio Network will bring to its coverage more than 60 years’ experience of broadcasting sport, assembling a star-studded commentary line up". The coverage will provide a ball-by-ball commentary of all broadcast matches.

The commentary team is anchored by Tim Lane and Bruce Eva, together with a panel consisting of the following experts

Station ratings and market position

In the sixth ratings survey for 2014, released 30 September 2014, 3AW came first with a 13.8% market share followed by 774 ABC with 11.4% and Fox FM with 8.2%. In this survey 3AW won every timeslot.

In the fifth ratings survey for 2014, released 26 August 2014, 3AW came first with a 14% market share followed by 774 ABC with 12% and Fox FM with 8.0%.

In the fourth survey, 3AW lost its No. 1 station rating, scoring a 13.0% market share against 774 ABC's 13.4% share with Gold 104.3 FM third on 7.4%.

In the first survey for 2014, released on 11 March 2014, 3AW was the No. 1 station scoring an 11.9% market share followed by 774 ABC's 10.6% share with Fox FM third on 8.5%. This survey was also the first for new ratings supplier GfK Group, the company that has taken over the running of surveys from Nielsen ratings which produced the surveys for 66 years.

The final ratings survey for 2013 and the last to be conducted by Nielsen, saw 3AW complete five years as Melbourne’s number one radio station with 40 consecutive survey wins.

Past controversies

In 1996, drive-time host Paul Barber was dismissed for telling listeners to boycott the Nine Network program, A Current Affair over the treatment of the Paxton family. He was dismissed after the Nine Network withdrew up to $300,000 in advertising.

A handful of announcers around the country were dismissed after admitting they accepted cash to talk favourably about sponsors. They were later re-employed.

Former presenter Steve Price was tricked into accepting fake ecstasy tablets from comedian John Safran as part of Safran's television show.

The station is considered by some to be the most vocal conservative voice in Melbourne radio.