Broadcast area Melbourne, Australia Frequency 101.1 MHz FM Language(s) English | Slogan Melbourne Now. Format Top 40 (CHR) | |
First air date 27 February 1927 (1927-02-27) (as 3DB)
2 April 1988 (1988-04-02) (as 3TT)
24 June 1990 (1990-06-24) (as TT-FM)
19 January 2015 (2015-01-19) (as KIIS 101.1) | ||
KIIS 101.1 (official callsign: 3TTT) is a commercial FM radio station in Melbourne, Australia and is owned by the Australian Radio Network (ARN). The station was formerly known as 3DB and 3TT, broadcasting on 1026 kHz AM, before converting to FM in 1990.
Contents
The KIIS 101.1 playlist is primarily targeted at the 15–40 age group. The station is a part of the KIIS Network with sister stations in other major Australian cities – KIIS 106.5 Sydney, 97.3 FM Brisbane, Mix 102.3 Adelaide, 96fm Perth and Mix 106.3 Canberra.
3DB and 3TT
3DB was awarded its broadcast licence in 1925 but did not make its debut on-air until 27 February 1927 in a fairly low-key manner. The station was originally owned by Druleigh Business College, hence the callsign "DB". The original studios were located in Capital House, Swanston Street, Melbourne.
In 1929, 3DB along with 3UZ participated in experimental television broadcasts using the Radiovision system.
From 1929 until 1987, 3DB was owned and operated by The Herald and Weekly Times Ltd, owners of The Herald and The Sun News-Pictorial newspapers, then separate newspapers.
In 1942, Keith Murdoch, as managing director of HWT, agreed with the Good Friday Appeal organisation that The Herald would promote the appeal and it would be broadcast on radio station 3DB. In 1957, Channel 7, also owned by HWT, joined the appeal and presented a three-hour telethon on Good Friday afternoon. In 1960 the telethon adopted the day-long format which continues annually to this day.
3DB was one of the first Melbourne radio stations to initiate talkback programs in the late 1960s. In 1975, 3DB relaunched as a hit music station with the slogan DB Music. In August 1980, they rebranded as 100 3DB with a new disco-style jingle, "Rhythm of the City" produced by TM Studios. The jingle was also used (with localised variations) by radio stations throughout Australia that had a similar Top 40 format at the time, including 2UE in Sydney, 6PM in Perth, and 5AD in Adelaide. An extended length version of "Rhythm of the City" was later released as a single, inclusive of local branding edits depending on release location. The 3DB version of the single reached number 91 on the Australian Kent Music Report charts in October that year.
In 1981, 3DB changed to a classic hits format while retaining the 100 3DB slogan and jingle. Coverage of horse racing had been shared in Melbourne between 3DB (Eric Welch), 3AW (Fred Tupper), 3XY (Harry Solomons), 3UZ (Bert Bryant) and the ABC (Jim Carrol and later Joe Brown). However, in 1983, 3UZ revamped its program lineup and cancelled all horse racing coverage, leaving 3DB as the sole outlet for racing on Melbourne radio. 3DB adopted the slogan Racing Radio and devoted much of its programming to horse racing.
In mid-1986, 3DB relaunched as a talkback station, while retaining its horse racing coverage. By 1987, the Victorian racing industry had purchased 3UZ and took back exclusive rights to horse racing coverage from 3DB, effective from February 1988.
The Albert family purchased 3DB in 1988 and changed the call letters to 3TT. The 3TT station name and a classic hits format were launched at 5AM on April 2.
TT-FM
On 24 June 1990 at 12:00 am, the station converted to FM and became 101.1 TT-FM (official callsign: 3TTT). 3DB/3TT's old AM frequency of 1026 AM was returned to the government, and from 1991, it was used by the ABC for 3PB, which broadcast intermittently with live coverage of federal parliament. In 1994, 3PB became full-time news and parliament station ABC NewsRadio. In 1993, TT-FM relaunched as an adult contemporary music station.
Mix 101.1
In June 2001, the station rebranded to Mix 101.1 after joining the Mix Network. The station was similar to Mix 106.5 in Sydney in creating an emphasis on more music and less talk.
The last song that aired on Mix 101.1 was "Bye Bye Bye" by NSYNC.
KIIS 101.1
In November 2014, the Australian Radio Network announced that Mix 101.1 would rebrand to KIIS 101.1 on 19 January 2015 with a new breakfast and drive show. Matt & Jane replaced Chrissie & Jane in the station's breakfast timeslot, with existing presenter Jane Hall to remain alongside former Fox FM breakfast and Triple M drive host Matt Tilley. Rosso on Drive was replaced by Hughesy & Kate, hosted by Dave Hughes and Kate Langbroek and formerly of Nova 100 breakfast. Both shows began on 19 January 2015, with the latter being networked across the KIIS Network of stations.
In October 2015, Jane Hall announced that she will be leaving the station and Matt & Jane at the end of the year to return to acting. She was replaced by Nova 100 breakfast co-host Meshel Laurie.
On-Air Programs
Studios
In December 1988, 3TT moved from the old 3DB premises in the basement of the Herald and Weekly Times building at 44–74 Flinders Street, to new state-of-the-art studios in Queensbridge Street, South Melbourne. The station is now located in the inner suburb of Richmond in the Pelaco Sign building, sharing facilities with sister station Gold 104.3.