3AW

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,[1] with the first broadcast on 22 February 1932.[2] The "AW" in 3AW comes from the names of part-owners "Allans" and "J. C. Williamson".[3] 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.[4] 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 to its present frequency of 693 kHz.[5] 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 The Australian Financial Review and The Age newspaper.[6] The studios were previously located at Bank Street, South Melbourne from 1991 until March 2010.[7]

Current major presenters in 2020 are Ross Stevenson & Russel Howcroft (Breakfast), Neil Mitchell (Mornings), Diane "Dee Dee" Dunleavy (Afternoons), Tom Elliott (Drive), Denis Walter (Nights), Tony Moclair (Overnight). Mitchell has worked for 3AW for 33 years.

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.[8] 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.[9] The digital format used in Australia is DAB+, reportedly a superior technology to other digital formats.[10] the digital signal is not rebroadcast in road tunnels like the AM signal and does not have the distance range of AM.

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.[11][12]

'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.[13]

Matthew Lloyd and Dr Peter Larkins joined 3AW Football in 2012. The team for 2013 also had a number of changes,[14] Stephen Quartermain[15] called on weekends, alongside either Tim Lane or Tony Leonard and the expert commentators. Cameron Ling[15] has an expert commentary role interchangeably on Friday nights, Saturday afternoons and Sunday afternoons.

2014 saw the departure of Stephen Quartermain, and the recruitment of Nathan Brown as a ball-by-ball commentator for Saturday night and Sunday twilight matches.[16]

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.[17] 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".[18] The coverage will provide a ball-by-ball commentary of all broadcast matches.[19]

The commentary team is anchored by Tim Lane and Bruce Eva, together with a panel consisting of the following experts[20]

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.[21]

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%.[22]

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%.[22]

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%.[23] 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.[24]

The final ratings survey for 2013 and the last to be conducted by Nielsen,[24] saw 3AW complete five years as Melbourne's number one radio station with 40 consecutive survey wins.[25]

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.[26] He was dismissed after the Nine Network withdrew up to $300,000 in advertising.[27]

In 1999, presenter Bruce Mansfield was sacked after it emerged that he had received benefits in exchange for giving favourable comments and interviews to companies on-air without proper prior disclosure.[28] He returned to the station as its night-time presenter in 2001.[29][30]

Former presenter Steve Price was tricked into accepting fake ecstasy tablets pressed with "3AW" from comedian John Safran as part of Safran's television show.[31]

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• Rumour File
• Radio Times

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• Article with 3AW/3EE Change-over photos and audio