Triple M

Triple M is an Australian commercial radio network owned and operated by Southern Cross Austereo. The network consists of 40 radio stations broadcasting a mainstream rock music format and 5 digital radio stations.

For the American radio station, see WMMM-FM. For other uses, see MMM.

Triple M
Type
Country
Australia
Slogan
  • Rock's Greatest Hits
  • Everything [Market]
HeadquartersSouth Melbourne, Victoria
Broadcast area
Australia
OwnerSouthern Cross Austereo
Launch date
1980 (1980)
Official website
www.triplem.com.au
LanguageEnglish

The network dates back to the launch of Triple M Sydney in 1980. On 15 December 2016, the network was amalgamated with the LocalWorks network of regional radio stations.[1]

History
Further information: Triple M Sydney and Southern Cross Austereo

The first Triple M station was Triple M Sydney, which commenced broadcasting to Sydney on 2 August 1980. Alongside then-rival 2Day FM, it was the first commercial FM radio station in Sydney. Throughout the 1980s, Triple M was one of the highest-rating radio stations in Sydney, spearheaded by its morning show presented by Doug Mulray and featuring the writing of and occasional appearances by Andrew Denton. For all of this period and into the 1990s, Triple M's promotional campaign featured the character "Dr Dan", a guitar-playing satyr with wings, inspired by artwork by legendary Australian cartoonist Peter Ledger, and a theme song that was an extended reworking of the Mike Batt track "Introduction (The Journey of a Fool)", from his 1979 album Tarot Suite.

In 1988, Melbourne radio station EON FM (3EON), 92.3 was taken over by Triple M and changed its callsign to Triple M and moved to 105.1 MHz in November 1988. EON FM was Australia's first commercial FM radio station, commencing broadcasting on 11 July 1980.

Brisbane radio station Triple M Brisbane was launched in 1980 and took on the FM104 identity soon after. It returned to the Triple M identity in early 1990. Its callsign has remained 4MMM since its 1980 launch. Triple M Brisbane started broadcasting on 104.1FM, then late in the 1980s changed to its present frequency of 104.5-FM.

Adelaide radio station 5KA converted from 1197 kHz to 104.7 MHz on 1 January 1990 and was renamed KAFM (5KKA). The station was taken over by Village Roadshow, who then owned Triple M, and they successfully negotiated the purchase of the 5MMM callsign from a community radio station in 1993. That station is now known as Three D Radio (5DDD), and the 5MMM callsign is now used by Triple M Adelaide (104.7)

Perth radio station 96FM (6NOW) also carried the Triple M identity and 6MMM callsign in the early 1990s but was then sold to Southern Cross Broadcasting who changed the station's identity back to its original name. Mix 94.5 until December 2020 was "considered"[2] to be a part of the Triple M network in Perth utilising local programming (as opposed to airing networked Triple M programmes) and Mix 94.5 didn’t carry the Triple M brand, logo or call letters.

In Auckland, New Zealand, a Triple M station existed between 1984 and 1988 when 89 Stereo FM became part of Triple M. The station previously used the call sign 1ROQ and changed to 1MMM when becoming part of Triple M. New Zealand no longer uses radio station call signs. This station later reverted to 89FM in 1988 and eventually closed down in 1994.[3]

While many of the comedy and talk programs are networked, large sections of music programming originate from the local market of each Triple M.

On Friday 17 November 2006, Triple M (including Mix 94.5 in Perth) referred to itself as U2FM for the day, as part of a promotion relating to the band U2 and their 2006 Australian Tour and CD release.

Triple M launched High Voltage Radio, a "pop up" digital radio station that exclusively played AC/DC for the duration of the band's 2010 tour of Australia.[4]

On 16 August 2013, Triple M Perth was launched on digital radio, returning the station to Perth. Branded as Perth's Real Music Alternative, the station also carried Triple M AFL coverage.[5] On 27 September 2014, the station was replaced by Triple M Modern Rock Digital. Featuring only new rock music, the station also expanded to Adelaide.[6]

On 25 November 2013, Triple M Classic Rock Digital radio station was launched.[7][8] The station format is exclusively classic rock, with no announcer talkback.

On 1 December 2020, the Triple M brand was relaunched in Perth, replacing contemporary hit radio station Hit 92.9 after sister station Mix 94.5 switched affiliation to the Hit Network.[9]

Stations

As of 1 December 2020, the Triple M network consists of 40 AM and FM radio stations.

Digital radio

As of 20 July 2020, the Triple M network broadcasts an additional five radio stations on DAB+ digital radio.

Years Triple M station Format Availability History
2020–Triple M 90s1990s musicSydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and HobartFormerly known as Triple M Greatest Hits (2017-2020), OMG! (2016-2017)
2013–2016, 2017–Triple M Classic RockClassic rockSydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and Hobart
2018–Triple M CountryCountry musicSydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and HobartFormerly known as The Range
2019–Triple M Hard n HeavyHard rockSydney, Melbourne, Brisbane
2019–Triple M Soft RockSoft rockSydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, PerthFormerly known as Triple M Aussie (2019), Triple M Modern Digital (2017-2019), Triple M Modern Rock (2014-2016), Triple M Perth (2013-2014)

Music

M-One Rock festival

In September 2002, Triple M and Frontier Touring held four rock concerts in Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney as part of the touring M-One festival, which featured Goo Goo Dolls, Nickelback, Garbage, Lifehouse, Default, Midnight Oil and Antiskeptic.

Essential Countdown

In 2004, the national network counted down the Triple M Essential 2005 Songs from Boxing Day to Australia Day. The number one song was Violent Femmes' "Blister in the Sun".

Triple M have held an Essential Countdown based on listener votes since 2006, beginning in October of each year, counting the same number of songs as the year (e.g., 2006 songs in 2006). The countdown has received some criticism for being overly similar to the Triple J Hottest 100 countdown, despite the Triple J Hottest 100 only including songs from the preceding 12 months.

Sports broadcasting

Australian rules football

Triple M Melbourne initially secured Australian Football League broadcast rights in 1997. In 1999 Triple M expanded its coverage to Triple M Adelaide followed by Triple M Sydney and Brisbane in 2005 and includes the following local teams:

Triple M is one of only two FM broadcasters of the AFL in Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane and Sydney (although only the local teams - the Brisbane Lions and Sydney Swans respectively - are covered in the latter two cities.) The only other one is the National Indigenous Radio Service (NIRS). Triple M is best known for offering a less formal coverage than AM radio. Not only is the coverage considered informative and accurate, but the team works together providing a sense of comedy to the call. Another aspect that differs from AM coverage of football is the bumper music used to and from breaks, which is instrumental versions of modern rock songs (such as Franz Ferdinand's "Take Me Out", Hard-Fi's "Hard to Beat", The Living End's "Tabloid Magazine", and The Darkness' "I Believe in a Thing Called Love", which were predominantly used during 2004–present).

In October 2006, Triple M was granted AFL broadcast rights for a further three years.

Rugby league

In October 2006, the National Rugby League announced that beginning in 2007, Triple M Sydney would be the exclusive commercial broadcaster of Monday Night Rugby league matches. The coverage began on 19 March with the Round 1 match between the Sydney Roosters and South Sydney Rabbitohs. The commentary team includes Andrew Johns, Peter Sterling and Dan Ginnane.

Cricket

In 2009, Triple M broadcast twenty20 cricket live between the Australian Cricket Team, South African Cricket Team and the New Zealand Cricket Team. Commentators included Damien Fleming, Stuart MacGill, Greg Blewett, and Brendan Julian.

In December 2016, Triple M became the first FM radio station to broadcast test cricket. Commentators included James Brayshaw, Kerry O'Keeffe, Michael Slater, Brett Lee, Brad Haddin, Merv Hughes, Darren Berry, H.G Nelson, Jules Schiller, Lawrence Mooney, Gus Worland, Neroli Meadows, Isa Guha, Mick Molloy and Mark Howard.

References
  1. "SCA to rebrand regional to Hit and Triple M". Radio Today (Australia). 20 September 2016.
  2. "SCA Corporate Website - Southern Cross Austereo". www.austereo.com.au. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
  3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 11 June 2015.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. Austereo Adds Fourth Digital Radio Band - Perth Now, 10 February 2010
  5. "Triple M Rocks Perth!". Triple M Sydney. 16 August 2013. Retrieved 16 May 2015.
  6. "Triple M Launches New Digital Radio Station". theMusic.com.au. 26 September 2014. Retrieved 16 May 2015.
  7. "Triple M Classic Rock Digital". Triple M. Southern Cross Austereo. 28 October 2013. Retrieved 30 November 2013.
  8. Hemphill, Brooke (30 October 2013). "Triple M to launch digital channel". Mumbrella. Focal Attractions. Retrieved 30 November 2013.
  9. Hoffman, Lily (18 November 2020). "Perth radio shake up: New Triple M station, Xavier Ellis, Juelz Jarry and Pete Curulli breakfast show axed". The West Australian. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
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