Fox FM (Melbourne)
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| City of license | Mt Dandenong |
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| Broadcast area | Melbourne |
| Branding | 101.9 The Fox |
| Slogan | Melbourne's '#1 Hit' Music Station |
| Frequency | 101.9 MHz FM |
| First air date | 1 August 1980 |
| Format | Top 40 (CHR) |
| Language | English |
| ERP | 56 kW |
| Affiliations | Today Network |
| Owner | Austereo Radio Network |
| Sister stations | 3MMM |
| Webcast | FOX Player |
| Website | www.fox.com.au |
Fox FM (call sign: 3FOX) is a radio station that serves the Melbourne, Australia, broadcasting on the FM band at a frequency of 101.9 MHz. Licensed to Mount Dandenong, Victoria, the station is currently owned by the Austereo Radio Network. The station's transmitter is located on the ATV-10 transmission tower on top of Mount Dandenong, Victoria. Fox FM has held the coveted number one FM position for many years in the ACNielsen ratings, and is currently the most listened to radio station in Australia, with over 1.1 million listeners weekly (even more than sister station in Sydney, 2Day FM). It is home to Australia's most successful radio shows, The Matt & Jo Show, Hamish & Andy, and Fifi & Jules.
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[edit] Station history
Fox FM started life at 5:00:00 PM on 1 August 1980. The station was put together by radio consultant Rhett H. Walker, who also acted as first General Manager. This followed a successful stint for Walker as a consultant for Radio 3KZ in 1979. One of Fox FM's original advertising lines was 'Catch the Fox' (at one-0-one-point nine).
The first song to be played on air, George Benson's "Breezin'," was played at the wrong speed by the station's first presenter, John Aimes. Aimes suggested this was due to harassment by studio manager Gary Collins, who was allegedly fussing around him in the studio right before the station went on air.
The first station studio equipment was a 16 channel Poul Kirk mixing desk, four cuemaster cart decks, JBL studio pro speakers and (then brand new) Technics turntables. The studio was pleasant to work in with a floor-to-ceiling window giving a view of filming of such Channel Ten programs as Neighbours, Prisoner and the short-lived Holiday Island.
The first two years of the station's life were not easy. Melbourne listeners did not initially flock to the new FM stations, sticking to their regular listening habits with stations such as 3AW, 3MP and 3XY. It was positioned originally as a classy easy listening style format. The format, FM is FOX MUSIC, came later, under the management of former 3XY station manager Graeham Smith.
The first presenter line up for FOX FM was:
- Breakfast: Mike Jeffreys (now overnight presenter 2UE)
- Mornings: Rod McNeil, former ABC national newsreader (now working on Thai radio)
- Afternoons: Graham Braddy, former 3KZ (deceased)
- Afternoons: Richard Coombe, former 3LO drive presenter (with Graeme Kennedy) - ABC (deceased - 1990)
- Drive: John Aimes, former 3LO ABC (unknown at present)
- Overnight: Geoff Harrison, former 3KZ (now foreign correspondent based in Sweden for BBC TV/Radio)
The first newsroom staff were:
- News director: Michael Schildberger (deceased)
- Pamela McKay (now Network Ten USA news chief)
- Charles Slade (former 747 pilot who went on to Network Ten news in the 1980s and early 90s also former National Nine News reporter)
In 1982, the station's owners (which included Sir Donald Trescowthic, major shareholder of the Age Newspaper group) lost confidence in the original format and hired Mr. Smith to implement changes.
All the former announcers, except for Geoff Harrison were let go. Also, the station's instigator and first General Manager, Rhett H. Walker (now Associate Dean at La Trobe University) moved on to greener pastures.
From then on, the station was positioned with a pop rock format, appealing to the widest possible audience. This caused a steady rise in ratings through the mid 1980s, eventually landing the station in top position in Melbourne by 1986. The changes included new presenters, such as Gavin Wood (former TV show Countdown and 3XY announcer) and Barry Bissell, now presenter of the weekly Take 40 Australia network program. Take 40 Australia was a weekly countdown of the current ARIA Top 40 singles chart.
FOX was one of two original FM radio license holders in Melbourne. It aimed to be the first commercial FM station to commence broadcasting in Australia, although it was eventually beaten by 3EON (which is now FOX's sister station, 3MMM). FOX started life playing popular easy listening music whilst its other FM rival had adopted a more rock album orientated format. Throughout the history of the station its logo and marketing have always included a picture of a fox, although this was discontinued in 2005 when the entire Today Network introduced new standardised logos, much to the disappointment of many.
In 1986 FOX was bought by the owners of SAFM to create the Austereo Radio Network, which now - as the Today Network - boasts five additional stations around Australia. It was at this time that announcer Mark Carter was moved from the breakfast shift to the afternoon shift, quickly becoming the most popular announcer in Melbourne over a record 11 surveys conducted and contributing to the rise in popularity of the station.[citation needed]
In 1996 the Today Network, owned by the Adelaide based Austereo, merged with the Triple M network to form a single radio company. The merge was unpopular with Fox staff due to the rivalry between the two stations.
During September 2008, Fox FM re-located from studios at 180 St Kilda Road (with sister station Triple M) to brand new studios at 257 Clarendon Street, South Melbourne. The Matt and Jo Show gave away many items from the old studios during their last show at the St Kilda Road studios.
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FOX FM Building (-2008), St Kilda Road, St Kilda
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Current FOX FM building sign (2008-present), Clarendon Street, South Melbourne
[edit] Transmission
Fox FM transmits from the ATV-10 transmission tower on top of Mount Dandenong, Victoria, from a shared facility alongside radio stations Nova 100, Triple M, Gold FM 104.3, Mix 101.1, Student Youth Network and Triple R. Its base power is 10KW, and this is provided by a Harris HT10 FM transmitter.
[edit] Digital Radio
Fox FM is simulcast on Digital Radio in Melbourne.
Fox FM launched Choose The Hits Jelli, a station only broadcast on Digital Radio, was launched on 1 February 2010, and closed on 26 May 2010.[citation needed]
[edit] Executive Team
- General Manager - Ben Amarfio
- Content Director (and also Head of Today Network) - Dave Cameron
- Sales Directors - Cathy Thomas & Peter Whitehead
- Finance Manager - John Bucknell
- Assistant Content Director / Music Director - Scott Baker-Smith
- Technology Manager - Rorie Ryan
- News Director - Steve Speziale
- Production/Imaging Director - Matt Nikolic
- Tactics Manager - Harriet Legg
[edit] Programming
Fox FM gradually grew from a top 40/pop format into a top 40/dance format over its history. Notable past announcers and programs have included Pillow Talk with Sally Cockburn, Danger: Low Brow, net@nite with Andy Grace, Barry Bissell's Take 40 Australia, and ABCTV's Jodie J. Hill.
From 1995 to 1998, Fox FM broadcast the Martin/Molloy drive program with Tony Martin and Mick Molloy. This program was networked to over 50 stations around Australia, and is considered[by whom?] one of Australia's most successful FM radio shows.
For six years the breakfast shift was held by Tracy Bartram and Matt Tilley, using the title Tracy and Matt in the Morning. After a gradual increase in ratings, the pair secured the number one position for the Melbourne breakfast shift in the AC Nielson survey during 2001, beating traditional Melbourne number one station 3AW. Along with the rest of the station, Tracey and Tilley's ratings fell with the introduction of rival station Nova 100 into the market.
In 2003, Fox FM launched the The Matt & Jo Show, featuring Matt Tilley and Jo Stanley with Troy Ellis as anchor. The show has consistently won the FM breakfast time slot, beating closest rivals Hughesy & Kate at Nova 100 for over 7 years.[when?]
From 2006, Fox FM was home to Australia's most successful networked radio show ever,[citation needed] Hamish & Andy, starring Hamish Blake and Andy Lee. The program finished their daily drive program on Friday 26 November 2010, but still broadcast a weekly version of the show from Fox FM every Friday.
In 2012, the drive program Monday to Thursday includes the Fifi & Jules show with Fifi Box and Jules Lund. The show is broadcast Australia wide across the Today Network, and has enjoyed positive ratings since its inception in 2011.[citation needed]
Fox FM has held the number one FM position for many years in the ACNielsen ratings, and is currently the most listened to radio station in Australia, with over 1.1 million listeners weekly.[citation needed]
[edit] Announcers
- The Matt and Jo Show with Matt Tilley, Jo Stanley, Adam Richard & Troy Ellis - 6-9am
- Mike Christian (MC) - 9-1pm
- Tim Lee - 1-4pm
- Fifi & Jules - 4-6pm (Monday to Thursday)
- Hamish & Andy - 4-6pm (Friday)
- The Hour of Power with Kyle & Jackie O - 6-7pm
- The Dirt with Charli Robinson - 7-7:30pm
- The Hot 30 Countdown with Matty Acton and Maude Garrett - 7:30-10pm
- Melbourne's Biggest Hits - 10pm-6am
Fill-in/Weekend Announcers:
- Mathew 'Eggo' Eggleston
- Adrian Brine
- Ben Wasley
[edit] News
Current Newsreaders:
- Carlie Bonavia (Breakfast)
- Kris McKenzie
- Erin Ivancic (aka:- Erin Giansiracusa) (Drive)
- Alicia Byrne (weekend)
Former Newsreaders:
- Susannah Wilson
- Christie Kerr
- Peta Leslie
[edit] Traffic
[edit] Former Announcers
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[edit] References
[edit] External links
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