2CH

2CH was a commercial radio station in Sydney, Australia which aired from 1932 to 2022. It was latterly owned by Sports Entertainment Network.

History

File:AWA 2CH transmitter ermington 1.jpg

The old 2CH transmitter in Ermington

File:AWA 2CH transmitter ermington 2.jpg

The old 2CH transmitter

2CH commenced broadcasting on 15 February 1932 on 1210 kHz.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>2CH Celebrating 80 Years of Entertaining Sydney! Template:Webarchive – 2CH. Retrieved 15 February 2012.</ref> It moved to 1190 kHz in September 1935,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> then 1170 kHz in 1952.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Ownership

The CH stands for "churches". In 1944, the NSW Council of Churches sub-let the licence to AWA who provided program content for six days per week, with the Council of Churches being responsible for programming on Sundays. By 1991, MLC had a 74% shareholding.<ref>Cross-ownership leads to resignation Canberra Times 9 January 1991 page 15</ref> It was sold to John Singleton in April 1994 becoming part of the Macquarie Radio Network.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In June 2003, its studios moved from Sussex Street to Pyrmont.<ref>2CH end of an era Radioinfo 5 February 2003</ref>

In January 2017, 2CH was sold to a consortium of Oceania Capital Partners, Glenn Wheatley and John Williams for $5.6 million.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The station had to be sold to comply with an undertaking given to the Australian Communications & Media Authority following the merger of the Macquarie Radio Network and Fairfax Media (owners of 2GB and 2UE respectively) to comply with legislation allowing one party to only control two radio stations in a market.<ref>Glenn Wheatley's EON Broadcasting adds 2CH to network after forced Macquarie Media sale Mumbrella 19 December 2016</ref>

The station posted a loss of $1.9 million on revenue of $2.4 million for the year to March 2019<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In June 2020, it was sold for $11 million to Sports Entertainment Network.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Church thanksgiving

On 18 February 2007, a thanksgiving service to celebrate 2CH's 75 years of broadcasting was held at St Andrew's Anglican Cathedral commencing at 2 pm. The Reverend Peter Jensen, the Anglican Archbishop of Sydney presided with Rev. Dr. Ross Clifford preaching.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Transition to 'DAB+ only' radio station and final end

In August 2020 after the station was purchased by Pacific Star, it was announced that 2CH would be switching to only broadcasting on digital radio.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 2CH was heard on DAB+ radio until 10 June 2022, after briefly simulcasting on DAB+ and 1170 kHz in the AM broadcast band. The station used be live-streamed over the internet until the station demise.

Although not the first 'DAB+ only' radio station in Australia, 2CH was probably the first to transition by relinquishing its AM radio frequency allocation.

Trevor Sinclair broadcast his final show on the AM broadcast band from Midday-7pm on 22 October 2020. Chris Kearns broadcast his show on both AM and DAB+ until midnight 22 October 2020, when the AM frequency 1170 kHz was taken over by 1170 SEN, carrying a dedicated sports broadcasting network, known as the Sports Entertainment Network.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> At 6Template:Nbsppm on 10 June 2022, 2CH left the airwaves for the final time with Jane Nield as the last live announcer.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> This follows an 18 month legacy after the Sports Entertainment Network purchased the station in 2020, and an unsuccessful DAB+ trial.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The former 2CH medium wave frequency, 1170 kHz, is now used by SEN 1170.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Veteran radio presenter Bob Rogers worked at the station, from 1995 until he retired in early October 2020, at the age of 93.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

External links

• Official website
• Media at Wikimedia Commons under Category: 2CH
• Radio Heritage Foundation - 2CH in 1946