96.5 Wave FM
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96.5 Wave FM (call sign 2UUL) is a commercial radio station broadcasting on the FM band to the
Illawarra The Illawarra is a coastal region in the Australian state of New South Wales, nestled between the mountains and the sea. It is situated immediately south of Sydney and north of the South Coast region. It encompasses the two cities of Wollong ...
region of
New South Wales ) , nickname = , image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , es ...
,
Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands. With an area of , Australia is the largest country by ...
. It is owned by ARN after ARN's purchase of the Grant Broadcasters radio network. 96.5 Wave FM competes with rival i98 at the top of the Illawarra's ratings for radio listenership.


History

The station was born as 2WL and commenced broadcasting on 18 July 1931. The station was owned by Wollongong Broadcasting Pty Ltd. The station studio and offices were in Edward St, Wollongong and were linked to a broadcasting antenna at Unanderra. The station was officially opened by J. P. Caddy, president of the Illawarra Chamber of Commerce and Industry. In November 1980, 2WL went off air briefly after a tornado badly damaged 2WL's Port Kembla broadcast tower. After 61 years of AM broadcasting, the station moved to the FM band in July 1992. In July 2021, it was announced that prominent i98 announcers Lyndal Rogers and Ryan Cram would be moving to the competition, joining Wave FM to host a new drive show. Their show replaced the nationally syndicated
Nova A nova (plural novae or novas) is a transient astronomical event that causes the sudden appearance of a bright, apparently "new" star (hence the name "nova", which is Latin for "new") that slowly fades over weeks or months. Causes of the dramat ...
program Kate, Tim & Joel. In November 2021, the Australian Radio Network (ARN) announced the acquisition of the Grant Broadcasters radio network, which included Wave FM. In September 2021, former
Australian Idol ''Australian Idol'' is an Australian singing competition, which began its first season in July 2003 and ended its initial run in November 2009. As part of the ''Idol'' franchise, Australian Idol originated from the reality program '' Pop Ido ...
winner Damien Leith joined the breakfast show as an announcer after a successful stint doing breakfast radio at sister station Power FM in
Muswellbrook Muswellbrook ( ) is a town in the Upper Hunter Region of New South Wales, Australia, about north of Sydney and north-west of Newcastle. Geologically, Muswellbrook is situated in the northern parts of the Sydney basin, bordering the New Engla ...
.


Presenters

* Damien Leith, Breakfast * Jade Tonta, Breakfast * Dean Kesby, Mornings * Matthew Brokenbrough, Workday * Lyndal Rogers, Drive * Ryan Cram, Drive


References

{{Australian Radio Network Radio stations in New South Wales Radio stations established in 1931 1931 establishments in Australia Australian Radio Network South Coast (New South Wales)