Gold 104.3
 | |
| Broadcast area | Melbourne, Victoria |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 104.3 MHz |
| Branding | GOLD 104.3 |
| Programming | |
| Language(s) | English |
| Format | Classic hits/Adult Contemporary |
| Affiliations | Pure Gold Network |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| KIIS 101.1 | |
| History | |
First air date | 8 December 1930 (as 3KZ) |
Former call signs | 3KZ (1930–1990) |
Former names | KZFM (1990–1991) |
Former frequencies | 1350 kHz AM (1930–1935) 1180 kHz AM (1935–1978) 1179 kHz AM (1978–1990) |
Call sign meaning | 3 – Victoria KKZ – Derived from former callsign KZ |
| Technical information | |
| ERP | 56 kW |
| Links | |
| Website | www |
Gold 104.3 (call sign: 3KKZ) is a radio station broadcasting in Melbourne, Australia. It is part of ARN Media's Pure Gold Network and broadcasts on the 104.3 MHz frequency.
History
3KZ
3KZ commenced operations on 8 December 1930.[1] The radio station was initiated by the Industrial Printing and Publicity Group as a means of spreading its message, and in the station's early years, it was broadcast from the Victorian Trades Hall.[2]
Its original frequency was 1350 kHz, moving to 1180 kHz on 1 September 1935. The frequency changed again on 23 November 1978 to 1179 kHz when all Australian AM radio stations were assigned new frequencies as part of the new 9 kHz spacing plan implemented.[3]
In 1989, 3KZ was one of two successful bidders to convert to the FM band.
KZFM
As a result of winning an FM licence, 3KZ moved to 104.3 MHz on 1 January 1990.[4] The station relaunched as KZFM, despite the station's official call sign of 3KKZ, carrying over its successful "Hits And Memories" positioner, with some changes to presentation style. KZFM was simulcasted on both 1179 kHz and 104.3 MHz frequencies for one month before the old AM frequency was closed down, to be later reassigned (after 12 months) to 3RPH.
The KZ switch to FM paid immediate short term dividends, as the new KZFM debuted at number one in the first ratings survey of 1990,[5] breaking an almost three-year dominance by Fox FM.[6] However KZFM's success was short-lived, with ratings soon taking a dive and the station going into receivership in 1993.[7] Austereo purchased the station to supplement Fox FM. After Austereo merged with Triple M, KZFM was sold to Wesgo in 1995 to comply with Trade Practices Commission laws that allowed one organisation to only own two radio stations in the same market.[8]
Gold 104.3
On 7 October 1991, the KZFM branding was replaced with a new name of Gold 104 with a revamped playlist predominantly of hit songs from the 1960s and 1970s, under the banner "Good Times, Great Oldies". After the change in ownership with the Australian Radio Network, Gold became stable enough to re-build its market position, and return much of its heritage style from its days as 3KZ to the on-air presentation of the station. The original Gold 104 presenters were Shawn Cosgrove, Liz Sullivan, Gavin Wood, Craig Huggins, Bruce Neels and Phil Baildon.
Gold 104.3 and sister station KIIS 101.1 broadcast from shared facilities, in the Pelaco Building in the Melbourne suburb of Richmond.[9] Since 2015, the station has gradually shifted from classic hits to a more contemporary format that now predominantly focuses on hits from the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s and 2010s, In 2015, the 1960s songs has officially discontinued. The slogan changed from "Good Times and Great Classic Hits" to "Better Music and More of It" in mid 2010s.
The current presenters include Christian O'Connell, Craig Huggins, Toni Tenaglia and Dave Higgins.
Breakfast shows since 1999
- April 1999 – December 2011 – Grubby & Dee Dee for Breakfast[10]
- January 2012 – December 2015 – Brig & Lehmo for Breakfast[11]
- January 2016 – December 2017 – Jo & Lehmo for Breakfast[12]
- June 2018 – present – The Christian O'Connell Show[13]
References
- ^ "3KZ at Trades Hall". The Argus. 9 December 1930. p. 3. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
- ^ "History of Trades Hall". Ergo. State Library of Victoria. Retrieved 1 December 2018.
- ^ "New Wave Lengths". Sydney Morning Herald. 30 August 1935. p. 11. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
- ^ Broadcasting Act 1942: Notices under subsections 89T (2) and (6) Commonwealth of Australia Gazette 3 July 1991 page 2119
- ^ Wright, Lea (19 April 1990). "FM Converts Find the Punt Pays Fff". Sydney Morning Herald. p. 34. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
- ^ Sadlier, Kevin (8 April 1990). "Ho Hum. 2MMM Tops the Ratings Again". The Sun-Herald. Sydney, Australia. p. 126. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
- ^ Brewster, Deborah (3 March 1994). "How Gold Turned To Red Ink For FM Oldies Pioneer". Business. The Age. Melbourne, Australia. p. 17. Retrieved 26 April 2010.
- ^ FM station sold Canberra Times 18 January 1995 page 27
- ^ Contact & Complaints Gold 104.3
- ^ "Grubby and Dee Dee axed from Melbourne's Gold104.3 FM". Mumbrella. 2 December 2011.
- ^ "Brig & Lehmo re-sign to Gold". 21 November 2012.
- ^ "Jo Stanley Confirmed for Gold104.3". Radio Today. 26 November 2015. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
- ^ "UK Radio Star Christian O'Connell to Replace Axed GOLD 104.3 Brekkie Hosts Jo & Lehmo". February 2018.