Triple M


Triple M is an Australian commercial radio network owned and operated by Southern Cross Austereo. The network consists of 45 radio stations with flagship stations broadcasting a mainstream/classic rock music format in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane, 37 regional stations broadcasting a modern adult contemporary/adult hits format and 5 digital radio stations.
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.

History

The first Triple M station was Triple M Sydney, which commenced broadcasting to Sydney on 2 August 1980. Triple M Sydney and then-rival 2Day FM were the first commercial FM radio stations 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 ", from his 1979 album Tarot Suite.
In 1988, Melbourne radio station EON FM, 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. 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, and the 5MMM callsign is now used by Triple M Adelaide.
Perth radio station 96FM 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" to be a part of the Triple M network in Perth utilising local programming 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.
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 referred to itself as 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.
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. 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.
On 25 November 2013, Triple M Classic Rock Digital radio station was launched. 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.

Stations

, the Triple M network consists of 40 AM and FM radio stations.
Bundaberg
, the Triple M network broadcasts an additional six radio stations on DAB+ digital radio.
YearsTriple M stationFormatAvailabilityHistory
2013–2016, 2017–presentTriple M Classic RockClassic rockSydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and Hobart
2021–presentTriple M 80s1980s musicSydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and AdelaideFormerly known as:
– Triple M Soft Rock
– Triple M Aussie
– Triple M Modern Digital
– Triple M Modern Rock
– Triple M Perth
2023–presentTriple M Tradie Radio1990s music, 2000s musicSydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and HobartFormerly known as:
– Triple M 90s
– Triple M Greatest Hits
– OMG!
2022–presentTriple M 2000s2000s musicSydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and AdelaideFormerly known as:
– Triple M Hard n Heavy

Hard N Heavy was moved to the LiSNTR internet radio platform.

2018–presentTriple M CountryCountry musicSydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and HobartFormerly known as:
– The Range
2023–presentTriple M Almost AcousticAcoustic musicSydney, Melbourne, Brisbane

Southern Cross Austereo also owns Mix 106.3 Canberra along with the Australian Radio Network, and is part of the Triple M network, although it is operated primarily by ARN as part of its KIIS Network.

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. 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 Football League

first broadcast Australian Football League games in 1997 after securing broadcasting rights. In 1999 Triple M expanded its coverage to Triple M Adelaide followed by Triple M Sydney and Triple M Brisbane in 2005 and Triple M Perth in 2021 with regional stations around the country also having coverage. The 2024 coverage includes the following broadcasters:
Commentators
Experts
Boundary
Journalists
  • Damian Barrett - Chief correspondent at AFL Media
  • Jay Clark - AFL reporter at the Herald Sun
  • Nat Yoannidis - Sports reporter at Channel 9
Triple M is the only commercial FM broadcasters of the AFL in Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Brisbane and Sydney Triple M is best known for offering a less formal coverage than AM radio, providing listeners with a sense of comedy to the call while still calling the action. The station is the only radio station that provide listeners with the umpires microphones often heard on TV coverage. The TISM song ‘Shut Up the Footy’s on the Radio’ the radio stations theme song and is often heard throughout the broadcast before and after ad breaks in games.