2CH

For other uses, see 2CH (disambiguation).

2CH
FrequencyDAB+ Sydney 2
BrandingClassic Hits 2CH
Programming
FormatClassic Hits
Ownership
Owner
History
First air date
15 February 1932 (1932-02-15)
Last air date
10 June 2022
Former frequencies
1210 kHz AM (1932–1935)
1170 kHz AM (1935 – 22 October 2020)
Call sign meaning
Churches = The Council of Churches
Technical information
ERP5kW
Links
Websitewww.2ch.com.au

2CH was a commercial radio station in Sydney, Australia, which closed on 10 June 2022, after more than 90 years on the air. It was latterly owned by Sports Entertainment Network.

History

The old 2CH transmitter in Ermington
The old 2CH transmitter

2CH commenced broadcasting on 15 February 1932 on 1210 kHz.[1][2] It moved to its final AM frequency of 1170 kHz in 1935.[3]

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.[4] It was sold to John Singleton in April 1994 becoming part of the Macquarie Radio Network.[5] In June 2003, its studios moved from Sussex Street to Pyrmont.[6]

In January 2017, 2CH was sold to a consortium of Oceania Capital Partners, Glenn Wheatley and John Williams for $5.6 million.[7] 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.[8]

The station posted a loss of $1.9 million on revenue of $2.4 million for the year to March 2019[9] In June 2020, it was sold for $11 million to Sports Entertainment Network.[10][11]

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.[12]

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.[13] 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.[14] At 6 pm on 10 June 2022, 2CH left the airwaves for the final time with Jane Nield as the last live announcer.[15][16] This follows an 18 month legacy after the Sports Entertainment Network purchased the station in 2020, and an unsuccessful DAB+ trial.[17]

The former 2CH medium wave frequency, 1170 kHz, is now used by SEN 1170.[18]

Veteran radio presenter Bob Rogers worked at the station, from 1995 until he retired in early October 2020, at the age of 93.[19]

References

  1. ^ "2CH to Open Soon". Sydney Morning Herald. 5 February 1932. p. 8. Retrieved 1 May 2010 – via National Library of Australia.
  2. ^ 2CH Celebrating 80 Years of Entertaining Sydney! Archived 21 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine – 2CH. Retrieved 15 February 2012.
  3. ^ "New Wave Lengths". Sydney Morning Herald. 30 August 1935. p. 11. Retrieved 25 April 2010 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ^ Cross-ownership leads to resignation Canberra Times 9 January 1991 page 15
  5. ^ Lecky, Sue (21 April 1994). "Singleton Short-Circuits 2CH News". News and Features. Sydney Morning Herald. p. 3. Archived from the original on 21 March 2012. Retrieved 26 April 2010.
  6. ^ 2CH end of an era Radioinfo 5 February 2003
  7. ^ "2CH sold to Oceania Capital". radiotoday.com.au. 19 December 2016. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
  8. ^ Glenn Wheatley's EON Broadcasting adds 2CH to network after forced Macquarie Media sale Mumbrella 19 December 2016
  9. ^ "Oceania Capital Partners Annual Report 2019" (PDF). ASX. 26 June 2019.
  10. ^ "Craig Hutchison's sports network SEN has acquired 2CH Sydney". Radio Today. 4 June 2020. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  11. ^ "2CH to keep Music Format: That's a Croc... | radioinfo". radioinfo.com.au. Archived from the original on 1 March 2021. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  12. ^ "NSW Council of Churches – Coming Events". Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 13 February 2007.
  13. ^ "2CH goes to DAB+ only as AM1170 moves to sport in Sydney". RadioInfo Australia. 10 August 2020. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  14. ^ "Brandy and Brantz join 1170 SEN Sydney". RadioInfo Australia. 8 October 2022. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  15. ^ "Sydney's 2CH on DAB+ |". 2CH. Archived from the original on 6 June 2023. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
  16. ^ Patterson, Sarah (9 June 2022). "Goodbye 2CH". Radio Today. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  17. ^ Manning, James (9 June 2022). "Radio station 2CH axed! SEN pulls the plug after unsuccessful DAB+ trial". Mediaweek. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  18. ^ "Listen Live to 1170 SEN Sydney". www.sen.com.au. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  19. ^ "Legendary broadcaster Bob Rogers confirms radio retirement". Radio Today. 28 September 2020. Retrieved 4 March 2021.