96.5 Wave FM
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}} {{Use Australian English|date=July 2019}}
{{Infobox radio station
| name = 96.5 Wave FM
| callsign = 2UUL
| city = Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
| branding = Illawarra's Best Music
| language = English
| format = Hot adult contemporary
| owner = ARN
| licensee = Wollongong Broadcasters Pty Ltd
| sister_stations = Hot Tomato
| airdate = {{start date|df=yes|1931|7|18}}
| former_callsigns = 2WL
| former_frequencies = 1435 kHz AM (1931–1935),{{cite news |title=Australian and New Zealand Station List |work=The Listener In |publisher=The Herald and Weekly Times |date=10 August 1935}} 1430 kHz AM (1935–1978),{{cite news |title=Australian and New Zealand Station List |work=The Listener In |publisher=The Herald and Weekly Times |date=10 August 1935}} 1314 kHz AM (1978–1992)
| callsign_meaning = Three-letter variation on former 2WL call sign
| acma_bsl = 4137
| licensing_authority = ACMA
| power =
| erp = 40 kW
| haat =
| coordinates =
| website = {{url|http://wavefm.com.au/}}
}}
96.5 Wave FM (call sign 2UUL) is a commercial radio station broadcasting on the FM band to the Illawarra region{{Cite web |title=Wave FM 96.5 |url=http://www.radioalive.com.au/Find-a-Station/Radio-Station/2UUL |url-status=live |access-date=2022-03-05 |website=Radio Alive|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180401104910/http://www.radioalive.com.au/Find-a-Station/Radio-Station/2UUL |archive-date=1 April 2018 }} of New South Wales, Australia. It is owned by ARN after ARN's purchase of the Grant Broadcasters radio network.{{Cite web |date=2021-11-11 |title=ARN acquires Grant Broadcasters for $307 million |url=https://radiotoday.com.au/arn-acquires-grant-broadcasters/ |access-date=2022-03-04 |website=Radio Today |language=en-AU}} 96.5 Wave FM competes with rival i98 at the top of the Illawarra's ratings for radio listenership.{{Cite web |date=2019-10-04 |title=Wollongong Ratings: i98 remains dominant in the 'gong |url=https://radiotoday.com.au/wollongong-ratings-i98-remains-dominant-in-the-gong/ |access-date=2022-03-04 |website=Radio Today |language=en-AU}}
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 Street, Wollongong and were linked to a broadcasting antenna at Unanderra.{{Cite web |title=Radio Station-2WL {{!}} Illawarra Museum & Historical Society |url=https://www.illawarramuseum.com/page/radio-station-2wl |access-date=2022-03-04 |website=www.illawarramuseum.com}} The station was officially opened by J. P. Caddy, president of the Illawarra Chamber of Commerce and Industry.{{Cite web |title=Radio 2WL The South Coast Station |url=https://www.radioheritage.net/Story222.asp |access-date=2022-03-04 |website=www.radioheritage.net}}
In November 1980, 2WL went off air briefly after a tornado brought down one of their two Windang transmitter towers.{{Cite web |date=2012-06-21 |title=The Vault: 2WL Wollongong |url=https://radiotoday.com.au/the-vault-2wl-wollongong/ |access-date=2022-03-04 |website=Radio Today |language=en-AU}} After 61 years of AM broadcasting, the station moved to the FM band in July 1992.{{Cite web |last=Andrew |date=2012-06-20 |title=2WL Studios 1970 |url=http://www.theradioantenna.com/?p=963 |access-date=2022-03-04 |website=The Radio Antenna |language=en-US}}
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 program Kate, Tim & Joel.{{Cite web |date=2021-07-18 |title=Crammy and Lyndal Wave goodbye to i98FM |url=https://radioinfo.com.au/news/crammy-and-lyndal-wave-goodbye-i98fm/ |access-date=2022-03-04 |website=RadioInfo Australia |language=en-US}}
In November 2021, ARN announced the acquisition of Grant Broadcasters which included Wave FM.
In September 2021, former Australian Idol winner Damien Leith joined the breakfast show as an announcer after a successful stint doing breakfast radio at sister station Power FM 98.1 in Muswellbrook.{{Cite web |date=2020-09-01 |title=Damien Leith heads to Wave FM Breakfast |url=https://radiotoday.com.au/damien-leith-wave-fm/ |access-date=2022-03-04 |website=Radio Today |language=en-AU}}
Presenters
- Damien Leith{{r|leith}}, Breakfast
- Jade Tonta, Breakfast
- Dean Kesby, Mornings
- Matthew Brokenbrough, Workday{{Cite web |date=March 8, 2022 |title=Matthew 'MJ' Brokenbrough |url=https://radioinfo.com.au/people/movements/matthew-mj-brokenbrough/ |access-date=2022-03-18 |website=RadioInfo Australia |language=en-US}}
- Lyndal Rogers, Drive
- Ryan Cram, Drive