KIIS 106.5

File:A wet Angel Place, Sydney, 1930s - Sam Hood (3293630577).jpg

File:SLNSW 11548 Children who entered an adventure story competition on 2UW receive Malvern Star bicycles from champion cyclist Hubert Opperman extreme right.jpg bicycles from champion cyclist Hubert Opperman (extreme right)]]

The station, now known as KIIS, began life as 2UW, commencing transmission on 13 February 1925 on 1125 kHz on the AM band. On 1 September 1935, the frequency changed to 1110 kHz and in 1978 changed again to 1107 kHz.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article17184965 |title=New Wave Lengths |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |issue=30,470 |location=Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |date=30 August 1935 |accessdate=25 April 2010 |page=11 |via=National Library of Australia}} 2UW was the home of many live radio plays and had studios for live programmes at Market Street in Sydney, near the intersection with George Street.

The management of 2UW moved the station to 365 Kent Street, Sydney although for a time they retained the Market Street live audience theatre that had been used for live plays. One of its early breakfast presenters, Russ Walkington, had a character known as Gerald the Grasshopper who pre-dated Sammy Sparrow who appeared on 2UE with Gary O'Callaghan. In 1935 it became the first radio station outside the United States (and thus the first in both the British Empire and the Southern Hemisphere) to broadcast 24 hours a day.Carty, Bruce On the Air: Australian Radio History, privately published Gosford N.S.W., 2013 During the 1940s and 1950s the format spread throughout the country and by the end of the 1960s, almost all commercial radio stations in Australia were broadcasting day-round.{{cn|date=November 2024}}

From the early 1960s, 2UW moved away from its older audience and actively pursued the youth market through the introduction of a Top 40 format in response to the music coming from the United States and Great Britain and to provide a vehicle for the up-and-coming Australian local rock scene.{{cn|date=November 2024}}

2UW was one of the most innovative AM radio stations in Australia during the mid-1960s through to the early 1970s thanks to the programming of Ray Bean.{{cn|date=November 2024}} Ray introduced the NEW2UW (spoken as "new U-W") '1110' men comprising announcers John Melouney (breakfast), John Thompson (morning), Tony McLaren (afternoon), Ward "Pally" Austin (drive time), Rod Christopher (early evening), and Jeff Hall (late nights and Dial A Hit on Saturday nights).{{cn|date=November 2024}} They were later joined by 'Baby' John Burgess, Donnie Sutherland, Phil Hunter, Gary Stewart, Graham Sawyer and a range of others, including Malcolm T. Elliott, who took Top 40 radio to a new level as part of the NEW2UW format being broadcast from the Kent Street studios in Sydney.{{cn|date=November 2024}} The '1110 men' also took their music to the streets with promotions in such places as beaches, parks and shopping centres. One of the most successful promotions was the NEW2UW studio at the Sydney Royal Easter Show at the old RAS showgrounds at Moore Park.{{cn|date=November 2024}} This provided a unique opportunity for the radio station's stars to mingle with their listeners. In 1969 the NEW2UW managed to lure announcer John Laws from his drive time slot at 2UE and gave Laws his first morning programme in Sydney radio which was an immediate success, but also brought much confusion to the audience as the radio station went through a series of breakfast announcers and format changes which sought to capitalise on the success of the John Laws programme, while trying to hang on its huge audience - many of whom were not ready for the introduction of talk-back radio by their beloved NEW2UW.{{cn|date=November 2024}}

The NEW2UW had a close association with the Daily Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph and operated a news service from its own Kent Street studios and a news studio in the Daily Telegraph Building in Park Street Sydney when the Telegraph papers were owned by Sir Frank Packer.{{cn|date=November 2024}} The NEW2UW newsroom was operated by Don Rodgers a newspaper journalist who served Prime Ministers Chifley and Curtin during the Second World War as their press secretary.{{cn|date=November 2024}} Don's style was very much in the mould of newspaper reporting, but he instilled in his staff the fundamentals of accuracy and clarity in their reporting.{{cn|date=November 2024}}

2UW was one of two Sydney AM radio stations to be successful in bidding for the right to convert to FM, and on 30 April 1994 commenced transmission on 106.5 MHz on the FM band.{{cite news |last=Lecky |first=Sue |date=29 April 1994 |title=Fresh Mix for FM Radio |url=http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?docID=news940429_0079_0990 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120321004732/http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?docID=news940429_0079_0990 |archive-date=21 March 2012 |access-date=25 April 2010 |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |department=News and Features |publisher=Fairfax Media |location=Sydney |page=4}} The familiar 2UW call sign was now broadcasting as Mix 106.5, adopting its name and logo from WWMX in the United States. The official callsign became 2WFM, though this was not used on-air. The 1107 kHz frequency is now assigned to SBS Radio.

The new station was positioned as "Sydney's Best Mix from the '70s, '80s and '90s" with an adult contemporary music format. In 2000 the station dropped 70's music from its playlist. The only announcer to remain at the station through 2UW's relaunches, and the subsequent FM conversion, was Trevor Sinclair. Sinclair departed the station in 2001.

A further relaunch of the station took place in 2004, with parent company ARN consolidating branding across its Mix Network of stations. In conjunction with new programming and aiming to attract a younger demographic, the station adopted the positioner "Sydney. Feel Good".{{Cite web |date=23 December 2004 |title=Paul Holmes moving to Melbourne for ARN |url=https://radioinfo.com.au/news/paul-holmes-moving-melbourne-arn/ |access-date=22 March 2024 |website=RadioInfo Australia}}

In 2010, Mix 106.5 went with a revamp of the station in conjunction with new shows and music demographic. Among those changes was the new slogan "Sydney's Fresh Mix". Having limited success in 2010, by 20 December the station had revived its position to "Sydney's Best Mix of the '80s, '90s and Now", with the return of Love Songs during the day.

On 30 January 2013, the station again revamped with a new programming line-up. Breakfast was presented by Sami Lukis and Yumi Stynes, with Tim 'Rosso' Ross presenting a drive show networked to Mix 101.1 Melbourne.{{Cite web |last=Burrowes |first=Tim |date=5 December 2012 |title=Mix 106.5 puts Rosso in drivetime; Yumi Stynes and Sami Lukis host breakfast; Ant Simpson departs |url=https://mumbrella.com.au/mix-106-5-moves-rosso-to-drivetime-puts-yumi-stynes-and-sami-lukis-in-breakfast-and-ant-simpson-departs-128839 |access-date=22 March 2024 |website=Mumbrella |language=en-AU}}

In November 2013, The Kyle & Jackie O Show departed the breakfast timeslot at rival station 2Day FM. ARN quickly announced that show would be moving to "a whole new radio station" on 106.5FM in 2014.{{cite news |date=29 November 2013 |title=Kyle and Jackie 0 confirm move to ARN's 106.5 |url=http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/celebrity-life/kyle-and-jackie-0-confirm-move-to-arns-1065/story-fn907478-1226771217409 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140312084522/http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/celebrity-life/kyle-and-jackie-0-confirm-move-to-arns-1065/story-fn907478-1226771217409 |archive-date=12 March 2014 |access-date=12 March 2014 |work=news.com.au |publisher=News Corp Australia}} With the announcement came speculation that the station would be rebranded as KIIS FM, borrowing its name from KIIS-FM Los Angeles. On 8 December, ARN confirmed that Mix 106.5 would be relaunched in 2014 as KIIS 1065, with Kyle & Jackie O taking over the breakfast time slot and syndicating their evening version of their program to ARN's sister Mix stations.{{cite web|title=Australia's newest radio station|url=http://arntrnassets.mediaspanonline.com/radio/arn/1110823/MEDIA-RELEASE---AUSTRALIA-S-NEWEST-RADIO-STATION--SYDNEY-S-KIIS-1065.pdf|publisher=Australian Radio Network|access-date=17 December 2013|date=8 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131217224122/http://arntrnassets.mediaspanonline.com/radio/arn/1110823/MEDIA-RELEASE---AUSTRALIA-S-NEWEST-RADIO-STATION--SYDNEY-S-KIIS-1065.pdf|archive-date=17 December 2013|url-status=dead}}

KIIS 1065 was launched at 5:54{{nbsp}}am, 20 January 2014. Shortly after the name change was announced, Melbourne narrowcaster Kiss FM launched the "Kiss Off ARN" campaign, stating that ARN's new branding was a breach of their trademark, and that the station would be pursuing legal action.{{cite web |date=27 November 2013 |title=Cease and Desist ARN |url=https://www.radioinfo.com.au/news/cease-and-desist-using-kiis-name |access-date=18 December 2013 |publisher=RadioInfo Australia}} However, in February 2014, the two parties reached a "confidential agreement", and the issue never made it to court.{{cite web |date=27 February 2014 |title=Kiss and KIIS to co-exist, as legal battle ends |url=http://www.radioinfo.com.au/news/kiss-and-kiis-co-exist-legal-battle-ends |access-date=12 March 2014 |publisher=RadioInfo Australia}}

In November 2014, a 30-second ad on KIIS in breakfast cost $1225 and in drive cost $895 (with KIIS holding a 9.8% and 8.4% share respectively in these slots at the time).{{cite news |last=Lallo |first=Michael |date=9 November 2014 |title='Also Ran Network' seals victory with a Kiis |newspaper=The Sun-Herald |publisher=Fairfax Media |location=Sydney, Australia |id={{ProQuest|1621859164}}}} Also in November, parent company Australian Radio Network announced that former Nova 100 breakfast team Hughesy & Kate would replace Rosso on Drive in 2015.{{Cite web |title=A New Station & A New Show in 2015!! Mix101.1 - the widest variety from 2K to today |url=http://www.mix1011.com.au/entertainment/hughesy-and-kate-to-join-kiis-1011-in-2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141111072902/http://www.mix1011.com.au/entertainment/hughesy-and-kate-to-join-kiis-1011-in-2015 |archive-date=11 November 2014 |access-date=3 June 2015 |website=Mix 101.1 |publisher=Australian Radio Network}}{{cite web |date=9 November 2014 |title=MELBOURNE STATION MIX 101.1 REBRANDS AS KIIS 101.1 AND HUGHESY & KATE JOIN AUSTRALIAN RADIO NETWORK FOR NATIONAL DRIVE SHOW |url=http://www.arn.com.au/assets/1579531/media-release---arn-s-mix-melbourne-rebrands-as-kiis-101-1-and-hughesy---kate-announced-as-national-drive.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141109000004/http://www.arn.com.au/assets/1579531/media-release---arn-s-mix-melbourne-rebrands-as-kiis-101-1-and-hughesy---kate-announced-as-national-drive.pdf |archive-date=9 November 2014 |access-date=10 November 2014 |publisher=Australian Radio Network}} The show commenced on 27 January 2015, anchored by former 90.9 Sea FM and 2DayFM announcer Matty Acton.{{cite web |date=27 January 2015 |title=HUGHESY & KATE TAKE THE WHEEL FOR NATIONAL DRIVE SHOW ON THE KIIS NETWORK FROM TODAY |url=http://www.arn.com.au/media/1128/media-release-hughesy-kate-take-the-wheel-for-arns-kiis-national-drive-show-today.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150324063029/http://www.arn.com.au/media/1128/media-release-hughesy-kate-take-the-wheel-for-arns-kiis-national-drive-show-today.pdf |archive-date=24 March 2015 |publisher=Australian Radio Network}}{{cite news|title=Kiis 101.1 announces multitude of appointments|url=https://www.radioinfo.com.au/news/kiis-1011-announces-multitude-appointments|access-date=3 June 2015|work=Radioinfo.com.au|date=5 December 2014}}

• Kent Street, Sydney (1925–1981)
• Neutral Bay (1981–2002)
• North Ryde (2002–2024)
• North Sydney (2024–present) {{Cite web |last=Jolly |first=Nathan |date=11 March 2024 |title=Ribbon cut, bedazzled mics installed: Kyle and Jackie's new studio is officially on-air |url=https://mumbrella.com.au/ribbon-cut-bedazzled-mics-installed-kyle-and-jackies-new-studio-is-officially-on-air-819031 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240311024649/https://mumbrella.com.au/ribbon-cut-bedazzled-mics-installed-kyle-and-jackies-new-studio-is-officially-on-air-819031 |archive-date=11 March 2024 |access-date=22 March 2024 |website=Mumbrella |language=en-US}}

2UW was previously located at 365 Kent Street, Sydney, before relocating to 11 Rangers Road, Neutral Bay in 1981, followed by 3 Byfield Street, North Ryde in 2002.

• Brooklyn Ross – News Presenter for Kyle and Jackie O Show
• Sean Frazer
• Kate O’Bree
• Natalie Sekulovska
• Elana McIntyre (Weekend and Fill-In)

• Vic Lorusso (Kyle and Jackie O Show – Breakfast)
• Alex Strachan (Will and Woody – Drive)

{{Reflist}}

• {{official|http://www.kiis1065.com.au }}
• [http://www.arn.com.au Australian Radio Network]

{{Australian Radio Network}}

{{Sydney Radio}}

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Category:Radio stations in Sydney

Category:Contemporary hit radio stations in Australia

Category:Radio stations established in 1925

Category:Australian Radio Network