B105 FM
Encyclopedia
B105 is a commercial FM
radio station broadcasting on 105.3 MHz in Brisbane
, Australia
. It is part of the Austereo Radio Network
. B105's primary audience is 10 to 24 age group.
band, initially on the frequency 1290 kHz before changing to 1300 kHz in 1935. The introduction of 9 kHz spacing on the AM band led to 4BK moving to 1296 kHz in 1978.
In 1988, the Austereo group purchased the station from Hoyts
, intending to use it as a vehicle to bid for an FM conversion licence. Austereo won the FM licence, and in February 1990, the station changed its callsign to 4BBB (not used on-air, unlike the previous AM callsign) and commenced broadcasting on a frequency of 105.3 MHz with the on-air name B105.
Between March 1990 until 2006 it was the highest rating station in Brisbane, except in one ratings survey in 1994, beaten by AM station 4KQ
.
In April 2011 the Austereo Group was purchased by Southern Cross Media for more than $700 million, and is now operated under the name Southern Cross Austereo. At this stage B105 continues as always with no significant lineup or operational changes.
, was converted to an FM facility with 4BK commencing broadcasting as B105 FM in 1990. The studio complex remained at the Bowen Hills location until July 2000, when owners Austereo relocated B105 and sister station Triple M
into new combined premises at 309 North Quay
, Brisbane. The new complex was the first in Australia to use the now defunct Klotz Digital
audio system, which was revolutionary at the time.
Ten tower at Mount Coot-tha, Brisbane. The station originally used two Harris HT10 tube transmitters in an A/B failsafe configuration to deliver the service. In 2002 a new solid state Harris Z10CD transmitter was installed at the newly created TX Australia facility, located under the TVQ
Ten tower. The existing HT10 transmitter now serves as a backup facility located at the BTQ Seven tower, 1 km away from Channel Ten on Mount Coot-tha.
B105's FM service is licensed for 12Kw Effective Radiated Power
at the antenna, and operates it's transmitters at 5Kw base power.
B105 and Southern Cross Austereo's DAB services all emanate from the TVQ Ten tower on combined equipment used by all radio broadcasters in Brisbane.
, Ian Skippen and Donna Lynch were the original B105 Morning Crew starting in 1990. Donna Lynch was eventually replaced by Robyn Bailey. Bailey was shifted to Drive in 2002, making way for Penny Cooper.
Agro, a puppet character owned and voiced by Jamie Dunn, made regular appearances on the B105 Morning Crew.
In 2004 Austereo shifted the anchor of the B105 Morning Crew, Ian Skippen, to anchor a new show on sister station Triple M. Ian Skippen was replaced by Drive announcer Dean Kesby.
While Skippen and the new Triple M Breakfast team enjoyed success, B105's fortunes declined. The introduction of DMG
's new FM station Nova 106.9
reduced B105's ratings, dropping it to third position for the first time in its history.
On Wednesday, September 21, 2005, B105 announced the departure of Jamie Dunn
who had resigned after talks with management failed to secure him a contracted future with B105. The final show was on Friday December 2, 2005 with an outside broadcast at the Royal Brisbane Children's Hospital.
One sour note was the decision, in all likelihood directed by Austereo, to briefly include former B105 breakfast anchor Ian Skippen in the final broadcast. At around 7.30am Skippen appeared on stage in Triple M gear, and used the time on air (broadcast on both 4MMM and B105) to promote Triple M and his new show while contributing $2,000 to the appeal. Dunn and Skippen had experienced conflict in the past.
Camilla Severi, who had previously worked as part of a crew called "Labby, Camilla & Stav", ceased that role after 4 August 2011.
It was announced Abby Coleman would join Labby and Stav after filling in for 2 weeks and now is a permanent member of the show
B105 does not do news bulletins between 9am and 4pm weekdays. Drive news (4pm - 6pm) and weekend news is broadcast by journalists in Austereo's Melbourne or Sydney newsrooms.
in Brisbane.
B105 launched Choose The Hits Jelli
, a station only broadcast on Digital Radio
, was launched on 1 February 2010, and closed on 26th May 2010.
FM broadcasting
FM broadcasting is a broadcasting technology pioneered by Edwin Howard Armstrong which uses frequency modulation to provide high-fidelity sound over broadcast radio. The term "FM band" describes the "frequency band in which FM is used for broadcasting"...
radio station broadcasting on 105.3 MHz in Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. It is part of the Austereo Radio Network
Austereo Radio Network
Austereo Radio Network formerly operated commercial radio networks in metropolitan and regional areas of Australia. On 6 April 2011, Southern Cross Media purchased a majority of the company and is in the process of unifying the Austereo networks with Southern Cross's regional brands...
. B105's primary audience is 10 to 24 age group.
History
The station now known as B105 began life as 4BK, commencing transmission in 1930 on the AMAM broadcasting
AM broadcasting is the process of radio broadcasting using amplitude modulation. AM was the first method of impressing sound on a radio signal and is still widely used today. Commercial and public AM broadcasting is carried out in the medium wave band world wide, and on long wave and short wave...
band, initially on the frequency 1290 kHz before changing to 1300 kHz in 1935. The introduction of 9 kHz spacing on the AM band led to 4BK moving to 1296 kHz in 1978.
In 1988, the Austereo group purchased the station from Hoyts
Hoyts
The Hoyts Group is an Australian company consisting of Hoyts Exhibition, Hoyts Distribution and Val Morgan.Hoyts Exhibition manages 450 screens across 40 Australian and 10 New Zealand cinema complexes; making it Australia's second largest cinema chain. Val Morgan, the cinema advertising arm of the...
, intending to use it as a vehicle to bid for an FM conversion licence. Austereo won the FM licence, and in February 1990, the station changed its callsign to 4BBB (not used on-air, unlike the previous AM callsign) and commenced broadcasting on a frequency of 105.3 MHz with the on-air name B105.
Between March 1990 until 2006 it was the highest rating station in Brisbane, except in one ratings survey in 1994, beaten by AM station 4KQ
4KQ
4KQ is a commercial radio station in Brisbane, Australia owned by the Australian Radio Network. 4KQ began broadcasting on the 7th of May 1947 on 690 kHz AM moving to 693 kHz in 1978. 4KQ broadcasts from its studios in the Brisbane suburb of Stones Corner, along with its sister station 97.3 FM...
.
In April 2011 the Austereo Group was purchased by Southern Cross Media for more than $700 million, and is now operated under the name Southern Cross Austereo. At this stage B105 continues as always with no significant lineup or operational changes.
Studios
The 4BK studio complex, located at 16 Campbell Street, Bowen HillsBowen Hills, Queensland
Bowen Hills is an inner suburb of Brisbane, Australia, located 3 km northeast of the Brisbane CBD. It was named after a Governor of Queensland, Sir George Ferguson Bowen.-History:...
, was converted to an FM facility with 4BK commencing broadcasting as B105 FM in 1990. The studio complex remained at the Bowen Hills location until July 2000, when owners Austereo relocated B105 and sister station Triple M
4MMM
4MMM is one of Brisbane, Australia's commercial FM Rock radio stations, primarily targeted at those in the 25-50 age group...
into new combined premises at 309 North Quay
North Quay, Brisbane
North Quay is a location in the Brisbane central business district and the name of street in the same area, running along the Brisbane River from an intersection near Makerston Street to the top of the Queen Street.-Location:...
, Brisbane. The new complex was the first in Australia to use the now defunct Klotz Digital
Klotz Digital
Klotz Digital AG is a manufacturer of audio media products based in Munich, Germany.The company is active in the two business segments Public Address and Radio & TV Broadcast....
audio system, which was revolutionary at the time.
Transmission
B105's FM transmission has always emanated from the TVQTVQ
TVQ is the Brisbane television station of Network Ten in Australia.TVQ may also refer to:* TVQ Kyushu Broadcasting, a television station in Fukuoka, Japan...
Ten tower at Mount Coot-tha, Brisbane. The station originally used two Harris HT10 tube transmitters in an A/B failsafe configuration to deliver the service. In 2002 a new solid state Harris Z10CD transmitter was installed at the newly created TX Australia facility, located under the TVQ
TVQ
TVQ is the Brisbane television station of Network Ten in Australia.TVQ may also refer to:* TVQ Kyushu Broadcasting, a television station in Fukuoka, Japan...
Ten tower. The existing HT10 transmitter now serves as a backup facility located at the BTQ Seven tower, 1 km away from Channel Ten on Mount Coot-tha.
B105's FM service is licensed for 12Kw Effective Radiated Power
Effective radiated power
In radio telecommunications, effective radiated power or equivalent radiated power is a standardized theoretical measurement of radio frequency energy using the SI unit watts, and is determined by subtracting system losses and adding system gains...
at the antenna, and operates it's transmitters at 5Kw base power.
B105 and Southern Cross Austereo's DAB services all emanate from the TVQ Ten tower on combined equipment used by all radio broadcasters in Brisbane.
Former Breakfast Show - "Jamie Dunn and the B105 Morning Crew"
Jamie DunnJamie Dunn
Jamie Dunn is an Australian comedian.Starting his entertainment career as a singer, Jamie Dunn moved into television, working the puppet Agro on Agro's Cartoon Connection.- Radio :Up until 2005, Dunn was a member of a radio breakfast show in Brisbane...
, Ian Skippen and Donna Lynch were the original B105 Morning Crew starting in 1990. Donna Lynch was eventually replaced by Robyn Bailey. Bailey was shifted to Drive in 2002, making way for Penny Cooper.
Agro, a puppet character owned and voiced by Jamie Dunn, made regular appearances on the B105 Morning Crew.
In 2004 Austereo shifted the anchor of the B105 Morning Crew, Ian Skippen, to anchor a new show on sister station Triple M. Ian Skippen was replaced by Drive announcer Dean Kesby.
While Skippen and the new Triple M Breakfast team enjoyed success, B105's fortunes declined. The introduction of DMG
DMG Radio Australia
DMG Radio Australia operates commercial radio networks in metropolitan and regional areas of Australia. The company is 50% owned by United Kingdom company, Daily Mail and General Trust Group. Lachlan Murdoch's Illyria Pty Ltd bought 50% of the company in November 2009.DMG Radio Australia was formed...
's new FM station Nova 106.9
Nova 106.9
Nova 106.9 is a commercial radio station operating in Brisbane, Australia, owned by the DMG Radio Network. DMG Radio purchased the Brisbane FM licence for $80 million in April 2004 to complete their national network of Nova stations...
reduced B105's ratings, dropping it to third position for the first time in its history.
On Wednesday, September 21, 2005, B105 announced the departure of Jamie Dunn
Jamie Dunn
Jamie Dunn is an Australian comedian.Starting his entertainment career as a singer, Jamie Dunn moved into television, working the puppet Agro on Agro's Cartoon Connection.- Radio :Up until 2005, Dunn was a member of a radio breakfast show in Brisbane...
who had resigned after talks with management failed to secure him a contracted future with B105. The final show was on Friday December 2, 2005 with an outside broadcast at the Royal Brisbane Children's Hospital.
One sour note was the decision, in all likelihood directed by Austereo, to briefly include former B105 breakfast anchor Ian Skippen in the final broadcast. At around 7.30am Skippen appeared on stage in Triple M gear, and used the time on air (broadcast on both 4MMM and B105) to promote Triple M and his new show while contributing $2,000 to the appeal. Dunn and Skippen had experienced conflict in the past.
"B105's New Breakfast Show"
B105 trialled possible candidates for the new Breakfast Show through a Drive program that ran from 4pm - 6pm. B105 eventually chose Gabby, Mike and ‘Tard, along with Ben Wasley, who had previously anchored Austereo's The Arvo with Peter Hellier and Judith Lucy. "B105's New Breakfast Show" was renamed "The New Buzz in Brisbane" in mid-2006.Labby, Stav and Abby
The current breakfast show is Labby ‘'Stav and "Abby" . It includes a number of radio hosts:- Jason "Labrat" Hawkins
- Stewart "‘'Stav" Davidson
- Abby "Abby" Coleman
- Natasha "Tash" Jobson
Camilla Severi, who had previously worked as part of a crew called "Labby, Camilla & Stav", ceased that role after 4 August 2011.
It was announced Abby Coleman would join Labby and Stav after filling in for 2 weeks and now is a permanent member of the show
Announcers
- Matt Sutton - Mornings
- Kiri Martin - Afternoons
- FifiFifi BoxFifi Box is an Australian radio broadcaster and television personality, formerly hosting The Shebang with Marty Sheargold on Triple M, and presenter on the Seven Network's Sunrise program....
& JulesJules LundJules Lund is an Australian television presenter from Melbourne. He attended De La Salle College MalvernLund's career began when he won the FOX FM's "15 Minutes of Fame" competition on radio in the early 2000s...
- Monday to Thursday Drive - Hamish & Andy - Friday Drive
- The Dirt with Charli Robinson
- The Hot30 Countdown with Matty Acton and Maude Garrett - Nights
- Weekend:- Jayce
Ratings
B105 is currently 2nd in the Brisbane radio ratings behind 97.3FM. Labby, Stav & ‘'Abby are the number 2 FM breakfast show, during the workday they are 2nd and 3rd respectively, FiFi and Jules/Hamish and Andy are 1st, and Hot 30 are 1st.Executive Team
As at June 2011:-- CEO - Rhys Holleran
- General Manager - Richard Barker
- Head Of Content - Craig Bruce
- Content Director - Mitch Braund
- Campaign & Brief Response Manager - Lisa Lees
- Partnerships Manager - Elizabeth Liscombe
- Agency Sales Manager - Will Allen
- Local Sales Manager - Rick Tyrrell
- News Director - Natasha Jobson
- Technology Manager - Dan Chalmers
- Head of Research - John Musgrove
Breakfast Team
As at June 2011:-- Breakfast Executive Producer - Donna Puechmarin
- Breakfast Producer - Kim Weaver
- Breakfast Audio Producer - Cameron Heit
- Breakfast Anchor - Jason Hawkins (Labby)
- Breakfast Talent - Stewart (Stav) Davidson, Abby Coleman
Current B105 Newsreaders
Natasha 'Tash' Jobson, News Director (Breakfast)B105 does not do news bulletins between 9am and 4pm weekdays. Drive news (4pm - 6pm) and weekend news is broadcast by journalists in Austereo's Melbourne or Sydney newsrooms.
Digital Radio
B105 is simulcast on Digital RadioDigital radio in Australia
Digital radio in Australia uses the DAB+ standard and is currently available in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra and Darwin. The national government owned networks, the ABC and SBS, provide their current services and a few digital-only services on the new platform, while the...
in Brisbane.
B105 launched Choose The Hits Jelli
Choose The Hits Jelli
Choose The Hits was an all request Australian national Digital Radio station. It is run by Austereo and was renamed on 1 February 2010. Previously the station was trialled with the name Hot30 Jelli, launching on 27 November 2009...
, a station only broadcast on Digital Radio
Digital radio in Australia
Digital radio in Australia uses the DAB+ standard and is currently available in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra and Darwin. The national government owned networks, the ABC and SBS, provide their current services and a few digital-only services on the new platform, while the...
, was launched on 1 February 2010, and closed on 26th May 2010.