96.5 Wave FM (call sign 2UUL) is a commercial radio station broadcasting on the FM band to the

Illawarra The Illawarra is a coastal Regions of New South Wales, region in the southeast of the Australian state of New South Wales. It is situated immediately south of Sydney and north of the South Coast, New South Wales, South Coast region. It encompas ...

region of

New South Wales New South Wales (commonly abbreviated as NSW) is a States and territories of Australia, state on the Eastern states of Australia, east coast of :Australia. It borders Queensland to the north, Victoria (state), Victoria to the south, and South ...

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. It is owned by ARN after ARN's purchase of the

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radio network. 96.5 Wave FM competes with rival i98 at the top of the Illawarra's ratings for radio listenership.

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 Wollongong ( ; Dharawal: ''Woolyungah'') is a city located in the Illawarra region of New South Wales, Australia. The name is believed to originate from the Dharawal language, meaning either 'five islands/clouds', 'ground near water' or 'sound ...

and were linked to a broadcasting antenna at Unanderra. The station was officially opened by J. P. Caddy, president of the Illawarra Chamber of Commerce and Industry. In November 1980, 2WL went off air briefly after a tornado brought down one of their two

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transmitter towers. After 61 years of AM broadcasting, the station moved to the FM band in July 1992. 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

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program Kate, Tim & Joel. In November 2021, ARN announced the acquisition of

which included Wave FM. In September 2021, former

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winner

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joined the breakfast show as an announcer after a successful stint doing breakfast radio at sister station

Power FM 98.1 Power FM 98.1 (call sign: 2VLY) is a local radio station in the Hunter Valley of New South Wales, Australia. It is based in Muswellbrook, and serves listeners in Muswellbrook, Singleton, New South Wales, Singleton, Scone, New South Wales, Scon ...

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Presenters

, Breakfast * Jade Tonta, Breakfast * Dean Kesby, Mornings * Matthew Brokenbrough, Workday * Lyndal Rogers, Drive * Ryan Cram, Drive

References

{{Australian Radio Network Radio stations in New South Wales Radio stations established in 1931 1931 establishments in Australia Australian Radio Network South Coast (New South Wales)