Сиднейдегі 2UE радиостансасының тарихы

Commercial radio station in Sydney, Australia

2UE is an all music radio station in Sydney owned by Nine Entertainment Co and run under a lease agreement by Ace Radio. It currently broadcasts from its studios in Pyrmont, New South Wales.

Electrical Utilities applied to the Postmaster General's Department for a licence for a new B Class (later commercial) station licence. The station was to have the call sign 2EU, based on the initials of Electrical Utilities. However, before the licence, PMG – Broadcasting Station Licence No.12, was issued on 7 November 1924, Electrical Utilities advised the PMG that it wished to reverse the initials in the call sign – thus the licence was issued to 2UE. As to the reason for the change of call sign, Jim Malone, Chief Manager of Telegraphs and Wireless for the Federal Government, suggested the change saying that 2UE had a "more euphonious sound".

2UE opened on 26 January 1925. The founder of Electrical Utilities and 2EU/2UE was Cecil "Pa" Stevenson, who was also 2UE's chief engineer, and one of the most prominent personalities in Australia's early broadcasting history. Prior to opening 2UE, he had operated experimental station 2IY, as well as working alongside a couple of other early experimenters. Pa Stevenson was assisted at 2UE by his family, and in particular by his eldest son, Murray. Murray Stevenson claimed that he was chiefly responsible for the technical side of the station. Pa Stevenson was the first announcer. The station is reputed to have broadcast Australia's first radio advertisement. A local butcher was so disconcerted with the sounds between recordings and piano rolls that he paid Stevenson one shilling (10¢) to substitute his whistling with short talks about the quality of the butcher's meat. One shilling then became the station's standard advertising rate. Another early advertiser was Youth O Form slimming tablets. A spokesperson for the manufacturer claimed: "each morning after we aired the spots there would be long queues outside the shop at Roseberry. In 1929, through Cecil Stevenson, 2UE experimented with sending pictures by radio using radiovision or mechanical television. The experiments were short lived due to the lack of receivers to pick up
the transmissions. which was at first jointly managed by 2GB and 2UE.

In 1938 2UE and 3DB Melbourne launched the Major Broadcasting Network which for many decades was Australia's second most important radio network, after the Macquarie Network. The main person behind the formation of the Major Network was David Worrall, manager of 3DB, and a most important figure in broadcasting history. The Network broadcast a wide range of live variety programs including quizzes and dramas including soap operas, mostly emanating from the 3DB or 2UE studios. The formation of the Major Network actually happened after two earlier attempts by David Worrall to form a network with 2UE as the Sydney station. In 1933, a loose grouping, but the first Australian attempt to form a commercial network, was attempted, known as the Federal Network. Then, in 1933 the Associated Broadcasters of Australia was formed but, again, did not last long. was appointed 2UE's head of production. also played an important role in 2UE's dramatic productions in the 1930s and into the 1940s. Right up to the early 1960s 2UE was to produce many dozens of audio plays for the Major Broadcasting Network. These mainly consisted of 15 minute serials or soap operas and 30 minute dramas. However, probably the most important dramatic production to emanate from the 2UE studios was the Australian version of the Lux Radio Theatre which was heard at 8.00 pm every Sunday evening until 1952 – in pre television days, arguably the most listened to hour in the week for any radio station. (For much of its time on air, the Lux Radio Theatre was in competition with 2GB's Macquarie Radio Theatre later known as the Caltex Theatre.) and Professor Clarence Elkin, so as to train singers and instrumentalists, particularly in the classical field. However, the Academy only lasted about a year. Censorship was rife during the war, particularly after the U. S. entered the conflict on 7 December 1941. After General Douglas MacArthur set up his headquarters in Australia, he wielded enormous power, including on matters of censorship. Inter alia, he declared that every Australian radio station would only broadcast three news bulletins per day and that these would be simultaneous at 7.45 am, midday and 7.00 pm. Notices were issued banning radio stations from broadcasting some major wartime events, but as the federal government did not have the same power over the printed press as it did over radio, newspapers usually reported events that radio was not permitted to mention.

Gary O'Callaghan was Sydney's number one breakfast announcer for 28 years, winning 159 surveys. as the host of a daily Top 40 program. The number one song on the very first Top 40 chart was Pat Boone's April Love.

During the 1960s, the station was known as The Brighter 2UE. One popular variety program that did survive for many years was the National Old Time Dance with Jack Papworth's orchestra, every Friday evening. It was relayed to stations across Australia. At one stage it was broadcast from The Albert Palais, Leichhardt.

Until 1967 talkback was illegal in Australia because of government concerns that: a) people may say something they shouldn't; and b) callers may not know they were on the air. Nevertheless, many stations, particularly 2UW in Sydney and 3AK Melbourne, did broadcast talkback from 1963. However, 2UE and 3DB (Melbourne) were the first Australian stations to legally present talkback, commencing on 17 April 1967. Journalist Ormsby Wilkins was the first 2UE talkback host.

Although 2UE was mainly broadcasting Top 40 during this period, in the early 1970s it also featured some country music, including programs hosted by Studio Manager Nick Erby. John Laws also included a deal of country music in his programs.

In 1986, under Kerry Packer, 2UE and 3AK Melbourne, embarked on a shared talk back format called the CBC Network which featured selected Melbourne and Sydney based programs being broadcast across both stations. Two separate breakfast programs were broadcast for both Sydney and Melbourne but that was the only shift with separate programming. All other programs, whether emanating from Sydney or Melbourne, were heard over both stations. Well known Sydney and Melbourne news broadcaster and radio management expert Brian White managed both stations. However, the CBC experiment was a short lived failure.

In the late 1980s Phillip Adams broadcast a commentary program, ranging from serious news analysis to tongue in cheek content. After leaving 2UE in the early 1990s, Adams began a similar program on ABC Radio National and Radio Australia. The ABC program is still being broadcast in 2022, after a life of about 30 years.

In 1984 2UE ran a competition, Millionaire Mania in which a prize of $20,000 a year for 50 years, was offered. This was believed to be the largest ever radio prize, to that date. 2UE management was no doubt relieved when Premier Neville Wran drew out the name of someone described as an "older lady".

2UE continued to broadcast a news talk format, involving current affairs oriented programs with talkback across the day and more relaxed programming at nights and on weekends. News updates were broadcast at the top of every hour, provided by Macquarie Radio Network.

In March 2001, the Lamb family sold 2UE and 4BC to Southern Cross Broadcasting for a reputed $90 million. In July 2007, Fairfax Media purchased all of Southern Cross Broadcasting's metro radio assets, including 2UE, 3AW and 4BC. On 22 December 2014, it was announced that Fairfax's radio division and Macquarie Radio Network would merge. The merger was finalised on 1 April 2015. Despite having had a strong relationship in the 1930s through the Broadcast Services Association, by the 21st century 2UE had been a constant rival of 2GB for many decades. Both of these Sydney stations had offered a similar format. In the early 2010s 2UE slipped badly in the ratings,

In the eighth and final ratings survey for 2013, released on 10 December 2013, overall 2UE scored a 4.2% market share well behind market leader 2GB on 13.3 which was ahead of next placed ABC702 on 10.4. This rating placed 2UE tenth out of the 14 surveyed stations. During this survey period, its Monday to Friday share slipped to 3.2 per cent of the available audience, putting it behind Macquarie Radio Network's 2CH which averaged 4.6 per cent and meant 2UE was only ahead of three stations. The 2UE drive show slipping a further 0.7 points after the firing of Jason Morrison in the middle of the survey, and evenings slipping further losing 2.6 points, its biggest drop in the survey.

A number of parties have attempted to sue 2UE for defamation. In February 2012 Mamdouh Habib won his claim and was awarded almost $150,000. 2UE was found to have defamed journalist Ray Chesterton in an August 2005 broadcast made by John Laws.

On Wednesday 4 April 2018, the three Talking Lifestyle branded stations relaunched with a new sports radio format under the name Macquarie Sports Radio with coverage of the 2018 Commonwealth Games. A significant number of existing presenters did not return for the new format. The change of the station was not received well by many fans of the former Talking Lifestyle station. There were even a number of recommendations about switching to the alternative talk station ABC Radio Sydney. Macquarie Sports Radio 954 was the home of Sydney Swans and Greater Western Sydney Giants matches, as well as other selected AFL matches broadcast from 3AW, as well as the early Friday night NRL Game from NRL Nation. On 29 October 2019, Macquarie Media announced that its sports talk shows would cease production from 1 November 2019. However, the station continued to broadcast live Test, Big Bash League and One Day International cricket matches during the summer months, as well as coverage of the English Premier League.

On 21 January 2020, Nine announced the Macquarie Sports Radio brand would be abandoned and 2UE – along with its interstate sister stations Magic 1278 Melbourne and 4BH Brisbane – would return to an all music format "built around the best of the ''50s, '60s and '70s" with a "soft launch" on 2 February 2020. In April, Steve Jacobs was announced as the station's latest breakfast presenter, commencing on 27 April. All contracts with the sports leagues would be honoured, and the network has not ruled out sports broadcasts in the future.

On 28 October 2021, Nine Radio and Ace Radio entered into a deal for Ace to manage the radio station, along with sister stations Magic 1278 and 4BH from early 2022. Ace Radio took control of the station on 14 January 2022. The station relaunched with a new presenter line up, logo and imaging on this date. As of 30 March 2022, 2UE's presenters included the following: Trevor Sinclair, Emily Canning, Cathy Jubb, Dave Ferguson, Gareth McCray and Julie Strini.