Fox FM (Melbourne)

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Fox FM" Melbourne – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (November 2020) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)

37°51′40″S 144°59′05″E / 37.8612°S 144.9848°E / -37.8612; 144.9848

Fox FM

Australia
Broadcast area	FM
Branding	101.9 The Fox
Programming
Language(s)	English
Format	Adult contemporary Hot adult contemporary
Affiliations	Hit Network
Ownership
Owner	Southern Cross Austereo (SCA Digital Pty Ltd)
Sister stations	Triple M
History
First air date	1 August 1980 (1980-08-01)
Call sign meaning	3 for Victoria "Fox FM"
Technical information
Licensing authority	ACMA
Class	Commercial
ERP	56,000 watts
Links
Public licence information	Profile
Website	fox.com.au

Fox FM (call sign: 3FOX) is a

.

History

Fox FM started life at 5PM on 1 August 1980. The station was put together by radio consultant and 1960s/1970s radio personality and programmer Rhett H. Walker, who also acted as first General Manager. This followed a successful stint for Walker as a consultant for Radio 3KZ in 1979. One of Fox FM's original advertising lines was 'Catch the Fox'. The original announcing team consisted of Mike Jeffries, John Aimes, Ralphe Rickman, Rod McNeil, Graham Braddy, Richard Combe, and overnight announcers Geoff Harrison, Noel Miller and Peter Acfield. In the newsroom were Pam Wilson, Gary McQuade and Michael Schilberger.

The first song to be played on air,

for a few bars by the station's first presenter, John Amies. Amies suggested this was due to repeated rehearsals of the station opening on instruction from studio manager Gary Collins, who was allegedly fussing around him in the studio right before the station went on air.

The first station studio equipment was a 16 channel Poul Kirk mixing desk, four cuemaster cart decks, JBL studio pro speakers and (then brand new) Technics turntables. Located in

.

The first two years of the station's life were not easy. Melbourne listeners did not initially flock to the new FM stations, sticking to their regular listening habits with stations such as 3AW, 3MP and 3XY. It was positioned originally as a classy easy listening style format. The format, FM is Fox Music, came later, under the management of former 3XY station manager Graham Smith.

In 1982, the station's owners (which included Sir Donald Trescowthic, major shareholder of The Age Newspaper group) lost confidence in the original format and hired Smith to implement changes.

All the former announcers, except for Geoff Harrison were let go. Also, the station's instigator and first General Manager, the late Rhett H. Walker (later Associate Dean at La Trobe University) moved on to greener pastures.

From then on, the station was positioned with a pop rock format, appealing to the widest possible audience. This caused a steady rise in ratings through the mid-1980s, eventually landing the station in top position in Melbourne by 1986. The changes included new presenters, such as Gavin Wood (former TV show Countdown and 3XY announcer) and Barry Bissell. Take 40 Australia was a weekly countdown of the current ARIA Top 40 singles chart. During this time, the station also aired American Top 40 with Casey Kasem.

Fox FM was one of two original FM radio licence holders in Melbourne. It aimed to be the first commercial FM station to commence broadcasting in Australia, although it was eventually beaten by 3EON (which is now Fox FM's sister station, Triple M). Fox FM started life playing popular easy listening music whilst its other FM rival had adopted a more rock album orientated format. Throughout the history of the station its logo and marketing have always included a picture of a fox, although this was discontinued in 2005 when the entire Today Network introduced new standardised logos, much to the disappointment of many.

In 1986, Fox FM was bought by the owners of SAFM to create Austereo, which now - as the Hit Network - boasts five additional stations around Australia. It was at this time that announcer Mark Carter was moved from the breakfast shift to the afternoon shift, quickly becoming the most popular announcer in Melbourne over a record 11 surveys conducted and contributing to the rise in popularity of the station.^{[citation needed]}

In 1996, the Today Network, owned by Austereo, merged with the Triple M network to form a single radio company. The merge was unpopular with Fox staff due to the rivalry between the two stations.

In September 2008, Fox FM re-located from studios at 180

gave away many items from the old studios during their last show at the St Kilda Road studios.

In 2020, Fox FM celebrated 40 years of the iconic brand in a week-long celebration from 12 to 16 October. Throughout the week, the station played music highlights from the past 40 years, including chart hits and key live moments when artists came into the studio or to the World Famous Rooftop. The celebration also saw the return of

In May 2021, Southern Cross Austereo announced that the network will re-locate to 101 Moray Street, South Melbourne from mid 2022 after signing a 10 year lease.^[2] The network will take up approximately 3,000sqm on the second floor of the state-of-the-art commercial building.

In June 2022, Fox FM re-located from studios at 257 Clarendon Street, South Melbourne (with sister station Triple M) to 101 Moray Street, South Melbourne.^[3] Rival broadcaster Nova Entertainment's Melbourne studios and offices (Nova 100, smooth 91.5) now occupy the Clarendon Street facility.

• 
  Fox FM building (1989–2008), St Kilda Road, St Kilda

Transmission

Fox FM transmits from the

. Its base power is 10 kW, and this is provided by a Harris HT10 FM transmitter.

The station is simulcast on digital radio in Melbourne.

Programming

Fox FM gradually grew from a top 40/pop format into a top 40/dance format over its history. The station is tightly focused on promoting mainstream chart music and songs on rotation are played 5-6 times a day, with very little variation. Notable past announcers and programs have included Pillowtalk with Dr Sally Cockburn (Dr Feelgood), Danger: Low Brow with David Armstrong and Brett McLeod, net@nite with Andy Grace, Barry Bissell's Take 40 Australia, and ABC TV's Jodie J. Hill.

From 1995 to 1998, Fox FM broadcast the Martin/Molloy drive program with Tony Martin and Mick Molloy. This program was networked to over 50 stations around Australia, and is considered^{[by whom?]} one of Australia's most successful FM radio shows.

For six years the breakfast shift was held by

into the market.

In 2003, Fox FM launched Matt, Jo and Benno, featuring Matt Tilley, Jo Stanley, Chris Bennett and Adam Richard.^[4] Chris Bennett left a couple of months into the year and it was renamed The Matt & Jo Show with the Fabulous Adam Richard. Soon after, the show introduced anchor Troy Ellis and it was renamed to simply The Matt and Jo Show. The show has consistently won the FM breakfast time slot, beating closest rivals Hughesy & Kate at Nova 100 for over 7 years.^[when?]

From 2006, Fox FM was home to Australia's most successful networked radio show Hamish & Andy, starring Hamish Blake and Andy Lee. They finished their daily drive program on Friday 26 November 2010 and went on to broadcast a drive program on Mondays and a late morning program on Fox FM every day from Tuesday to Friday. Blake and Lee then went on to host Hamish & Andy's Happy Hour which aired at 3pm on weekdays. Blake and Lee have returned to host the drive show in July 2015.

In 2011, Fifi Box and Jules Lund joined forces to replace Hamish & Andy in the drive slot with their show Fifi and Jules which was broadcast across the Today Network from 4pm-6pm weekdays.

It was announced on 4 October 2013 that

would finish at the end of the year after hosting breakfast for the last 10 years.

In November 2013,

.

In December 2016, Hamish Blake and Andy Lee announced that they will be leaving radio at the end of 2017 to pursue their careers in television

In January 2017, Byron Cooke, the breakfast shows long-time anchor had his name added to the shows line-up

.

In February 2017,

which airs in the same time slot.

In September 2017, Dave Thornton announced his resignation from Fox FM to pursue his career as a stand-up comedian.

In October 2017, Hit Network announced that Hughesy & Kate will depart KIIS 101.1 to host the drive home from 4:30PM to 6:30PM, with Carrie & Tommy being extended to broadcast from 3:00PM to 4:30PM.

In December 2017, Hamish Blake and Andy Lee left their high rating drive show Hamish & Andy to pursue careers in television, with the last week of their show being dedicated to touring Australia as a part of their Coolboys and the Frontman 2017 World Tour. They also announced that they will be continuing a weekly podcast with Southern Cross Austereo in 2018.

In November 2020, Byron Cooke announced his departure from

due to personal reasons and to also seek new challenges. It was also announced that comedian Nick Cody would join the show from January 2021 and the show renamed to Fifi, Fev & Nick.

Schedule

Time	Show
6am–9am	Fifi, Fev & Nick
9am–12pm	Tim Lee
12pm–3pm	Kat Markey
3pm–6pm	Carrie & Tommy
6pm–7pm	Fifi, Fev & Nick's Happy Hour
7pm–10pm	Jimmy & Nath
10pm–1am	The Pulse with Seany B & Emma G

News/traffic announcers

Newsreaders:

• Alexandra Bryant (Breakfast)
• Celeste Mitsiou (Workday)
• James Lake (Drive)

Traffic live from the Flying Fox:

• Sebastian Cant

References

External links

• Fox FM