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| 3AW | |
|---|---|
| Name | 3AW |
| City | Melbourne |
| Frequency | 693 kHz AM |
| Format | Talkback |
| Owner | Nine Entertainment Co. |
| Language | English |
| First air date | 1976 |
| Callsign meaning | -- |
3AW
3AW is a commercial talkback radio station based in Melbourne, Australia, broadcasting on 693 kHz AM. The station features news, current affairs, sports, and community programming, competing in ratings with other major Melbourne outlets and engaging audiences across Victoria and national platforms. 3AW's schedule blends long-running programs, specialist reporting, and high-profile presenters, contributing to Melbourne's media landscape alongside newspapers, television networks, and digital platforms.
3AW traces its lineage to Melbourne broadcasting traditions linked with stations such as HSV-7, GTV-9, The Age, Herald Sun, Fairfax Media, and later parent companies like Nine Entertainment Co. and Australian Consolidated Press. The station evolved during eras marked by figures associated with Sir Keith Murdoch, Rupert Murdoch, Frank Packer, and media consolidation involving John Fairfax Holdings and West Australian Newspapers. 3AW's development intersected with regulatory frameworks shaped by institutions such as the Australian Broadcasting Tribunal, the Australian Communications and Media Authority, and the legislative context influenced by inquiries like the Woodward Royal Commission and debates following the Hutton Report. Over decades, 3AW engaged with Melbourne events including the Ashes (cricket), the Melbourne Cup, the Victorian Bushfires, and political contests involving parties such as the Liberal Party of Australia, the Australian Labor Party, and the National Party of Australia.
Programming at 3AW mixes talkback shows, news bulletins, sport coverage, and specialist segments, featuring formats comparable to national broadcasters like ABC Radio Melbourne, SEN (Sports Entertainment Network), Triple M, and Nova FM. The newsroom draws on resources and rivalries with publications including Herald Sun, The Sunday Age, and agencies like Australian Associated Press and Reuters. Regular features reflect Melbourne culture such as coverage of the AFL Grand Final, commentary on the Melbourne International Film Festival, and segments tied to events like the Commonwealth Games and elections including the Victorian state election. Syndication and simulcast arrangements have linked 3AW to networks involving Macquarie Radio Network and national programming associated with presenters who have also worked at stations like 2GB, 2UE, and 3AW's competitor outlets.
Across its history, the station has employed hosts and contributors who also worked with organizations such as Nine Network, ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), and commercial stations like 2GB and SEN. Prominent broadcasters and commentators associated with the Melbourne radio milieu include figures who interacted with or appeared alongside talent connected to Alan Jones, Neil Mitchell, Richard Wilkins, Erin Molan, Graham Richardson, Peter Costello, Jeff Kennett, Daniel Andrews, John Brumby, Brendan Nelson, Tony Abbott, Julia Gillard, Kevin Rudd, Bob Hawke, Paul Keating, Billy Birmingham, Thomas Keneally, Germaine Greer, Magda Szubanski, Rove McManus, Carrie Bickmore, Hamish Blake and others from Australian media and politics. Contributors have included sports journalists linked to Herald Sun and broadcasters who covered events like the AFL Premiership, ICC Cricket World Cup, and Olympic Games.
3AW's audience profile overlaps with listeners of outlets such as Herald Sun, The Age, ABC NewsRadio, and talk stations like 2GB and SEN. Ratings measured by agencies like GfK and formerly AC Nielsen placed the station in competitive positions during survey periods that encompassed urban and regional markets including Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat, and the Gippsland region. Public reception has been shaped by coverage of high-profile incidents such as major bushfires in Victoria and responses to natural disasters involving coordination with services like Country Fire Authority and Ambulance Victoria.
The station has engaged in fundraising drives and community partnerships linked to organizations such as Red Cross, Salvation Army, St Vincent de Paul Society, Royal Children's Hospital (Melbourne), Lifeline Australia, and local initiatives like Victorian Bushfire Appeal efforts. Events promoted by the station have connected with cultural institutions such as the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Victorian Arts Centre, and local festivals including the Melbourne International Comedy Festival and White Night Melbourne, while supporting sporting charities tied to clubs in the Australian Football League and community groups across metropolitan and regional Victoria.
3AW transmits on medium wave at 693 kHz using transmission infrastructure compatible with standards enforced by the Australian Communications and Media Authority. Coverage extends across greater Melbourne and regional corridors, reaching areas served by transport routes such as the Monash Freeway and Princes Highway, and population centres like Werribee, Sunshine (Victoria), Frankston, Dandenong, and the Mornington Peninsula. The station's production facilities interface with studios and engineering practices comparable to those at HSV-7 and GTV-9, and its digital presence engages platforms like iHeartRadio, podcast directories, and social media services hosted by companies such as Twitter and Facebook.
Personnel and programs linked to the station have been acknowledged in industry awards and media events alongside accolades from bodies such as the Australian Commercial Radio Awards, the Walkley Awards, and recognition in annual industry listings compiled by groups like Mumbrella and Radio Today. The station's contributions to journalism, broadcasting, and community service have been noted in commentary comparing it with peers such as ABC Radio Melbourne, 2GB, and SEN (Sports Entertainment Network).
Category:Radio stations in Melbourne