2UE

2UE
Company type	Private
Industry	Radio broadcasting
Founded	November 7, 1924; 102 years ago in Sydney, Australia
Founder	Cecil "Pa" Stevenson
Headquarters	Pyrmont, Sydney, Australia
Area served	Sydney, New South Wales
Owner	Nine Entertainment
Website	www.2ue.com.au

2UE is a Sydney-based radio station dedicated exclusively to music, owned by Nine Entertainment and operated under a lease agreement by Ace Radio. Its broadcasts originate from studios located in Pyrmont, New South Wales.

2EU

The company Electrical Utilities applied for a B Class commercial broadcasting licence, initially assigned the call-sign 2EU to represent Electrical Utilities. Prior to the licence being granted (PMG – Broadcasting Station Licence No.12) on 7 November 1924, the firm requested the reversal of the letters, resulting in the call-sign 2UE. Jim Malone, then Chief Manager of Telegraphs and Wireless, remarked that 2UE had a "more euphonious sound".

2UE

The station commenced transmissions on 26 January 1925, established by Cecil "Pa" Stevenson, a pioneer in Australian broadcasting. Before launching 2UE, Stevenson operated an experimental station called 2IY and worked alongside other early innovators. His family, particularly his eldest son Murray, assisted with technical aspects, while Pa Stevenson himself was the inaugural announcer.

The initial studio was situated within the Stevenson residence in Maroubra, equipped with an 80-foot transmission tower and custom-built apparatus that cost £750 to construct and approximately £9 per week to maintain. Shortly thereafter, operations moved to Stevenson's radio retail outlet on George Street in Sydney.

Programming largely consisted of 78 rpm records and player piano rolls. To prevent silence during transitions, Stevenson would whistle between segments—a habit that led to Australia's first radio commercial when a local butcher paid him to substitute whistling with promotional messages. This one-shilling charge became the station’s standard advertising rate. Early sponsors included Youth-O-Form slimming tablets, which reportedly generated considerable customer interest.

Reception of 2UE's early broadcasts extended as far as the United States and New Zealand. Presently, 2UE holds the distinction of being Australia's longest continuously operating commercial radio station, with only Newcastle’s 2HD having commenced broadcasts one day later.

In 1929, under Cecil Stevenson’s leadership, 2UE conducted experiments with radiovision (mechanical television) transmissions; however, these trials ceased due to a lack of receiver availability. Similar experiments were carried out in Melbourne at stations 3UZ and 3DB during the same year.

Broadcast Services Association

During December 1935, amidst the Great Depression, Broadcasting Service Association Limited was formed to facilitate resource sharing and joint production for 2UE and 2GB without owning either station outright. On 7 January 1937, it was announced that these stations would operate respectively as the Red Network and Blue Network, inspired by NBC's American model. This arrangement failed to take hold in Australia as 2GB soon developed its own national network strategy, culminating in the creation of the Macquarie Network in 1938, initially co-managed by both 2GB and 2UE.

Major Broadcasting Network

In 1938, Melbourne’s 3DB partnered with 2UE to establish the Major Broadcasting Network, which became Australia's second-largest radio network after Macquarie. The network's formation was largely driven by David Worrall, manager of 3DB. The Sydney affiliate shifted from 2UE to stations 2CH and then to 2UW (currently KIIS 106.5), before returning to 2UE as the Major Network’s Sydney outlet in September 1950. The network offered a diverse lineup of live variety shows including quizzes and radio dramas predominantly produced at studios in either Melbourne or Sydney.

Prior to this successful network launch, Worrall had attempted two earlier commercial network ventures involving 2UE: the Federal Network and Associated Broadcasters of Australia in 1933; both were short-lived initiatives.

Accommodation

In 1938, the Broadcast Services Association partners 2UE and 2GB relocated their studios and offices to Savoy House at 29 Bligh Street, Sydney. Within this building, 2UE occupied the fourth and fifth floors, while 2GB took up space on the sixth and seventh floors.

A new transmitter was installed at Lilli Pilli, New South Wales, in 1930.

Ownership

Between 1933 and 1934, Pa Stevenson transferred ownership of the station to Associated Newspapers Ltd, the publisher of The Sun. Despite this change in ownership, the Stevenson family—especially Murray Stevenson—retained considerable influence over station operations.

Time signal

Beginning in 1939, 2UE pioneered the broadcast of six pips from the Australian observatory as an hourly time signal, becoming the first Australian station to do so. This practice was widely adopted by other stations across Australia and continued uninterrupted until its cessation in October 2019.

Drama

During the 1930s, the 2UE Dramatic Players were formed to produce a variety of dramas and serials on a repertory basis. The troupe was initially led by renowned radio actor and producer George Edwards and later saw Paul Jacklin assume leadership of production. Malcolm "Max" Afford played a significant role in contributing to 2UE’s dramatic programming throughout the 1930s and 1940s. Up until the early 1960s, 2UE created numerous audio plays for the Major Broadcasting Network, predominantly consisting of fifteen-minute serials or soap operas alongside thirty-minute dramas. Among its most popular offerings was the Australian adaptation of the Lux Radio Theatre, which aired Sundays at 8:00 pm until 1952. This program was one of pre-television Australia’s most widely listened-to weekly broadcasts and directly competed with 2GB’s Macquarie Radio Theatre, later known as the Caltex Theatre.

Live music

Throughout this era, 2UE featured a broad spectrum of live music performances ranging from classical pieces to popular tunes. Reflecting its commitment to musical excellence, the station established the 2UE Academy of Music in 1933 under Rex Shaw and Professor Clarence Elkin, aiming to train vocalists and instrumentalists primarily in classical disciplines. However, this initiative lasted for approximately one year.

Cricket / Don Bradman

In the 1930s, Test Cricket attracted large radio audiences, with stations in major cities leveraging it for competitive programming. In 1931, a Sydney menswear retailer secured Don Bradman on a two-year contract valued at £1,000 per year—an extraordinarily high amount that helped ensure he remained in Australia. Bradman also displayed his piano talents on 2UE’s weekly program Call to Youth.

World War II

On 3 September 1939, during a broadcast of Leah Kleschna from Lux Radio Theatre, 2UE interrupted regular programming to relay Prime Minister Robert Menzies’ announcement that Australia had entered World War II.

Following America’s entry into the war in December 1941, wartime censorship tightened considerably. General Douglas MacArthur, stationed in Australia as Allied commander, enforced strict regulations including limiting radio news bulletins to three simultaneous daily transmissions at 7:45 am, noon, and 7:00 pm. Weather forecasts were prohibited to prevent potential assistance to enemy forces.

Government directives restricted radio reporting on major wartime events—restrictions that were not entirely mirrored by print media. While some stations faced temporary shutdowns due to breaches of these regulations, 2UE continued broadcasting throughout.

Many sponsors donated advertising slots to support patriotic campaigns during this period. Nevertheless, staff enlistments affected station operations; notable figures such as broadcaster Frank Bennett and engineer Arthur Pettet enlisted in Australian military radio units operating across the Pacific.

With overseas program supplies—particularly from the United States—cut off during wartime, 2UE significantly increased its production of local content throughout this period.

Facilities

In July 1941, Prime Minister Robert Menzies inaugurated a new 1,000-watt transmitter located in Concord. To prevent enemy forces from utilizing the tower during a potential World War II invasion, the military rigged it with explosives.

Following a fire that damaged the Savoy House studios in 1943, Sydney broadcaster 2CH offered temporary studio space to station 2UE.

Horse racing

2UE gained a reputation for its comprehensive horse racing broadcasts throughout Sydney and Australia. Beginning in 1945 under Sports Editor Clif Cary, the station transmitted Saturday race coverage to nine NSW stations through Associated Sports Broadcasts. This service concluded in 1983 when announcer Des Hoysted called the final race. Prominent race commentators included Clif Cary, Ken Howard, Des Hoysted, Andrew Martin, and Harry Solomons.

Marketing slogan

Throughout the 1950s, 2UE promoted itself using the tagline The Modern Station.

Ownership change

In 1954, John Lamb purchased 2UE from Associated Newspapers for £165,000 (equivalent to $330,000). Lamb was also proprietor of Newcastle’s 2KO. Upon his passing in 1978, management of the family’s interests in 2UE passed to his son Stewart.

Gary O'Callaghan

Gary O'Callaghan held the position of Sydney’s premier breakfast announcer for nearly three decades, achieving 159 survey victories.

Top 40 program

On 2 March 1958, 2UE introduced Australia’s inaugural daily Top 40 show, hosted by former Newcastle presenter Pat Barton. The first chart-topping track featured was Pat Boone’s "April Love."

Revised slogan

During the 1960s, the station adopted the branding The Brighter 2UE.

Sydney’s pop music hub

In the early part of the decade, as variety and drama programming transitioned to television, 2UE shifted its focus to a Top 40 music format. It became one of Australia’s earliest stations primarily dedicated to pop music. By the late 1960s, however, 2SM had surpassed 2UE as Sydney’s leading Top 40 broadcaster.

Noteworthy DJs during this era included Bob Rogers, Tony Withers, and John Laws.

Beginning in 1966, both 2UE Sydney and 3UZ Melbourne supported Australian artists through their involvement with the national rock band competition known as Hoadley's Battle of the Sounds. After several years, Sydney’s representation shifted from 2UE to 2SM.

One long-standing program was the National Old Time Dance, featuring Jack Papworth's orchestra. This show aired nationally every Friday night and was occasionally produced at The Albert Palais in Leichhardt.

Introduction of talkback

Talkback radio remained prohibited in Australia until 1967 due to regulatory restrictions. Despite this ban, stations such as 2UW Sydney and 3AK Melbourne broadcast talkback segments starting in 1963. Officially, however, 2UE along with 3DB (Melbourne) were pioneers in launching legal talkback radio on 17 April 1967. Journalist Ormsby Wilkins served as the first host for talkback on 2UE.

Country music programming

Although maintaining its primary identity as a Top 40 station during the early 1970s, 2UE also incorporated country music shows hosted by Studio Manager Nick Erby and included country tracks within John Laws’ programs.

Changes in Ownership

During the 1980s, the Lamb family transferred ownership of 2UE to media tycoon Kerry Packer, who subsequently sold the station to Alan Bond. After Bond's financial downfall in the early 1990s, the Lamb family regained control of the station.

CBC Network

In 1986, under Kerry Packer’s direction, 2UE partnered with Melbourne’s 3AK to create the CBC Network, a joint talk-back format that shared selected programs between Sydney and Melbourne. While each city maintained its own breakfast show, the remainder of the schedule was simulcast across both stations. Brian White, a respected news presenter and radio executive, managed both outlets. The CBC Network, however, was short-lived and did not achieve success.

Phillip Adams

Towards the late 1980s, Phillip Adams hosted a commentary program on 2UE that blended in-depth news analysis with lighter segments. After departing in the early 1990s, he continued a similar format on ABC Radio National and Radio Australia, with his show running until at least 2022.

Record Prize Giveaway

In 1984, 2UE introduced Millionaire Mania, featuring a $20,000 annual prize paid over 50 years—then the largest prize ever awarded on radio. The winner was selected by Premier Neville Wran and described as an "older lady," much to the relief of station management.

Cash for Comment Scandal

2UE played a central role in the 1999 cash for comment controversy, which involved undisclosed payments disguised as editorial commentary. The ABC program Media Watch revealed that hosts John Laws and Alan Jones accepted payments from companies such as Qantas, Optus, Foxtel, Mirvac, and major banks without proper disclosure. The Australian Broadcasting Authority identified 90 breaches of industry codes and five license violations involving Laws, Jones, and 2UE. Consequently, the station faced a $360,000 fine for Laws’s violations.

News Talk Format

Throughout this period, 2UE maintained a news talk format featuring current affairs and talkback shows during daytime hours, complemented by lighter programming during evenings and weekends. Hourly news bulletins were supplied by the Macquarie Radio Network.

Further Ownership Transitions

In March 2001, the Lamb family sold both 2UE and 4BC to Southern Cross Broadcasting for roughly $90 million.

In July 2007, Fairfax Media acquired Southern Cross Broadcasting’s metropolitan radio assets, including stations such as 2UE, 3AW, and 4BC.

On 22 December 2014, Fairfax’s radio division merged with the Macquarie Radio Network, with the transaction completing on 1 April 2015.

Although originally connected through the Broadcast Services Association in the 1930s, by the early 21st century 2UE had become a competitor to 2GB, both offering similar programming styles. During the early 2010s, ratings for 2UE declined significantly following long-standing breakfast host Alan Jones’s move to 2GB and broadcaster John Laws retiring from his morning show on 2UE in 2007.

On 9 April 2015, after merging with Macquarie Radio Network, 2UE shut down its newsroom after operating for ninety years. The final news bulletin aired at 6 pm as news services were merged across both stations, resulting in substantial staff reductions.

Audience metrics and competitive standing

According to the final ratings report for 2013 published on 10 December, 2UE captured a market share of 4.2%, placing it behind the leading station 2 GB with 13.3% and ABC702 at 10.4%. This positioned 2UE tenth out of the fourteen stations surveyed. Its weekday share from Monday to Friday declined to 3.2%, falling short of Macquarie Radio Network's 2CH, which held 4.6%, leaving 2UE just ahead of three other competitors. The drive-time program experienced a decrease of 0.7 percentage points following the mid-survey departure of Jason Morrison, while evening ratings suffered a significant drop of 2.6 points, representing the largest fall recorded in that survey.

Cricket broadcasting

On 1 November 2013, Fairfax Radio Network (FRN), the parent company of 2UE, secured a five-year agreement to broadcast cricket starting with the 2013/2014 Australian season. This contract covered key fixtures such as the Boxing Day and Sydney Test matches, all One Day International games, the Big Bash League (BBL), and International T20 matches across its network, including 2UE. In December 2013, FRN expanded its coverage to feature the Perth Test match commencing on 13 December.

Fairfax emphasized its extensive "more than six decades" of experience in sports commentary and assembled an elite team delivering ball-by-ball narration for every match. The primary commentators were Tim Lane and Bruce Eva, supported by a panel of experts including:

Legal disputes

2UE has faced multiple defamation lawsuits. In February 2012, Mamdouh Habib prevailed in his claim and was awarded close to $150,000. Additionally, in relation to an August 2005 broadcast by John Laws, 2UE was found liable for defaming journalist Ray Chesterton.

2016–2018: Transition to Talking Lifestyle

In September 2016, 2UE underwent rebranding, shifting its focus from news talk to a lifestyle-oriented format. Subsequently, on 27 February 2017, Macquarie Radio Network introduced the Talking Lifestyle format in Melbourne and Brisbane, with hosts broadcasting from studios in Sydney or Melbourne.

By August 2017, weekday programming featured:

Overnight hosted by David Prior
Breakfast with John Stanley and Garry Linnell
Mornings presented by Tim Webster
Afternoons with Ed Phillips
Finance segments led by Peter Switzer
Drive time with Nick Bennett and Kayley Harris
Technology hosted by Trevor Long
Late night hosted by Jonathan Coleman
Second Career with Matthew Tukaki

Macquarie Sports Radio

On 4 April 2018, the trio of Talking Lifestyle stations were relaunched under the Macquarie Sports Radio brand, coinciding with coverage of the 2018 Commonwealth Games. Numerous presenters from the previous lifestyle format did not continue under this new sports-focused programming.

This change attracted criticism from former Talking Lifestyle audiences, some advising listeners to switch over to ABC Radio Sydney instead.

Macquarie Sports Radio 954 aired Sydney Swans and Greater Western Sydney Giants AFL matches sourced from 3AW, along with early Friday night NRL games provided by NRL Nation.

On 29 October 2019, Macquarie Media announced it would discontinue sports talk shows starting from 1 November but planned to maintain live broadcasts of Test cricket, Big Bash League fixtures, One Day Internationals, and English Premier League soccer matches throughout the summer season.

Transition to an all-music lineup

On 21 January 2020, Nine revealed plans to discontinue the Macquarie Sports Radio brand, reverting 2UE along with its sister stations Magic 1278 Melbourne and 4BH Brisbane to a music-only format. This new direction emphasized popular tracks from the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, with a soft rollout beginning on 2 February 2020. In April, Steve Jacobs was named as the breakfast show host, commencing his role on 27 April. Although existing sports broadcasting agreements were maintained, the network remained open to incorporating sports coverage again in the future.

Management by ACE Radio

On 28 October 2021, Nine Radio entered into a partnership with ACE Radio, assigning ACE the responsibility of operating 2UE along with Magic 1278 and 4BH starting early 2022. ACE Radio officially assumed control on 14 January 2022, relaunching the station with updated presenters, refreshed branding, and new imaging elements.

By 2024, the roster of hosts at 2UE featured Trevor Sinclair, Gareth McCray, Cathy Jubb, Greg Allen, and Dave Ferguson. Marking its centenary on Australia Day, 26 January 2025, the station commemorated 100 years of broadcasting. During this milestone, 2UE transitioned from an easy listening playlist to a classic hits format that incorporated livelier and more contemporary music selections. The lineup was further enhanced by the addition of Gavin Miller and Scott Menz, both joining from other ACE Radio properties.

External links

Official website