KIIS 101.1
| Company type | Commercial radio broadcaster |
|---|---|
| Industry | Radio broadcasting |
| Predecessor | 3DB, 3TT |
| Founded | 1927 |
| Headquarters | Melbourne , Australia |
Area served | Melbourne metropolitan area |
| Products | Radio broadcasting (FM 101.1 MHz) |
| Owner | Australian Radio Network (ARN) |
| Website | www |
KIIS 1011 (callsign: 3TTT) is a commercial FM radio broadcaster based in Melbourne, transmitting on 101.1 MHz as the local affiliate of the ARN's KIIS Network. Previously identified as 3DB and 3TT, the station originally operated on 1026 kHz AM before converting to FM in 1990.
3DB
The station 3DB was granted its broadcasting licence in 1925 but commenced transmissions on 21 February 1927. It was initially owned by Druleigh Business and Technical College Pty Ltd, from which its callsign DB was derived. Ownership passed to the Herald & Weekly Times (HWT), publishers of The Herald and The Sun News-Pictorial, from 1929 until 1987.
Throughout this era, 3DB ranked among Melbourne’s leading stations, offering a wide array of content such as pop and Top 40 music, classical selections, live radio dramas, variety entertainment, quiz shows, and coverage of major sports including horse racing, VFL football, and test cricket. The station also featured popular programming aimed at women and children.
David Thomas Worrall, appointed as manager in 1929 by HWT’s Sir Keith Murdoch, was instrumental in establishing high-quality, well-funded programming. Starting in 1942, 3DB became the official broadcaster for the Royal Children's Hospital Good Friday Appeal, significantly enhancing fundraising results.
Following HWT’s acquisition of the Geelong Advertiser and its station 3GL in 1987, regulatory requirements mandated divestment of one Melbourne/Geelong station. As a result, 3DB changed ownership four times within twelve months before being acquired by Sydney-based music company J Albert & Son, which also owned 2UW. The station was rebranded as 3TT in late 1987. The final broadcast under the 3DB callsign occurred in early April 1988.
3TT
The station relaunched as 3TT with a classic hits format at 5:00 am on 2 April 1988, opening with The Doobie Brothers’ "Listen to the Music." Retaining the original callsign proved challenging during the format change; alternative call letters such as 3BB or 3MM were considered but ultimately rejected.
Lawrence Costin, who had been an announcer at 3DB for over three decades, was the sole presenter retained by 3TT to serve as a newsreader and reporter.
From AM to FM
At midnight between 23 and 24 June 1990, 3TT shifted its broadcast from AM to FM on 101.1 MHz. Its former AM frequency of 1026 kHz was surrendered to the government and subsequently allocated to ABC for use by station 3PB; this frequency later became ABC NewsRadio in 1994, dedicated to news and parliamentary coverage.
The process of transferring the licence from AM to FM was intricate and politically sensitive. Although FM broadcasting began in the United States in 1933, Australia did not issue permanent FM licences until the mid-1970s—primarily to community broadcasters under the Whitlam and Fraser administrations. Commercial AM stations like 3TT were initially excluded from receiving FM licences despite FM’s increasing market significance.
In response to government pressure during the late 1980s, a contentious auction system was introduced to facilitate the migration of selected AM stations to FM. In Melbourne, six out of seven AM stations competed for two available FM licences; notably, 3AW opted out due to its predominantly older audience preferring AM.
The highest bids recorded were: $32 million by 3KZ; $22 million by 3AK; and $11 million by 3TT. The substantial variation in bids indicated competitive bidding without any collusion. However, after media magnate Kerry Packer sold Nine Network—including station 3AK—to Alan Bond (who showed no interest in radio), Bond failed to complete payment for his FM licence. Consequently, the second Melbourne FM licence was awarded to third-highest bidder, 3TT.
TT-FM
At its inception on 24 June 1990, 3TTT preserved the programming style of 3TT, promoting itself as 101.1 TT-FM. The inaugural track aired was "In the Air Tonight" by Phil Collins. By 1993, TT-FM had transitioned to an adult contemporary music playlist.
Mix 101.1
In June 2001, the station adopted the name Mix 101.1 after becoming part of the Mix Network, mirroring Sydney's Mix 106.5 with a format emphasizing increased music content and reduced talk segments.
The concluding song broadcast on Mix 101.1 was "Bye Bye Bye" by NSYNC.
KIIS 101.1
In November 2014, the Australian Radio Network revealed that Mix 101.1 would transform into KIIS 101.1 starting 19 January 2015, launching new breakfast and drive-time shows. The breakfast program Matt & Jane replaced Chrissie & Jane, with Jane Hall continuing alongside former Fox FM and Triple M presenter Matt Tilley. The drive-time show Rosso on Drive was succeeded by the nationally syndicated Hughesy & Kate, hosted by Dave Hughes and Kate Langbroek, who transitioned from the Nova 100 breakfast slot.
Jane Hall exited in October 2015 to resume her acting career, with Meshel Laurie, previously from Nova 100 breakfast, stepping into her role.
By October 2017, ARN announced that Matt Tilley, Meshel Laurie, Dave Hughes, and Kate Langbroek would depart by the end of that year. The breakfast show Matt & Meshel was replaced by Jason 'Jase' Hawkins and Polly 'PJ' Harding, while drive-time duties were handed to Will McMahon and Woody Whitelaw from Hit 92.9. Meanwhile, Hughesy & Kate moved to Southern Cross Austereo’s Hit Network, taking over from Hamish & Andy.
In July 2021, ARN confirmed that Lauren Phillips would join Jason 'Jase' Hawkins to form the duo Jase & Lauren, following Polly 'PJ' Harding’s departure earlier that month.
November 2023 brought news that The Kyle and Jackie O Show would be broadcast across the network from KIIS 106.5 Sydney in 2024, resulting in the conclusion of Jase & Lauren. Their final broadcast occurred on 1 December 2023. Subsequently, in March 2024, Jase & Lauren moved to host the breakfast slot on Nova 100, succeeding Ben, Liam & Belle.
Also in March 2024, ARN announced updates to daytime programming with Gordie Waters being networked from Sydney into Melbourne and Brisbane's KIIS 97.3, following Byron Cooke’s resignation earlier that month.
Studios
The original studios of 3DB were situated on Capitol House’s tenth floor above the Capitol Theatre on Swanston Street, next to the Druleigh Business and Technical College—the station’s initial proprietors. After acquisition by Herald and Weekly Times (HWT) in 1929, operations moved to offices at 74 Flinders Street, located east of HWT’s building at Flinders and Exhibition Street. In 1966, as part of expanding HWT’s truck dock area, the premises at 74 Flinders Street were demolished, prompting relocation to 61 Flinders Lane, positioned directly behind HWT’s main building.
Following its change to 3TT branding, broadcasting continued from the Flinders Lane location until December 1988 when new studios opened on Queensbridge Street in South Melbourne.
Presently, the station broadcasts from Richmond’s renowned Pelaco building alongside sister station Gold 104.3.