Mix 102.3
| Company type | Commercial radio station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Radio broadcasting |
| Predecessor | 5AD (AM radio station) |
| Founded | August 2, 1930 (as 5AD) |
| Founder | Advertiser Newspapers |
| Headquarters | Adelaide , Australia |
Area served | Adelaide, Australia |
| Products | Hot Adult Contemporary music radio broadcasting |
| Owner | ARN (Australian Radio Network) |
| Parent | KIIS Network |
| Website | www |
Mix 102.3 (call sign: 5ADD) operates as a commercial FM radio outlet based in Adelaide, Australia, under the ownership of ARN. The station broadcasts a blend of contemporary hits alongside selections from the 1980s and 1990s, classified within the Hot Adult Contemporary format, and primarily serves listeners aged 25 to 54. Mix 102.3 belongs to the KIIS Network, which includes affiliated stations located in major Australian metropolitan areas such as Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Canberra.
History
The origins of Mix 102.3 trace back to the AM station 5AD, which commenced operations on 2 August 1930. Initially, it was owned by Advertiser Newspapers, an entity that also held ownership of television station ADS-7 until 1986.
During its formative years, 5AD featured a varied programming schedule encompassing orchestral performances, comedy series like "Yes, What?", and children's programs that supported charitable causes. The arrival of television in Adelaide in 1959 prompted a transition toward music-centric content, accompanied by promotional slogans including "5AD, Action Radio" and "Power Radio 5AD".
Key figures during the 1960s and 1970s included broadcasters such as Bob Francis, Alec Macaskill, and Keith Conlon. Under the leadership of general manager Bob Francis in the late 1970s and throughout the 1980s, 5AD reached unprecedented audience levels. The Bazz and Pilko breakfast show led with an audience share surpassing 30%, while the station maintained dominance across all dayparts as a top 40 broadcaster branded "Rhythm of the City". However, after Bazz and Pilko departed for competitor station 5KA in 1983, ratings experienced a downturn. In response, from 1985 onwards, 5AD adopted an Easy Listening format, regaining its position at the top by mid-1992 with the "Sundo & Keith" breakfast program achieving a record-breaking streak of 50 consecutive survey wins.
Due to media ownership regulations, Advertiser Newspapers divested 5AD in 1987 to Hoyts Media. Subsequently, Montclair Investments acquired the station in 1991; Montclair's proprietors included former radio personalities Jeremy Cordeaux and Sue Fraser. In 1992, Montclair expanded by purchasing X102 (previously known as 5DN), an FM station with low ratings at that time. From July 1993, simulcasting of 5AD commenced on FM frequencies, resulting in rapid increases in both audience figures and advertising income.
Following government mandates restricting simulcasting practices, the AM frequency was repurposed as Radio 1323 featuring former hosts such as Jeremy Cordeaux. This station later evolved into 5DN in 1994, then transformed into SEN before becoming the oldies-format Cruise 1323 by the year 2005.
As of 2025, Mix's weekday programming schedule is as follows:
- 6 am–9 am – Hayley & Max in the Morning
- 9 am–3 pm – Michelle Murphy
- 3 pm–4 pm – The Pick Up
- 4 pm–6 pm – Will & Woody
- 6 pm–7 pm – Kyle and Jackie O's Hour of Power
External links
- Mix 102.3 official website
- The radio comedy Yes, What from station 5AD was inducted into the National Film and Sound Archive's Sounds of Australia registry in 2013. Sounds of Australia