The Edge Digital
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Radio broadcasting |
| Predecessor | The Edge |
| Founded | September 7, 1935 |
| Headquarters | North Sydney , Australia |
Area served | Katoomba, Blue Mountains, Penrith, Sydney, parts of Canberra, Wollongong, Newcastle, Bathurst |
| Products | Radio broadcasting (Hip Hop and R'n'B music) |
| Owner | ARN Media |
| Parent | Australian Radio Network |
| Website | cada |
CADA (call sign: 2ONE) is a music-focused radio broadcaster located in the outer suburbs of Sydney, Australia. It holds a licence for Katoomba and operates under the ownership of ARN Media.
History
Previously identified as The Edge, CADA caters to listeners in the Blue Mountains region to Sydney’s west. The station commenced operations on 7 September 1935 under the call sign 2KA. In December 1937, 2KA transitioned its frequency from 1160 kHz to 780 kHz. By 1978, a repeater transmitting on 1480 kHz was introduced, and from November of that year, broadcasts were transmitted on 783 kHz AM with an additional translator at 1476 kHz serving Emu Plains.
Initially licensed exclusively for the Blue Mountains area, the addition of the 1476 kHz frequency expanded the station’s coverage into Penrith, thereby increasing its audience base and advertising potential. To safeguard their Sydney market shares, several Sydney-based stations acquired this licence and experimented with automated programming formats; however, these attempts failed to generate significant listener numbers.
In 1983, Australian television personality Mike Walsh acquired the licence from The Lamb Family, who owned 2UE at the time. Walsh aimed to develop a thriving enterprise and an innovative entertainment offering. Subsequently, the station relocated from its Penrith studio at Borec House to a new facility adjacent to Walsh’s cinema complex at Henry and Lawson Streets.
The Edge 96.ONE
On 26 October 1992, the station transitioned to the FM band under the name One FM, which later became known as 96.1FM. Purchased for a modest $46,000, this FM conversion was considered highly cost-effective given its broad Sydney coverage compared to other AM-to-FM conversions that incurred greater expenses. Under ownership by Hayden Nepean Broadcasting, the station adhered to local content mandates and maintained a community-oriented approach. Its musical programming evolved through various genres including Top 40 CHR (1990–1997, 1999–2005), Alternative Rock (1998), and later Dance, Hip Hop, and R'n'B (2006–2022).
In 1997, Mike Walsh sold the station to Australian Radio Network, which also controls Sydney stations such as CADA, Gold 101.7, and KIIS 106.5. Following this acquisition, studios were moved from Penrith to Seven Hills alongside WSFM 101.7 before relocating again to North Ryde in 2002.
Although licensed for Katoomba/Blue Mountains/Penrith with a 5 kW transmitter located at Wentworth Falls, its signal reaches much of Sydney as well as parts of Canberra, Wollongong, Newcastle, and Bathurst. A legal dispute during the 1990s concerning signal overspill with 2Day FM and Triple M Sydney concluded in favour of The Edge.
Due to licensing restrictions, The Edge is excluded from Sydney Nielsen ratings surveys; instead, its audience data is categorized under 'Other,' enabling ARN to hold ownership alongside WSFM and KIIS 106.5 without conflict.
In January 2006, ARN introduced Australia’s first dedicated urban music format on The Edge following a positive response to the "K-Sera & The Dirty Dozen" countdown show. This program earned Best Radio Show Australia/New Zealand honors at the 2006 Urban Music Awards. Subsequently, the station rebranded to highlight its Hip Hop and R'n'B focus and expanded the K-Sera brand nationally through online streaming via KseraRadio.com.
In 2009, The Edge launched a companion DAB+ digital station named Edge Digital across Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney. While not an exact simulcast of the main channel, it shares branding elements and resources but is not accessible through Metro FM radio frequencies.
April 2011 marked the return of breakfast hosts Mike E and Emma Chow. In August 2013, The Edge adopted a new branding slogan "Hits That Move You," reflecting a hybrid musical format combining urban, pop, dance, and R'n'B genres selected through listener surveys—positioning itself as Australia's sole commercial urban-format radio outlet. This tagline later expanded to cover all urban music styles.
The station also featured Club Edge on Saturday nights with resident DJs including Nino Brown.
In March 2014, The Edge unveiled an innovative listener-driven music chart developed in partnership with iHeartRadio.
After ten years on air together serving Western Sydney audiences, Mike E and Emma departed in December 2021.
At precisely 16:00 hrs on 31 March 2022, after nearly two decades of broadcasting under that identity, The Edge 96.ONE rebranded as CADA as part of ARN’s strategic repositioning efforts.
CADA
On 31 March 2022, The Edge 96.ONE underwent a rebranding to become CADA, establishing itself as Australia's premier destination for Hip Hop and R'n'B, delivering distinctive, inclusive, and exclusive programming. CADA serves as a platform enabling both domestic and international Hip Hop and R'n'B artists to connect with a nationwide audience across multiple platforms.
In April 2025, it was disclosed that the presenter of Weekdays with Thy was created using artificial intelligence, highlighting a pioneering application of AI technology within the broadcasting industry.
Studios
- Meadlow Bath, Katoomba: Prior to 1976
- Penrith: Borec House at the corner of Station & Henry Streets (1976–1987)
- Penrith: Intersection of Henry & Lawson Streets (1987–1997)
- Seven Hills: Leabons Lane location (1997–2002)
- North Ryde: Byfield Street premises (2002–2024)
- North Sydney: Mount Street, The Coca Cola Building (2024–Present)