NXFM

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NXFM (2XXX)

City of license	Newcastle, New South Wales
Broadcast area	Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Hunter Valley
First air date	August 30, 1937 (as 2HR) 1950s (as 2NX) 1990s (as 2XXX)
Frequency	106.9 MHz FM
Format	Pop, Rock, Rap
Power	20kw
Callsign meaning	2XXX, dervived from former 2XX callsign, NXFM comes from former 2NX callsign
Former callsigns	2HR (1937-1950s) 2NX (1950s-late 1980s) 2XX (late 1980s-early 1990s)
Affiliations	Today Network
Owner	Radio Newcastle Pty. Ltd. 50% Austereo 50% Macquarie Regional RadioWorks
Website	NXFM.com.au

NXFM is an Australian radio station, licensed to, and serving Newcastle and surrounding areas. It broadcasts at 106.9 MHz on the FM band from its studios in Charlestown. It is owned by Radio Newcastle, a joint venture of Austereo and Macquarie Regional RadioWorks, and is a sister station to KOFM.

[edit] History

NXFM's history can be traced back to Singleton radio station 2HR, owned by Hunter River Broadcasters Pty. Ltd. The station launched on August 30, 1937. Shareholders included the Singleton Argus and the Robinson Family. Three years later, the station was moved to Maitland, with transmitter at Lochinvar.

In those days, 2HR operated on 680 kHz with 300 watts of power, and was affiliated with the Macquarie Broadcasting Network. Programs were oringated locally between 6.30am and 6.30pm, before taking the Macquarie feed at 6.30pm.

In the 1950's, 2HR was relocated to Newcastle, with its transmitter located in Bolwarra. Station manager Ken Robinson was a former Army officer, and his identification number had the letters NX. Therefore, the station was given the callsign 2NX, and a new frequency at 1341 kHz.

In the period between the 1950s and 1970s, 2NX's owners Hunter Broadcasters were purchased by the Catholic Broadcasting Corporation, owned by the Catholic Church. 2NX programming was relayed to 2NM overnight during this time, and was identified as 2NXNM.

In the late 1980s, the station changed its callsign to 2XX, and its branding to X13.

In the early 1990's, the Catholic Church got out of broadcasting, and sold 2NX to Radio Newcastle, which was later taken over by Austereo, and then sold a 50% stake to RG Capital (which was taken over by Macquarie Bank). 2NX was granted a license to convert to FM in the 90s and moved to 106.9 MHz, branding itself originally as X107, before changing to its current name, NXFM.