i98FM
 | |
| Broadcast area | Wollongong, Australia |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 98.1 MHz FM |
| Format | Hot adult contemporary |
| Owner | WIN Corporation |
| Website | www.i98fm.com.au |
"i98fm" is a commercial radio station broadcasting on the FM band to the Illawarra region of New South Wales, Australia. It is owned by WIN Corporation, the parent company of WIN Television.
History
The station was born as 2OO ("2 Double 0") on 1 January 1979, broadcasting on 1575 kHz on the AM band. It often rated well behind popular rival commercial station, 2WL (now Wave FM), who had been broadcasting in the region since 1931. On 25 June 1992, 2OO converted to FM broadcasting and was relaunched as i98fm.
Since 1995, i98fm has consistently been the #1 radio station in the region (with the exception being two consecutive surveys in late 2002 and early 2003, when its main commercial rival, Wave FM, was the #1 station).
The station was broadcasting its own live coverage of Illawarra Steelers matches since the team's inception into the NSWRL competition in 1982. After the team merged with the St. George Dragons during the 1998/99 off-season, the station continued to broadcast their own live coverage of St. George Illawarra Dragons matches until 2001. In 2002, the live Dragons matches was axed in favour of the "Continuous Call Team" on relay from Sydney station 2GB, which aired on Sunday afternoons. That move contributed to i98fm's loss of the #1 position to Wave FM.
Notable on-air teams on i98FM over the years have included: Maroon & Milly (Breakfast), Marty & Erica (Breakfast), Marty, Erica & Stretto (Breakfast), Ryan Cram & Matt Smith ("The Shift" - night program), Marty & Bianca (Breakfast), Maje & Fairlie (The Backseat - Drive program).
From October 2008 and into 2009, some big on-air changes happened at i98FM. Bianca Dye joined the Breakfast Show replacing Erica Hodge and Maje Saba and Fairlie Hamilton formed the first male/female duo team in Drive, called "The Backseat". Ryan Cram moved from nights to Afternoons and Glenn "Stolzy" Stolzenhein moved from sister station C91.3FM nights to i98's night program, called "After Hours". A weekend spot program called "Game On" was created and was hosted (until early 2012) by Tim "Robbo" Robinson.
From October 2008, i98FM began broadcasting programs that could also be heard on its Campbelltown sister station, C91.3. Ryan Cram's afternoon shift, along with networking 'The Backseat' and 'After Hours' between both stations. This arrangement was mostly discontinued from January 2010, with "After Hours" the only i98fm program to be networked to C91.3 on weekdays. From 2011, i98 stopped broadcasting programs to C91.3FM.
2012 saw the first major on-air changes to i98FM's lineup in 2-3 years. Fairlie Hamilton left "The Backseat" program, Lyndal Rodgers took up the "After Hours" program after 6pm at night and Paul Glover took over the "Game On" sports program on weekends. In 2013, Simon Anderson replaced Paul Glover as "Game On" host. Currently as of 2014, the show has various hosts.
In November 2012, i98's major charity event, the annual "Camp Quality Convoy" raised over 1 million dollars for Camp Quality charities in the Illawarra. In November 2013, a further 1.1 million dollars was raised by the annual event. In November 2014, a record $1.539 million was raised in the annual truck and bike convoy.
Announcers/Shows
5:30-9am Breakfast with Marty Haynes & Bianca Dye
9am-12pm "Mornings" with Lachlan (Switchy Kitch) Kitchen
12-3pm "Afternoons" with Ryan Cram
3-6pm "The Backseat" with Maje Saba
6-10pm "Live Tonight" with Justin Coombes-Pearce
Weekends
Friday 10pm-1:00am - Tony M's "Flashback - The best songs from the past 30+ years"
Weekend Mornings - Various Presenters
Weekends, 2-6pm - i98FM's Weekend Sport Show: "Game On"
Newsreaders
Renee Criddle
Peter Hand
Lindsey Fisher
Kathy Koutzas
Former i98FM announcers:
Brendan Jones (WSFM's Jonesy and Amanda)
Anthony Maroon (Classic Rock)
Fairlie Hamilton (Nova Sydney weekends)
Erica Hodge (Sthn Cross Austereo, Perth)
Dave "Stretto" Stretton
Matt Smith (Foxtel)
Glenn Stolzenhein
Tim "Robbo" Robinson (WIN TV, Wagga Wagga)
Rod Poynter
Mia Agius (ARN Sydney)
Nicole Charlton
Simon Anderson (PRIME7 Wagga Wagga)