Editing 2GB (section)

== History ==
2GB commenced intermittent broadcasting in August 1926.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article16327331|title = New Station Opened|newspaper = [[Sydney Morning Herald]]|date = 24 August 1926|page = 10|access-date = 25 April 2010}}</ref> The operator, Theosophical Broadcasting Station Pty Ltd, owned by interests associated with the local branch of [[Theosophical Society Adyar]], was granted a radio broadcasting licence for the Sydney area.<ref>{{cite Australian Dictionary of Biography | last = Roe | first = J.I. | title = Arundale, George Sydney (1878–1945), Online Edition | year = 2006 |id=A070107b | access-date = 12 January 2009}}</ref>
The initials honour [[Giordano Bruno]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Weekends with Bill Woods - Sunday, 21st of July - Weekends with Luke Grant |url=https://omny.fm/shows/2gb-weekends/weekends-with-bill-woods-sunday-21st-of-july |access-date=2024-08-18 |website=omny.fm |language=en}}</ref> George A. Saunders, previously with 2BL, became 2GB's first station manager and (as "Uncle George") on-air personality in 1927.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article248586119 |title=Sydney Radio Pioneer Dies |newspaper=[[Daily Telegraph (Sydney)|Daily Telegraph]] |volume=XVIII |issue=102 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=20 July 1953 |access-date=1 September 2022 |page=10 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

2GB became the first Australian station to play transcription records by 1933, holding the world's largest transcribed record library at the time.<ref name="radioyesteryear.org.au">{{cite web |url=http://radioyesteryear.org.au/timelines.htm |title=Radio Timelines of Australia |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=August 24, 2008 |website=The All New Radio Yesteryear |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110215210314/http://radioyesteryear.org.au/timelines.htm |archive-date=2011-02-15 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

The controlling interest in the station was purchased by '''Denison Estates Ltd''' in 1936. A new board of directors was appointed under chairman [[Hugh Denison]] and included Frederick Daniell and A. E. Bennett, who continued as station manager.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article17287755 |title=STATION 2GB. Sale of Controlling Interest. |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=13 November 1936 |page=11 |access-date=26 April 2010 |via=nla.gov.au}}</ref>

In what radio historian and writer [[Richard Lane (writer)|Richard Lane]] termed "The Golden Age of Australian Radio Drama", Denison and his media adviser Daniell inaugurated the [[Broadcasting Service Association]] Players, renamed the Macquarie Players in 1938.

2GB produced local weekly serials such as ''Dolly and Dan'' and ''Doctor Mac'', and presented a full-length drama on Sunday afternoons. Writers included [[John E. C. Appleton]], [[Lynn Foster]], E. Mason Wood, William L. Power<!--lawyer who wrote successful "Men Need Armour", active in radio 1937-38 then presumably returned to legal work--> (who dramatised [[Helen de Guerry Simpson]]'s ''Boomerang'',<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article52245744 |title=Famous Novel Dramatised for Radio |newspaper=[[Australian Women's Weekly]] | date=21 August 1937 |access-date=3 May 2012 |page=37 |publisher=[[National Library of Australia]]}}</ref> a series on "Famous Escapes",<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article52265485 |title=Famous "Escape" Stories to Be Radio Plays |newspaper=The Australian Women's Weekly |date=8 January 1938 |access-date=3 May 2012 |page=30 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref> and ''Tales Told to Peter and Pam'', a popular children's series<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article52255166 |title=Success of William Power |newspaper=The Australian Women's Weekly |date=23 January 1937 |access-date=3 May 2012 |page=24 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref>), [[E. V. Timms]] and Ken Pawley.

Actors included [[James Raglan]], [[Lou Vernon]], [[Peter Finch]], Betty Suttor and Harry Dearth.<ref>Lane, Richard ''The Golden Age of Australian Radio Drama'' Melbourne University Press 1994 {{ISBN|0-522-84556-8}}</ref>

The station launched the Macquarie Radio Network, in February 1938, in competition with the Major Network, started by fellow Sydney station [[2UE]].<ref name="radioyesteryear.org.au"/>

"Calling the Stars" was an expensive show created locally and sponsored by [[Colgate-Palmolive]]. The stars of the show included comedians [[Jack Davey]], `Mo’ ([[Roy Rene]]) and [[Willie Fennell]]. [[Dorothy Foster (comedian)|Dorothy (Dilly) Foster]] and Rita Pauncefort read double entendres as the not too bright, "Ada and Elsie" in a script written by Foster until 1954.<ref>{{Citation |last=Lane |first=Richard |title=Dorothy Isabel May Foster (1908–1981) |work=Australian Dictionary of Biography |url=https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/foster-dorothy-isabel-may-12507 |access-date=2024-08-04 |place=Canberra |publisher=National Centre of Biography, Australian National University |language=en}}</ref>

In 1940, the station became the largest producer of radio drama programs in the Southern Hemisphere.<ref name="radioyesteryear.org.au"/> During [[World War II]], 2GB provided transcription records to the [[Australian Army]]'s network of radio stations in [[Papua New Guinea]] and the [[Pacific Islands]].<ref name="radioyesteryear.org.au"/>

Station announcer [[Ted Harris (company director)|Ted Harris]], aided by American [[Ted Schroeder]], became the first man to give a direct ball-by-ball description of the [[Davis Cup]] from [[Forest Hills, Queens|Forest Hills]] to Australia on 27 August 1955.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.commercialradio.com.au/index.cfm?page_id=1009 |title=1009 |access-date=2010-06-20 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100430151412/http://www.commercialradio.com.au/index.cfm?page_id=1009 |archive-date=30 April 2010}}</ref> Two years later, 2GB became the first Australian station to air news bulletins on the hour, every hour during its broadcast day.<ref name="radioyesteryear.org.au"/>

Prior to 1964, the controlling interest (45%) was held by Broadcasting Associates Pty Ltd, with 14% owned by [[Fairfax Media|John Fairfax]], and the balance owned by various smaller shareholders. Broadcasting Associates was owned by ATV (Australia) Pty Ltd, the Australian subsidiary of [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] company [[Associated Television]].<ref name="takeovers.gov.au">{{cite web|url=http://www.takeovers.gov.au/content/Resources/cslrc/cslrc_discussion_paper_no_7.aspx|title=The Takeovers Panel}}</ref> In 1964, Fairfax purchased ATV's Australian assets, including the 45% share in 2GB.<ref name="takeovers.gov.au"/>

Although the ownership of the station has subsequently passed to strictly commercial interests, the Theosophical Society was still presenting programmes on the station as late as 1975.<ref>{{cite web |title=Christmas Universal|publisher=Theosophical Society in Tasmania |date=21 December 1975 |url=http://www.theosophicaltas.websyte.com.au/site.cfm?/theosophicaltas/4/ |access-date=12 January 2009}}</ref>

[[Ray Hadley]], previously with [[2UE]], became a presenter at the station in 2001.

2GB had a standby mast and its original 873 AM transmitter tower at [[Wentworth Point]] at [[Homebush Bay]]. Its location was visible via the Ryde Bridge, and also via the train line to Rhodes and Concord train stations. Due to a redevelopment occurring on the same land, the tower was brought down on Friday 11 September 2015. A month or two before, a new tower was erected for 2GB and is now situated at the 2KY transmitter site, also in Homebush.
In October 2012, following the [[Alan Jones "died of shame" controversy]], 2GB suspended advertising on the Alan Jones show.<ref>{{cite news|title=No ads on Alan Jones Show|publisher=radioinfo.com.au|url=https://www.radioinfo.com.au/news/no-ads-alan-jones-show-updated-audio|access-date=7 October 2012|website=www.radioinfo.com.au|date=7 October 2012}}</ref> This decision was reversed in October 2012, but many advertisers declined to return to sponsoring the program.<ref>{{cite news|title=Advertisers return today to Jones show|publisher=[[News Corp Australia]]|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/media/advertisers-return-today-to-jones-show/story-e6frg996-1226496677169#|access-date=10 December 2013|website=[[The Australian]]|date=16 October 2012}}</ref>

In June 2014, Michael Smith was fired as fill-in commentator for calling [[Muhammad]] a [[paedophile]]; Program Director David Kidd referred to Muhammad as a deity.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-06-29/2gb-dumps-shock-jock-michael-smith-over-mohammed-comments/5557600|title=Radio presenter Michael Smith dumped after comments about the Prophet Mohammed |work=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]]|date=29 June 2014}}</ref>