Editing 3AW (section)

== History ==
3AW was established when a company formed by [[Allans Music]], [[JC Williamson]]'s and [[David Syme]] (then publishers of ''[[The Age]]'' newspaper) was granted a radio broadcasting licence,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.emelbourne.net.au/biogs/EM00056b.htm |title=Allan's Music |publisher=Department of History, The University of Melbourne  |access-date=1 April 2013}}</ref> with the first broadcast on 22 February 1932.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.mediasearch.com.au/celebrity/article/booklaunch-3aw |title=Book launch - "3AW is Melbourne" |website=Mediasearch |last=Pascuzzi |first=Carmine |access-date=31 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304000923/http://www.mediasearch.com.au/celebrity/article/booklaunch-3aw |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="3AW turns 90">{{cite web | url=https://radiotoday.com.au/3aw-turns-90/ | title=3AW turns 90 |website=RadioToday |last=Boland |first=Bray | date=22 February 2022 |access-date=24 August 2022}}</ref> The '''A''' in 3AW comes from the names of "Allans" and "The Age"; and the '''W''' is from "J. C. Williamson".<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.3aw.com.au/blogs/breaking-news-blog/3aw-radio-turns-80-years-old/20120222-1tmbg.html |title=3AW Radio turns 80 years old |publisher=3AW |date=22 February 2012 |access-date=31 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130611165056/http://www.3aw.com.au/blogs/breaking-news-blog/3aw-radio-turns-80-years-old/20120222-1tmbg.html |archive-date=11 June 2013 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

It is the only one of Melbourne's original eight stations that has retained its original name.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://worldradiomap.com/au/melbourne|title=Radio stations in Melbourne, Victoria|work=World Radio Map|accessdate=11 February 2024}}</ref> (In comparison, Sydney, the only other Australian city with eight original stations had, until 2022, five of them still using their original names, but there are now only three such stations, namely [[2GB]], [[2SM]], [[2UE]].)

3AW has consistently appeared high in ratings surveys.<ref>Jones, Colin, "Something in the Air: A History of Radio in Australia", Kangaroo Press, 1995</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.theage.com.au/culture/tv-and-radio/3aw-maintains-dominance-in-radio-ratings-while-abc-continues-upward-trend-20230828-p5e03z.html | title=3AW maintains dominance in radio ratings while ABC continues upward trend | date=29 August 2023 }}</ref>

In 1931/1932, 3AW was one of two organisations that applied for a licence for a new Melbourne radio station; the other contender being the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne]]. At the time, the [[Postmaster-General's Department]] was responsible for the issuing of all radio station licences, and it came out in favour of the 3AW application on the grounds that it had recently issued a licence to [[2SM]] Sydney, on behalf of the Roman Catholic Church. However, a condition was placed on the 3AW licence to the effect that they had to provide one hour of free broadcasting to the Roman Catholic Church, at a time decided upon by the Church; hence ''The Catholic Hour'' was broadcast every Sunday night at was then a peak listening time, namely 9.00pm.<ref>{{cite web | title=Catholic broadcast hour from 3AW - Programme for Sunday, July 3Advocate (Melbourne, Vic. : 18681954)30 Jun 1932 | website=Trove | date=30 June 1932 | url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article171794664 | access-date=6 August 2023}}</ref>

The fact that ''The Catholic Hour'' was originally broadcast in peak listening time is emphasised by the fact the program was preceded by two of Australia's most listened-to programs, namely [[Quiz Kids]] and Caltex Radio Theatre <ref>{{cite web | url=https://archive.org/details/caltex-theatre-vila-sleep-four | title=Aus 14 - Caltex Theatre }}</ref>

In latter years, the nostalgia program ''Remember When''<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.3aw.com.au/show/remember-when/ | title=Remember when }}</ref> was broadcast both prior to, and after ''The Catholic Hour''. Therefore, in the 1990s (confirmation needed) 3AW management, ignorant of its history, decided to scrap ''The Catholic Hour'' and let ''Remember When'' continue right through the evening. Not surprisingly, the Church objected and the [[Australian Communications and Media Authority]] was called in to adjudicate. Their compromise decision was that the program should continue, but that the time should be decided upon by 3AW rather than by the Church.  Not surprisingly 3AW moved the program to an hour that had the least listeners of every time in the week; namely midnight to 1.00am on Sunday mornings. This meant that there were hardly any listeners to the program and, within just a few months, the Church scrapped ''The Catholic Hour'' altogether!

In 1938 the Macquarie Broadcasting Service was formed, with stations right across Australia, including 3AW in Melbourne. In 2015 the Macquarie Media Group was acquired by [[Fairfax Media]] and the name was changed to [[Nine Radio]] under which it currently operates.

3AW's first studio was situated in [[Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne|His Majesty's Theatre]] from whence it broadcast from 1932 to 1935.<ref name="3AW turns 90"/>

The 3AW studios are now located at Media House, 655 [[Collins Street, Melbourne]] where it shares facilities with [[Magic 1278]], the ''[[Australian Financial Review]]'' and ''[[The Age]]'' newspapers.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theage.com.au/national/media-house-opens-reviving-interest-in-building-over-rail-lines-20091027-hj23.html |title=Media House opens, reviving interest in building over rail lines |work=The Age |last=Dobbin |first=Marika |date=28 October 2009 |access-date=18 April 2013}}</ref> After moving from their original studios at His Majesty's Theatre, the station was re-sited at 382 Latrobe Street, where it remained for most of the next 55 years.<ref name="3AW turns 90"/> However, during renovations at 382 Latrobe Street, 3AW moved into the former premises of the [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation|ABC]] in Melbourne Place, a laneway off Russell Street, near Little Collins Street, which is now the premises of the Kelvin Club.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://kelvinclub.com/history/ | title=History }}</ref> Then, from 1991 until March 2010, the station broadcast from studios located at Bank Street, [[South Melbourne]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.realestatesource.com.au/south-melbourne-home-of-3aw-magic-1278-to-be-sold.html |title=South Melbourne Home of 3AW, Magic 1278, to be Sold |date=17 May 2009 |website=realestatesource.com.au |access-date=24 August 2022}}</ref>

3AW's original broadcast [[frequency]] was 1425&nbsp;kHz and changed to 1280&nbsp;kHz on 1 September 1935 as part of a national reshuffle of the radio broadcasting spectrum.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article17184965|title =  New Wave Lengths|newspaper = [[Sydney Morning Herald]]|date = 30 August 1935|page = 11|access-date = 7 May 2010}}</ref> On 23 November 1978 the station changed to 1278&nbsp;kHz with the [[Geneva Frequency Plan of 1975|introduction of 9&nbsp;kHz spacing on the AM band]]. Due to poor reception problems, at 7:15&nbsp;am on 1 May 2006, 3AW swapped with its sister station [[Magic 1278|Magic]] to its present frequency of 693&nbsp;kHz.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?docID=AGE060502EI7LG7CIC9V |title=Do touch that dial, 3AW tells listeners {{!}} The Age 2 May 2006. Retrieved 18 April 2013 |access-date=6 July 2010 |archive-date=3 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120403165252/http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?docID=AGE060502EI7LG7CIC9V |url-status=dead }}</ref> The station's broadcast signal originates from a transmitter in [[Werribee, Victoria|Werribee]].

In the 1950s, 3AW purchased [[Gold Central Victoria|3CV]] in [[Maryborough, Victoria|Maryborough]] in Central Victoria, which the "CV" nomenclature represents. For many years, 3AW programming was broadcast on 3CV after about 6.00pm.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/History_of_wireless_telegraphy_and_broadcasting_in_Australia/Topical/Publications/Australian_Radio_History/Vic_AM_Stations | title=History of wireless telegraphy and broadcasting in Australia/Topical/Publications/Australian Radio History/Vic AM Stations - Wikibooks, open books for an open world }}</ref>