4KQ

4KQ

4KQ

Radio station in Brisbane, Queensland

4KQ is a commercial radio station in Brisbane, Australia owned by Sports Entertainment Network (SEN).

Quick Facts Broadcast area, Frequency ...

History

Planning for the station began after a licence with the callsign 4KQ was granted in August 1946.[1] It began broadcasting on 7 May 1947 on 650 kHz under the ownership of the Australian Labor Party.[2][3] The station was involved in number of controversies relating to this ownership.[4][5][6]

On 1 September 1948, the station changed to 690 kHz, although was marketed in the 1970s and 1980s as 4KQ 700.[7] Originally transmitting with 1,000 watts at launch, approval was given to upgrade to 2000W in April 1954.[8]

In 1978 the station moved to 693 kHz. In 1980, Michael Edgley, Col Joye and Michael Willesee purchased a combined 48.5% shareholding.[9] In 1986, 4KQ was purchased by Wesgo.[10]

4KQ broadcasts from Brisbane suburb of Milton, after moving with its sister station 97.3 FM from Stones Corner in 2020.[11] It presented a classic hits format of music from the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, with some 1990s, aimed at listeners 40–54 years of age.

4KQ's final logo as a music station.

Sale to SEN and rebrand

Following its purchase of Grant Broadcasters in November 2021, Here, There & Everywhere announced its intention to sell the station to comply with Australian Communications & Media Authority regulations that limit the number of radio stations an owner can have in one city.[12][13] In May 2022, Sports Entertainment Network purchased the station.[14]

Following the sale, SEN announced a rebrand to 693 SENQ and a programming change to "constant sporting content" as "Queensland's only dedicated sports station".[15] On 30 June 2022 the station's former format ended, ending the long running service of breakfast announcers Laurel Edwards (30 years), Gary Clare (31 years), and Mark Hine (16 years).[16]

Programming

4KQ's main programming component was formerly classic hits music. News Bulletins were also aired hourly weekdays, with an increased half-hourly frequency during the Breakfast programme. Traffic reports were also aired hourly, with an increased 15-minute frequency during the weekday Breakfast programme, and 20-minute frequency during the weekday Drive programme.

References

  1. [1]
    "Labour Radio Will Be 4KQ". The Courier-Mail. Brisbane. 16 August 1946. p. 3. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
  2. [2]
    "Labor's 4KQ "On The Air"". Worker. Brisbane. 12 May 1947. p. 1. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
  3. [3]
    "4KQ Goes On The Air". The Courier-Mail. Brisbane. 8 May 1947. p. 3. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
  4. [4]
    "Premier Warned On Cash To 4KQ". The Courier-Mail. Brisbane. 22 October 1947. p. 3. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
  5. [5]
    "Promise to check 4KQ advertising". The Courier-Mail. Brisbane. 16 March 1949. p. 3. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
  6. [6]
    "Liberals protest 4KQ cut speech by Hiley". The Courier-Mail. Brisbane. 15 October 1949. p. 3. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
  7. [7]
    "Radio change costly (You'll need new dial)". The Courier-Mail. Brisbane. 25 August 1948. p. 3. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
  8. [8]
    "More Watts To Radio Stations". The Courier-Mail. Brisbane. 23 April 1954. p. 8. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
  9. [9]
    Col Joye group to buy into 4KQ Canberra Times 1 February 1980 page 9
  10. [10]
    ALP ratifies sale Canberra Times 6 April 1986 page 3
  11. [11]
    ARN new Brisbane studios Radio Today
  12. [12]
    HTE buys Grand Broadcasters and will merge it with ARN network Mediaweek 12 November 2021
  13. [13]
    ARN's parent company acquires Grant Broadcasters 'Mumbrella 12 November 2021
  14. [14]
    SEN continues Queensland expansion with 4KQ 693AM Acquisition Sports Entertainment Network 5 May 2022
  15. [15]
    Atfield, Cameron (5 May 2022). "Goodbye 4KQ, as classic tunes to be replaced by non-stop sport". Brisbane Times. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  16. [16]
    "Laurel, Gary & Mark sign off from 4KQ breakfast ending an era". RadioInfo Australia. 24 June 2022. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
Share this article:

This article uses material from the Wikipedia article 4KQ, and is written by contributors. Text is available under a CC BY-SA 4.0 International License; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.