Mix 106.3

Mix 106.3 (call sign: 1CBR) is a commercial radio station in Canberra, Australia and is owned by ARN and Southern Cross Austereo.

Mix 106.3 (1CBR)

Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
Broadcast area	Canberra RA1 ([1])
Frequency	DAB+: 8D Canberra FM: 106.3 MHz Canberra
Programming
Language(s)	English
Format	Adult Contemporary (oriented towards classic hits)
Affiliations	KIIS Network Triple M
Ownership
Owner	ARN (50%) Southern Cross Austereo (50%) (Canberra FM Radio Pty Ltd)
Sister stations	Hit104.7 Canberra
History
First air date	27 February 1988 (1988-02-27)^[1]
Former call signs	2KIX (1988–1994)
Former names	KIX FM Canberra FM
Call sign meaning	1 = Australian Capital Territory CanBerRa
Technical information
ERP	20,000 watts
HAAT	332 m^[2]
Transmitter coordinates	35°16′32″S 149°5′52″E / 35.27556°S 149.09778°E / -35.27556; 149.09778
Repeater(s)	FM: 107.1 MHz Tuggeranong
Links
Webcast	Official webcast
Website	Official website

Mix 106.3 plays current hits and a variety of 1970s, 1980s and 1990s music (Hot Adult Contemporary), primarily targeted at the 35+ age group. The station is affiliated to the Southern Cross Austereo Triple M network, and is sold to national advertisers in the KIIS network.

History

KIX 106, as it was then known, and sister station FM104 (now Hit 104.7) were Australia's first supplementary FM licences, as well as being the first new commercial FM radio stations licensed in Australia since 1980. KIX 106 was a supplementary licence of Canberra AM station 2CC, and FM104 a supplementary licence of AM station 2CA.

The station officially opened at 8 am on 27 February 1988, with an inaugural broadcast hosted by Frank Fursey. Dennis Clairs was on air from midday until 3 pm and Peter Mobbs from 3 pm to 6 pm with the KIX Party Mix from 6 pm until midnight.^[3] KIX carried an iconic eagle mascot, using 'the eagle' as a nick-name for the station. On its first weekend of programs, KIX offered 10-in-a-row 'music sweeps', focusing on a teenage audience.^[4]

Six years after launch, station manager Steven Pead announced Capital City Broadcasters would re-brand to focus on an older demographic, having finished fifth in eight consecutive ratings surveys. On 12 February 1994, the station became as 'the new' 106.3 Canberra FM and would follow a similar 'soft' format to Melbourne's TTFM.^[5][6][7]

In March 1997, due to flat advertising conditions bought about by Commonwealth public sector cuts, ARN – owner of Mix 106.3 & 2CC, and Austereo – owner of 104.7 and 2CA, formed a joint venture ownership of both FM stations – Canberra FM Pty Ltd.^[8][9] The AM stations were sold off, and are currently operated by a joint-venture between Capital Radio Network and Grant Broadcasters.

In January 2020, the station received a new logo, with a similar branding to the rest of the KIIS Network.^[10][11]

On 9 September 2022, Bronte and Wilko retired from the station.^[12]

In July 2023, the station received a 25.7% rating in the Canberra radio ratings, consolidating its Canberra radio lead.^[13]

On-Air

Current lineup

• Kristen & Nige – 6–9am Weekdays
• Nige106.3 – 9–10am Weekdays
• Workdays with Pat – 10am–3pm Weekdays
• CBR Wrapped with Rod & Gabi – 3–6pm Weekdays
• Kristen and Nige's Hour of Power – 6–7pm Weekdays
• The Christian O'Connell Show – 7–8pm Weekdays
• Jonesy & Amanda – 8–9pm Weekdays
• The Super Serious Sports Show – 9–10pm Monday & Thursday
• The Cam and Renee Show – 8–9am Saturday
• The Real Estate Show – 9–10am Saturday
• Life Uncut Radio Show – 10am–12pm Saturday
• Raiders on Mix – Live coverage of the Canberra Raiders NRL matches

News

The station operates a highly successful newsroom which it shares with sister station hit104.7, providing a 7-day news service offering comprehensive coverage of news from the Canberra region and around the globe.

News Team

• Lewis Haskew (News Director)
• Kate Rice
• Renee Bogatko
• Samantha Rose

Studios

Both Mix 106.3 and Hit 104.7 broadcast from their studio complex in Bellenden Street, Crace. The broadcast range of the stations is focused to Canberra and some neighbouring regions extending as far as Yass in the north (55 km from Canberra CBD), Tharwa in the South (30 km from Canberra CBD) and Bungendore in the east (40 km from Canberra CBD).

Sponsored events

The station sponsors the annual The Christmas Party (formerly the Special Children's Christmas Party), broadcast from Exhibition Park in Canberra.^[14][15] In 2024, it sponsored the annual Skyfire fireworks event, together with its sister station Hit 104.7.^[16]

References

1. (PDF). Australian Communications and Media Authority. 6 January 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 18 November 2017.
2. HAAT estimated from http://www.itu.int/SRTM3/ using EHAAT.
3. "Today's radio". The Canberra Times. Vol. 62, no. 19, 137. Australian Capital Territory. 27 February 1988. p. 16. Retrieved 22 February 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
4. "The Eagle Has Landed". The Canberra Times. Vol. 62, no. 19, 137. Australian Capital Territory. 27 February 1988. p. 11. Retrieved 22 February 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
5. Wallace, Mark (5 February 1994). "KIX takes 'soft' option after hard times". The Canberra Times. Vol. 68, no. 21, 479. Australian Capital Territory. p. 11. Retrieved 22 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
6. Wallace, Mark (14 February 1994). "Dicky B's new morning gig out of the blue". High Frequency. The Canberra Times. Vol. 68, no. 21, 488. Australian Capital Territory. p. 34. Retrieved 22 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
7. Wallace, Mark (7 February 1994). "Kix is dead as Canberra offered new FM format". High Frequency. The Canberra Times. Vol. 68, no. 21, 481. Australian Capital Territory. p. 28. Retrieved 22 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
8. Jones, Megan (20 March 1997). "Canberra FM shake-up". The Age. Melbourne: Fairfax Media. p. 3. ISSN 0312-6307. Retrieved 22 October 2020 – via Newsbank.
9. Mathieson, Clive (20 March 1997). "Cuts force operators to pool Canberra FM stations". The Australian. News Limited. p. 21. Retrieved 22 October 2020 – via Factiva.
10. Blackiston, Hannah (5 December 2019). "Canberra's Mix 106.3 rebrands to Kiis network branding". Mumbrella. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
11. Staff Writer (5 December 2019). "Mix 106.3 Canberra to adopt the KIIS Network branding in 2020". Radio Today. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
12. Doherty, Megan (9 September 2022). "Bronte and Wilko move on from MIX 106.3". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory: Australian Community Media. ProQuest 2711977561. Archived from the original on 30 March 2024. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
13. Waymouth, Lizzie (6 July 2023). "Canberra radio ratings: Mix 106.3 consolidates its market lead, moderate growth from ABC Canberra". Riotact. Region Group. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
14. "The Christmas Party Canberra". The Christmas Party. 2024. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
15. Nicholson, Larissa (15 December 2013). "Happy bubs discover boogie wonderland". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory: Fairfax Media. p. 11. ProQuest 1468036340.
16. Doherty, Megan (12 March 2024). "Skyfire is back and ready to light up the Canberra night after five years". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory: Australian Community Media. p. 3. ProQuest 2955406896. Retrieved 30 March 2024.

External links

• Mix 106.3 website