Sydney’s 2CH becomes SEN as Crocmedia confirms sports format

Strangely enough, not all of Australia likes to listen to sport 24/7. 2CH is my go to station for music and relaxation. From niw on my radio will go to the scrap bin and I will be listening to my CD collection,
Some radio execs really need to consider the rest of the population. There are any number of radio stations out there pushing sport into our ears everyday of the year.
Lets keep some music content for those of us who still like music and personalities.

Graham Barry

Graham, unfortunately 2CH, as a music station, was losing around $2 million a year. An owner cannot sustain those losses forever.

Oh dear…. I’m in my 30s and I really enjoy 2CH music format much better than Smooth , more Smooth Relax profile. They were very good competition to 2DayFm in ratings battle lol… Probably 2UE Nine will take from them some %. I don’t see them winning with strict sport format….

I loved Classic Hits 2CH. I streamed it in beautiful stereo into Newcaste. No comparable station jp here. Love Tim Webster.

If you want good relaxing music, try streaming easy music 3MP which is a Melbourne am and DAB+ station.

Remember 2UE Sydney
Magic 1278 Melbourne
Magic 882/ 4BH 882 Brisbane all became talking life style then that failed then nine media tried all sports format that failed so looked at them now. They have reverted back to their normal call signs and playing music.
Same with 1377 3mp Melbourne perfectly good music station until SEN decided to turn that into a racing station called SEN Track but that failed and 3MP has returned to a easy music format. Maybe 2CH could become a digital only station with the same format with a better sound than crackling am and DAB+ even sounds better than FM

That is very disappointing news. I love 2CH as it is. I will have to look for another station. There is already too much sport on AM Radio.

It’s a shame about the end of 2CH in it’s current music format as most listeners in Sydney and those in the radio industry/wider media know it. However if the station has been losing $2 million worth of revenue per year then it is not sustainable as a business and changes need to made. 2CH’s demographic is generally over 55 years of age and plays advertising for businesses including funeral homes, retirement villages, aged care facilities, chemist/pharmacies and plant nurseries. While 2CH’s audience has some money to spend, they are not as attractive as say the 25-54 demographic. That said, Crocmedia did recently sell the 1377AM licence (SEN 2) to ACE Radio Network who have brought back 3MP and the old easy listening format for both the Mornington Peninsula and wider Melbourne radio market…so maybe history will end up repeating itself with 2CH in several years from now ?

Dumb move and it will certainly upset a lot of people, as it has me. I collect, restore and display one of Australia’s finest collections of old valve radios and every one of them is tuned to 2CH. This will change obviously due to the new owner butchering a successful format with the world’s oldest radio announcer running one of the flagship programmes.

Croc Media – you are going to do your dough.

The management of 2UE must be grinning from ear to ear! Hopefully they will take on 2CH’s very worthy and talented announcers and merge these two station’s formats. I’d give 2CH six months and then it will switch to Country. There is nothing else left once 2UE settles in 2CH’s once loyal listeners. It will be too late then to revert to its current format.

For those worried about 2CH I have emailed the station and they have advised it will be continuing in DAB, the web and the 2CH app

According to Mediaweek, it is the Commonwealth Bank who is funding the recent expansion by the company. I hope they’ve got deep pockets. There is some history in Australian media of banks funding massive buyouts, or expansions, and being left with licences that are not worth very much. That’s when the good media operators swoop in and grab a bargain. Methinks that may happen again.

It didn’t work for Macquarie Sports Radio so why would it work for SEN in Sydney , I’ll give it 6 months .
Don’t get me wrong I like sport but won’t go out of my way to listen to it on the radio all day .

Bad move Hutchy

Sentac???

They planning on taking on Sky
racing?

It wont work

It is sad to see 2CH go this way. Poor management and not communicating deeply with listeners is always a problem for any radio station. There were changes made over the years without much consultation with listeners. Listeners did not like the decisions made to get away from its Christian foundation and changes to the music.

24/7 sport did not work for 2UE. I doubt it will work for 2CH.

Isn’t this the only radio station on the AM dial? Why would you get rid of it?

Poor old Tim Webster he got out of the failed Macquarie sport network to go to 2CH to play music and now it’s happened to him again cant take a trick Tim.This wont work there is very little interest in 24/7 sport on radio..they’ll be back to music within 6 months wait and see…

Very sad news about 2CH. The airwaves are already saturated by sport news, and this leaves people over 50 years alone and deserted if easy listening music. However all is not lost, there is a radio station in Newcastle ( streamed online) that is a little gem that plays the nbest music for over 50s. It is Radio1629am and is superb. Radio1629am.net and you can listen online, on your smartphone or tablet. They play the best oldies songs .

I hope the new owners of 2CH lose their money. 2CH was the only station in Sydney to cater to an older demographic. I know radio stations have to make money, but 24/7 sports programming won’t work. People watch sport…….they don’t listen to it.

I feel sorry for Tim Webster, Bob Rogers, Trevor Sinclair etc. They are all intelligent people who were interesting to listen to.

Well all 2CH listeners you can tune into Radio 50 Plus 93.3 FM Central Coast which plays music for the 40 through to the 1985. It is on line and apps. The music is played 24 hours a day, with news on the hour and weather and rail and road reports as well. gGeat station.

It’s all about money…
2ch could never make any money out of Big Mac’s, Tampons or Coke…Nor Gambling adds…
Or Alcohol…
Funeral parlours yes… Retirement Yes…
It’s loyal audience was too old to make advertising logical for it’s owners…
Having said that…
It’s not all about money!!!
Big companies who borrow big time look for a profit…
These people will fail!!!

Sorry Sydney but you’re loss is our gain. Because Hutchy needed a SEN in Sydney he sold 3MP to Ace Radio which now plays great music, to buy 2CH. He has had low ratings for SEN in Melbourne for years (around 2-3 %) but this doesn’t seem to bother him. Once he gets a station he hangs on to it. Time will tell whether expansion will break him eventually, but I’m sure he’ll be around for a while. Macquarie Sports Radio was national so rugby people turned off AFL and vice versa. Local sports and personalities is a different ball game.

You’ll all just have to get a DAB radio. 2CH Classic Hits will continue as it is on that and also on the App and online, I believe. Only the AM station will change.

2CH is currently rating around 3%. They are going to switch to a similar format to Macquarie Sports radio which rated around 0.6%.

Do management really think people are going to be tuning in to listen to the State Of Origin and NRL Grand Final on 2CH?

These people seriously know nothing about radio.

Will 2CH-DAB have disc jockeys or just play automated music. Does anyone know ?

Sad day for 2CH listeners and the great announcers that were there too.
Can’t imagine anything worse than all day sport. Doubt this will survive in Sydney.
Thankfully 3MP has restarted as a great easy music format station. Loving the familiar voice of Trevor Sinclair and others on 3mp.

Did anyone not read the article? 2CH will still go on, just on DAB+, iHeartRadio, RadioApp and on the web.

Yes we did read the article but it fails to mention whether the announcers will be part of it. Automated music is not the same as having voices between songs.

What will Tim Webster, Trevor Sinclair and all the staff do? Hope they go to 2UE and not be lost forever. I thank them for all the happiness they have given us over the years. They will all be missed

I for one & many others of my age group(late 60’s, early 70’s) hope that the sports channel falls flat on it’s face. We need a radio station to keep us happy. There is enough sport already on radio, even if not full on sport stations, there is still plenty said on other stations. 2UE tried the sports station & it failed, so hope this one does too. Many listeners to 2CH probably think the same as me, as we need our daily dose of “happy”music.

Thank you to Tim Webster, Trevor Sinclair, Chris Kearns and all staff for the really terrific music, back stories, informative comments at 2CH… 1170 am
How sad!!! (Big population of ageing folk).
And if SEN fails as 2UE did,(and others with 24/7 sport), hopefully we’ll see you back.
Anna Smith

To bad so sad to 2ch going to sport, seems we now go another station sorry to see you go

Richard

I am saddened to hear that 2CH is going to SPORT SPORT SPORT there are plenty of listeners that couldn’t give a flying fig about sport!
Most of 2CH’s listeners are over 50 and women whose days of patching kiddies up and listening to them regaling is with stories of what happened on the field so now they want to think of happier times , hence listening to CLASSIC HITS. Don’t do this Crocmedia!
Your loss hopefully will be 2UE’s gain switch to them Mr Webster & Ms Harris love your work!

It will be so sad to say goodbye to 2CH. Our alarm is set to 1170 as is all our car radios and other tuners throughout the house. Yes I follow sport but I get more than enough of that through other media. When I am at home or in the car I prefer enjoyable music. 1170 is the place that I found it. As they say “everything changes”but I have found it never seems to change for the better.

It will probably go the way of the recent Macquarie Sports Radio which was around for about a year before it met its demise. People are probably OK with sports 2 or maybe 3 hours per day. Probably no market for 24/7 sports stations in Australia, even for a sports loving nation like Australia.

I am disgusted at the changes in format to sports. A whole generation of oldies will be gutted as we are. Wrong wrong move.

We live in the Illawarra and our radio is locked onto 1170 AM for our style of music. Streaming or Dab not really an option so farewell to our fav station when sport takes over.

As I write (12noon 13th September 2020), not one of the thirty-six comments posted so far is positive about the move from Classic Hits to Sport.

Sorry, I make it thirty-seven. No, I am not really sorry.

I live in regional Queensland, there is no DAB and very few FM stations. With a long wire aerial and an old style Communications style receiver we enjoy 2CH most nights on good old AM 1170

When available we do stream 2CH from the internet but as regular motorhomers, internet coverage is pathetic and as such not a realistic option very often. When travelling there few places in Australia where 1170 AM cannot be received at night on a good car radio.

Not blackmail but it is time to talk to your sponsors and suggest they may need to review advertising if they want/need our continuing business.

As other correspondents have mentioned, the 24/7 sport format has been tried previously in other Australian cities and has been a disaster in every case. I was in South Australia when the old 5DN tried and failed the sports experiment, it has returned to the Easy Listening format.

Bruce BCOP retired (Licensed Radio Station Operator)

you will lose a lot of listeres as a lot of people do not have dab radios in there cars and to upgrade is too expensive i shall look elesve

I agree with Graham Barry. I will miss the 2CH format. If I want sport I will watch it on TV with music in my ear. As for shock jocks bury the bastards. Most of them like all media do shock to attract audiences but you can’t discuss with them as they have control of the button.
Will miss the blokes on 2CH atm.

G,day , liked the format at 2CH mainly 70’s music . Dont like overpaid sports wanks so dont watch or listen , you want me to listen to 2CH on db YOU buy me the radio to suit as i havnt changed you have ! Good bye 2CH hello 2UE .

Sorry, but you have lost us,(and many of our friends) as we cannot stand Andrew Voss, and will be unable to listen to our/your classic hits in our car. Such a shame as we enjoyed the music. It won’t be long before you return to your current format.
Ray Byles (and friends)

To sum up, are we saying the AM version of 2CH will become a 24/7 sport station whilst the DAB version of 2CH will stream music without announcers?

“Technical glitch” separating 2CH from 9 is a fairy story.

Does this mean we can’t stream classic hits 2CH anymore as I tried to do it this morning 30 Sept 2020 and all we get is a tone from TuneIn radio and no music??

2CH Are you reading all the comments?
Read the ones that say
“That’s a Great Idea”
Won’t take long.
If I want sport it’s available now.
People want to watch sport if they are in the car maybe listen , but they are not going to listen when there is a TV for a better experience.
I don’t like sport so you will be losing a listener.
I won’t be streaming it on the app and I don’t have a DAB radio in my car.
Good luck, I think your going to need it.
Looks like I know why Bob Rodgers left.
Bad Decision

Why would a station that i listen too for nice calming and relaxing music change to sport?
I have no interest in listening to sport so i am afraid I will have to get a new station after 40 years.
Quite sad.

Not happy, we enjoy classic hits and find sport a huge turn off and that’s exactly what we will be doing.

What a blow..the only station I enjoy listening to is 2CH.. I really don’t understand what they say about us still being able to listen to music from 2CH a different way.
All these years..now nothing ..2UE music is not anywhere as good as the tunes that 2CH are playing..and now 93 year old Bob has retired..don’t blame him.

‘Macquarie Sports Radio’ (announced in a macho tone by a voice over guy) was a total disaster, so why go down a similar track? Changing 2CH to an all sports format will be a disaster so you’re about to lose a lot of money. Good! Total sports formats don’t work and never will.
Prediction: The 24 hour sports format will fail and the station will revert to another format within 12 months.
Who are the genius radio execs behind such a ridiculous decisions?
On the AM band, 2CH had a proud And long history – as did 2UE. That history is about to be flushed down down the proverbial radio sewer.

Please help me find my 2ch. We as Baby Boomers are a huge part of the population and require some semblance of recognition with our access to “ our “ music from our era.
I can’t get didgital reading in my car or on my home sterio of my kitchen radio.This is just discrimination against our generation.
Bring back our music.

We have had our radio tuned to 2CH every day for decades, and enjoyed it being the constant background music to our daily life. We live in the Sutherland Shire and last year we bought a a DAB radio but had to return it as would not pick up DAB where we are – quite a common problem, the salesperson told us. We bought a new car a few months back, and 2CH is still on that, but now I have tuned our home radio in to 2UE, which at best plays satisfactory music. Thank you, new owners, for taking away one of the pleasures of our life and that of thousands of other seniors and replacing it with yet more damned sports talk. May this “venture” fail miserably.

I was overjoyed when I found my much loved music on 2CH over twenty years ago. That and the ABC are the only radio stations I listen to when driving.
What a sad sad day it was to tune into some non stop talk about sport instead of music. How do I put DAB in my 15 year old car?
I wish the sport a very short life and a review of audience numbers with a view to going back to the old format.
Yours faithfully
Another disgusted former listener

2ch is absolute crap now. A lot of people wouldn’t have said this so I hope I put words in their mouths. The announcers were great as well. I certainly hope you fail in the current format. I was a loyal listener over 20 years. Time to find another station There was a popular song that Mary Hopkins sang and 2ch played. So now it’s Goodbye, Goodbye.

I am really disappointed in 2ch. I have been a listener for many years. Now I find I can not get 2ch Classic Hits on my car radio. All I am getting is this sports station. Still have it on my phone and digital radio but can not get it in the car. My car is only 4 years old. This is so annoying, not everyone wants sport 24/7.

This is nothing short of a huge disappointment. No doubt the revenue from gambling advertising won the day. Disgusting.

I loved listening to Classic Hits especially when driving my car.
I’m NOT interested listening to sport all day on the radio.
This change will be a disaster. The new station won’t last long.

What a shame. No doubt revenue from sports betting advertising is seen to be more important than providing pleasant easy listening music.

you’ve lost me without your music bye 2ue sounds good to me from now on the old music was great bye for good

Terrible news. I used to listen to 2 CH while driving. What a shock when they changed to conversations about sports and adds. Who wants to listen to that nonsense. Thumbs down.

I loved listening to 2CH in the car but that’s gone.

2CH was my my car’s set station. New owners will do their dough with a low sports following. Dumb move.

I have always enjoyed the classic hits and am really surprised that the station is now sports only. Goodbye from me, hope it fails miserably. Plenty sport elsewhere

I am so disappointed that 1170 has the new style. Most 1170 listeners are not interested in listening to sport. I will certainly not be tuning to your radio station any more.

I am devastated. Being in my 60’s, I so enjoyed listening to my childhood memories. I love 2CH as it was. I am definitely looking for another station. There is already too much sport on AM Radio. Goodbye 2CH 🙁

Having just taken the time to find out what happened to the 2CH easy listening station I have used for decades, I finally found this site and now know what has happened. Big mistake in my opinion and that of at least a dozen of our friends. Over the past few days I have been still listening to 2CH trying to figure out what this “SEN” was and where the music was. The wall to wall sport (particularly as we approached AFL and rugby league grand finals) was just over the top. The tortuous level of detail, never ending and clearly irrelevant level of pre game prediction and post game post mortem, (and it is still going on) is just over the top. Does CH still stand for church? Wonder how that stacks up with the gambling advertising that invades every commercial sports broadcaster???? Oh its OK if you say “Gamble responsibly” – yea right. And no I am not a religious zealot. I shall now get a radio that can play the DAB 2CH and examine the other options people mention in these comments. Thank you.

I was quite prepared to give the new DAB 1170 station a try but after realising that there will be no announcers (like the soul less programmes we were subjected to last weekend) I am now on the lookout for a new station. With an ageing population for some people an announcer on the radio may be the only human contact they have during the day. Life is not all about sport! So sad for Tim Webster, Trevor Sinclair and all the staff, I will miss your input into my day and the great music you played. Good luck and I hope I hear you on some other station soon.

So Sydney’ best music station now becomes another sports program. Tragedy!

What terrible news – how can a radio station which has been on the air for 88 years make such a drastic decision. We live in North Queensland and enjoy live streaming 2CH – just music and news and no irritating talk back. There are plenty of stations to listen to if you want just sport!

What a bad move. This station catered for the baby boomers. Now it’s just sport. Not every car has DAB. Even the new cars don’t have it.
I live in rural area. And can’t get it either.
So I’ve gone back to Smooth FM .
Maybe the sponsors should pull out as well.
And the radio station should have put a survey out to see who can get DAB.

I cannot believe that a fantastic music station like 2ch has been taken over by sport.Not everyone enjoys sport and I loved listening to the older music in the car.I am so disappointed as I do not like FM stations either.What do I do now???????

Will miss Tim Webster very much, but do not have to listen any more to most boring man on radio, aka, Trevor Sinclair – sick of him saying ” with T. W. about x 36 each hour…except for ads., he had nothing of consequence to say.

Major business error! Australia is oversupplied with Sport on Radio as it is. Good music like 2CH is hard to find. I live in Country NSW and have listened to 2CH each morning for several years. Great start to the morning with professional announcers and emphasis on the hits.

Pffft sports talk all day long…No Thanks so disappointed in this change I have been listening to 2CH classic hits for years. The new owners obviously have no regard for the loyal listeners. Have to find a new station now☹️

Well it has been several weeks since 2CH 1170 AM made the switch to DAB + broadcasting only, with the new SEN 1170 station launching and taking over the AM frequency. I have to make a few points here as the comments are all one sided. Personally I don’t listen a lot to SEN 1170 and I am not a fan of the constant gambling advertisements, but I do like hearing Matty Johns on a Friday morning, Joel Caine and Bryan Fletcher in the drive slot or Gerard Whateley at lunchtime who is an excellent interviewer and top notch journalist and sports broadcaster. I didn’t mind hearing the odd song on 2CH however it is targeted at a different generation to mine. So here is my point…to all you whining fuddy duddy’s who are complaining about the new SEN station, if you love 2CH so much then go install a DAB+ radio receiver in your car and/or buy a new DAB+ radio receiver from JB HI-FI or Harvey Norman, etc as 2CH will not be returning to the AM band. If you are in an area where DAB+ is not available yet, buy a smartphone (like an iPhone or a Samsung phone that runs on Android software) and download an app that carries the 2CH radio stream. Get a friend or family member to help you to do this if you have troubles with new operating technology or understanding any terms I have mentioned above. I do not care if you don’t like my views and do not agree with me, but my argument is based on facts. SEN owner Craig Hutchison is slowly building a network of SEN branded radio stations across Australia as he must see a niche in the radio market to make money from talking about and broadcasting various sport(s). He and the SEN board wouldn’t be spending so much money on the many radio licences he has purchased in recent months/years to expand the SEN network beyond Melbourne if this wasn’t financially viable in the long run. Besides, at a time when other radio networks who own the NOVA, HIT or TRIPLE M branded are cutting many jobs, Craig Hutchison’s SEN is providing employment to talented journalists, producers, content creators, on-air announcers and other skilled radio people…2CH were not doing much of this as far as I am aware. It seems most of the people who are commenting here don’t understand or won’t accept that radio is a business that has to be profitable in the longer term. The older baby boomers don’t buy as many products as younger audiences do and many advertisers aren’t as interested in marketing to baby boomers as they are to Generation X, Generation Y, Millennials and Generation Z. Be happy at least that 2CH is still available online and on DAB+, because I think SEN 1170 in Sydney is here to stay for the long term….END RANT.

I listened to 2CH all the time streaming through my phone to Bluetooth speaker. Loved the 2CH format. Using Simple Radio found last three days didn’t stream. Now I found out why. Oh well will find somewhere else to listen too. I *LOATHE* sport radio and TV.

Who the hell wants to listen to sport, you can have your ears blasted to your heart content on many other stations with it ! Give us back the music station, people like Tim Webster and all the dear one that gave us years of enjoyment, relaxation, and memories!

2ch sucks. It is NOT working AGAIN. Has no news on the mornings on weekends. NO live broadcaster on weekends, all recorded. No time, weather broadcast. Keeps going off air even with a dab radio. Fed up with it. Love Tim Webster, wish him all the best with this new format.
It is horrible and we are over it. Lost our support.

I have wondered why we couldn’t listen to 2CH now we know not happy loved listening to Tim Webster I have found an app that plays the same music iHeartRadio doesn’t have the original presenters but the music is the same hope this helps all the Baby Boomers who loved the original 2CH happy listening

Listened to 2CH for years, retired to Bathurst. Bought Google Home to continue listening. This morning informed by Google my region will not receive broadcasts. Will listen to Smooth fm instead.

Can someone help .I thought the music was station going somewhere else ?

Is there an app for my phone eg listen to Tim Webster and the others ?

So sorry to experience the demise of 2CH radio as it was. A loyal listener for 25 years, I can’t believe moving to DAB and off AM thus making it more difficult to reach your core audience can help the business. Most of my listening is done in the car, and having to plug my phone in and suffer the constant breaks in signal is a frustration, and I’m in the western Sydney area. Yes, I’ll listen when it’s convenient because I love the music and the announcers (particularly Tim Webster, who has moved into Bob Rogers role so seamlessly) but the decision is certainly business focused, not audience or customer focused. The clear message from the owners it … we don’t care!

Have you stopped doing the news . Pretty poor if you have! Having read the comments below from fellow listeners – here’s another one switching stations!! Smooth FM is good so I’m off. Drop the name 2CH as it’s an insult to the old program’

Very sad for Sydney radio. 2CH remained loyal to the Macquarie Radio Network for many years. It was so good when they dropped the Magic relay from 3EE replaced by “Sydney’s own 2CH”. I’ll miss them at Seniors Day Royal Easter show and on AM radio. Why can’t the Sports people at SEN broadcast on a +DAB station instead? Regretfully I cannot pick up digital radio. Sports spoils 2SM afternoons and 2UE music is too squawky for my liking. Hope “Good Music 2CH” comes back again in the near future on AM radio.

I am very sorry to say i Cannot get 2ch on my radio or iphone today 22/12!!!
Internet is working fine but no radio????

I listen from Goulburn NSW and always have been a listener.
I can pick up all other stations today but 2ch.

Bloody boring sports. Wheres the intellect for goodness sake?? No way. Theres already too much sport on radio and tv. Music and talkback radio is the go.
Your best show is Stardust on Sat nights. Ill miss it. Those who want good music of 2CH 1950s/60s/70s type GO to Sunshine fm 104.9 at the Sunshine coast. Also 4BH Brisbane 882 is a good music station. Sadly 2GB also does sports only from noon on weekends so its all sport.

SOMEBODY SMART MIGHT DEVELOP AN APP ONLY STATION that will give us variety talk back radio on weekend afternoons instead of no-intellect sport. The Two Murrays, George and Paul etc. Thats what I and others who want sensible input want on a weekend afternoon.

Hope Timmy finds a new home elsewhere.

Love the new format, SEN is brilliant with a big dedication to NRL, they should have done this years ago. Well done Craig Hutchison.

I have stopped listening to this station.
I never expected it to change beautiful music for crap…

UPDATE: Following on from Craig Hutchison turning the former 2CH AM 1170 frequency into the Sydney SEN radio station at the end of 2020, Hutchison has bought the licence of 4KQ AM 693 in Brisbane and will change the 693 AM frequency into a simulcast of the existing SENQ radio station that already broadcasts on the DAB+ radio band and streams LIVE online. The changeover will likely happen in early July 2022.

NB: 4KQ’s Golden oldies/Classic Hits music format will come to a permanent end once SENQ takes over the frequency. Be happy listeners in Sydney that at least 2CH is still available via streaming and DAB+ in the Sydney metro area.

Apparently 2CH will be going off-air altogether after 6:00pm tomorrow night after 90 years (2 years as DAB+/Online only station after SEN launched on 1170AM). End of an era in Sydney Radio.

Really you changed 2ch to a sports station dumb move the airwaves are already full of sport stations and it already blasted on ABC triple M among other stations we need no more of that

Sport is a niche format but sad to see a grand old station name relegated to digital only.

I’m not sure it will last on DAB+ without an AM transmisison as well.