37°49′11.009″S144°59′43.536″E / 37.81972472°S 144.99542667°E /-37.81972472; 144.99542667
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| Frequencies | 101.1MHzFM and DAB+ |
| Branding | KIIS 1011 |
| Programming | |
| Language | English |
| Format | Contemporary hit radio |
| Affiliations | KIIS Network |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
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| Gold 104.3 | |
| History | |
First air date | 21 February 1927; 98 years ago (1927-02-21) |
Former call signs |
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Former names |
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Former frequencies | |
Call sign meaning | Station was 3TT on AM (3 for Victoria) |
| Technical information | |
Licensing authority | Australian Communications and Media Authority |
| Class | Commercial |
| ERP | 56kW |
| Links | |
Public licence information | Profile |
| Website | www |
KIIS 1011 (official callsign:3TTT) is acommercialFM radio station broadcasting inMelbourne,Victoria, Australia, on a frequency of 101.1 MHz and is the Melbourne affiliate ofARN'sKIIS Network. The station was formerly known as3DB and3TT, broadcasting on 1026 kHz AM, before converting to FM in 1990.
3DB was awarded its broadcast licence in 1925 but did not immediately come on air due to debates in Federal Parliament as to whether or not Australia should proceed with the then-unique system of A Class (laterABC) and B Class (later commercial) stations.[1] The station was originally owned by Druleigh Business and Technical College Pty Ltd,[2] hence the callsignDB. 3DB eventually made its on-air debut on 21 February 1927[3] in a fairly low-key manner.[1]
From 1929 until 1987, 3DB was owned and operated by theHerald & Weekly Times (HWT), owners ofThe Herald andThe Sun News-Pictorial, then separatenewspapers.
For most of this era 3DB was one of Melbourne's most popular stations, topping ratings surveys for some decades.[4] 3DB was extremely popular in all fields in which it broadcast. Music ranged frompop music andTop 40 toclassical, some of it live. The station was also a big producer ofradio drama (includingsoap operas), livevariety programs, quizzes, etc. 3DB also transmitted many sporting events, particularlyhorse racing,VFL football, andtest cricket from England. 3DB's women's programs and children's session were also popular.[5][2]
One of the most important people in 3DB's history wasDavid Thomas Worrall,[6] who was appointed manager of the station by theHerald and Weekly Times' SirKeith Murdoch in 1929, and who was to remain as manager until 1958. He was responsible for introducing many big budget programs.
From 1942 onwards, 3DB was the radio broadcaster of theRoyal Children's Hospital'sGood Friday Appeal and played a major part in promoting the appeal, with the sums raised annually increasing dramatically from 1942 onwards.[7][8][9]
After purchasing theGeelong Advertiser and its subsidiary3GL in 1987, the Herald and Weekly Times owned more than one station in the Melbourne/Geelong region and, thus, was required by theAustralian Broadcasting Tribunal to divest itself of one station. 3DB was sold and actually had four owners for short periods in the 12 months of 1987.
J Albert & Son, aSydney based music company and owners of2UW, purchased 3DB in late 1987 and changed thecall sign to3TT. The last program to be broadcast under the 3DB call sign, in the very early hours of 2 April 1988, was a repeat ofBert Newton's 1987 documentary on the 60th anniversary of 3DB.
The 3TT station name and a classic hits format were launched at 5.00 am on 2 April 1988. The first song played wasThe Doobie Brothers "Listen to the Music". The major reason cited for the change of name was that 3DB had recently broadcast under the slogan3DB - The New Beginning and it was felt that that would have made it difficult to dramatically change the format whilst retaining the name, 3DB. However, the new owners had actually considered a few other new call-signs, particularly names which included the same initial being repeated twice, such as 3BB or 3MM.[8]
Lawrence Costin who had been on the 3DB announcing staff for over 30 years was the only 3DB on-air personality to be retained by 3TT; as a newsreader and reporter.[8][10]
At midnight on 23-24 June 1990 the station converted to FM broadcasting on 101.1 MHz.[11] 3DB/3TT's old AM frequency of 1026 AM was returned to the government, and from 1991, it was used by the ABC for3PB, which broadcast intermittently with live coverage of federal parliament. In 1994, 3PB became a full-time news and parliament stationABC NewsRadio.
The events leading up to the transference of 3TT's licence to theFM radio band are quite complicated and political. Broadcasting on the FM band commenced in the US as early as 1933. There had been Australian experiments on the FM band in earlier years, but in the 1970s theWhitlam Labor government decided to issue the first permanent FM licences in Australia to community radio stations. The first such licence in Melbourne was issued to3MBS in 1975. TheFraser coalition government continued the Whitlam policy and expanded the range of FM broadcasters, firstly by introducing the Australia-wideABC FM network. This was followed by a number of brand new commercial stations; the first to open in Melbourne beingEON FM.
Not surprisingly, there were protests from commercial stations on the AM band because they were not able to bid for stations on the FM band. This was seen by many as a big problem as FM was then seen as the future of radio broadcasting, and many stations who had pioneered the commercial side of the Australian industry saw themselves as being left out of its future development, even though many of them - including 3TT - had a history dating back to the 1920s. The Fraser government was not prepared to allocate FM licences to all AM stations, which is what the industry wanted, and what had occurred in many overseas countries. However, under some pressure, in the late 1980s the government decided to transfer one or two stations in the major cities from the AM to FM band, using a much criticised auction-style system in which those stations wishing to transfer bands were to put in bids, with the highest bids being accepted. In Melbourne the two highest bids were to be accepted, with six of the seven existing AM stations placing bids. (The exception being3AW which argued that its older listening-base preferred the AM band to the FM band.)
The three highest bids were received from:3KZ - $32 million;3AK - $22 million; and 3TT - $11 million. The vast disparity in the bids suggests that there was no collusion between stations, and virtually no industrial espionage. Further,3XY which had put in an even lower bid was quite convinced that it would get one of the two FM licences being offered.[12]
In 1987,Kerry Packer ofAustralian Consolidated Press had sold theNine Television Network toAlan Bond, and 3AK was included in the deal, even though Bond had made it clear that he was interested in the TV stations but not in radio - he therefore defaulted on his payment for an FM licence.[13][12] The second Melbourne FM licence on offer was, therefore, eventually given to the third-highest bidder, 3TT.
Initially from opening on 24 June 1990, 3TTT retained the format of 3TT using the new call letters TTFM and their 1st slogan was;Turn It On! The New 101.1 TTFM. The first song that aired on TTFM was "In the Air Tonight" byPhil Collins. Then in 1993 TTFM was relaunched as anAC music station.
In June 2001, the station rebranded toMix 101.1 after joining theMix Network. The station was similar toMix 106.5 in Sydney in creating an emphasis on more music and less talk.
The last song that aired on Mix 101.1 was "Bye Bye Bye" byNSYNC.
In November 2014, theAustralian Radio Network announced that Mix 101.1 would rebrand toKIIS 101.1 on 19 January 2015 with a new breakfast and drive show.Matt & Jane replacedChrissie & Jane in the station's breakfast timeslot, with existing presenterJane Hall to remain alongside formerFox FM breakfast andTriple M drive hostMatt Tilley.[14]Rosso on Drive was replaced byHughesy & Kate, hosted byDave Hughes andKate Langbroek and formerly ofNova 100 breakfast. Both shows began on 19 January 2015, with the latter being networked across theKIIS Network of stations.[15][16]
In October 2015, Jane Hall announced that she would be leaving the station andMatt & Jane at the end of the year to return to acting. She was replaced byNova 100 breakfast co-hostMeshel Laurie.[17]
In October 2017,ARN announced that Matt Tilley, Meshel Laurie, Dave Hughes and Kate Langbroek would leave the station at the end of the year.Matt & Meshel was replaced by Jason 'Jase' Hawkins and Polly 'PJ' Harding. Will McMahon and Woody Whitelaw fromHit 92.9 have been announced as the new drive hosts.Hughesy & Kate moved toSouthern Cross Austereo'sHit Network to replaceHamish & Andy.[18]
In July 2021, ARN announced that Jason 'Jase' Hawkins would be joined by Lauren Phillips withJase & Lauren starting 9 August following Polly 'PJ' Harding's departure from the station on July 23, 2021.[19]
In November 2023, after months of media speculation, it was announced thatThe Kyle and Jackie O Show would be networked fromKIIS 106.5 Sydney in 2024 effectively endingJase & Lauren.[20] The final show aired on Friday 1 December 2023. In March 2024,Jase & Lauren replacedBen, Liam & Belle to host breakfast onNova 100.
In March 2024,ARN announced changes to its daytime programming with Gordie Waters being networked from Sydney into Melbourne andKIIS 97.3 in Brisbane from April.[21] Byron Cooke had previously announced his resignation.[22]
KIIS 101.1 was subjected to a controversy when it was found to have breachedACMA's regulations between 2024 and 2025 when it was reported that theKyle and Jackie O show airing in the morning was found to have been airing offensive content as well as a urination game including discussions deeply graphic.[23]
3DB's original studio was on the 10th floor of Capitol House, above theCapitol Theatre,Swanston Street, next to the Druleigh Business and Technical College, original owners of the station. In 1929, a short while after the HWT purchased 3DB, the studios and offices were moved to 74Flinders Street, to the east of the HWT building on the corner of Flinders andExhibition Streets.[2] In 1966 the HWT truck dock was expanded, and in the process 74 Flinders Street was pulled down, with the station then moving to 61Flinders Lane, immediately behind the HWT building.[24]
When 3DB became 3TT the station continued to broadcast from 61 Flinders Lane, but within a short time, in December 1988, 3TT moved to new studios in Queensbridge Street,South Melbourne.
The station is now located in the inner suburb of Richmond in thePelaco building, sharing facilities with sister stationGold 104.3.
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