5AA

5AA (identified as FIVEaa, see logo, right), is 50% owned by NOVA Entertainment and Lachlan Murdoch's company Illyra, and is Adelaide's only commercial talkback radio station. The station has a range of programs including news, sports, current affairs, social issues, football calls, gardening, lifestyle, cars, travel and health.

History

5AA commenced service in Kent Town on 9 March 1976 on the frequency 1390 kHz. It was moved to 1386 kHz with the introduction of 9 kHz spacing on the AM dial in 1978. The station now broadcasts on 1395 kHz.

5AA commenced its life with a "Beautiful Music" format and quickly became Adelaide's no 1 rating radio station. In 1976, the only FM competition was the ABC owned Classic FM. AM stations were the ABC owned 5AN, 5DN 972 - "Licensed to talk" and music stations 5KA on 1197AM and 5AD on 1323AM.

In the 1980s 5AA was sold to the State Government owned TAB, ditching music to begin broadcasting horse and dog racing, with talkback in between race calls. The station shifted to the TAB headquarters in Pulteney Court, Adelaide, with "Talk of the Town" as its slogan. However, it plummeted in popularity as a result of its schizophrenic broadcasting policy. With the advent of narrowcast licences, the TAB purchased frequency 1539AM and shifted all racing there, freeing up 5AA for talk and interviews.