2CA

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2CA is a Canberra-based Australian commercial radio station. It broadcasts on AM at 1053 kHz and on DAB+. The station is owned by Capital Radio Network (50%) and Grant Broadcasters (50%), with sister station 2CC.

2CA began on 14 November 1931 and was Canberra’s first radio station. It started on 1050 kHz and switched to 1053 kHz in 1978. Its current format is Forever Classic, playing hits from the 1960s to the 1980s.

Origins and early years: Albert John “Jack” Ryan, a former AIF signaller, ran an early wireless station in Kingston that grew into 2CA. It received Canberra’s first commercial broadcasting licence and officially opened in 1931. The station expanded quickly, moving to new studios and increasing power. In 1938, 2CA briefly aired 24-hour programming using overseas feeds, making it Canberra’s first 24-hour station, before World War II brought censorship and schedule changes.

Postwar to the 1980s: 2CA built a modern studio and faced growing competition from new stations like ABC’s 2CY and 2CN. Over the decades, the station shifted formats several times, combining news, music and information. In 1984 it launched Solid Gold 2CA, a successful easy-listening/oldies format. In 1988, 2CA and FM104.7 became Australia’s first supplementary FM licences, and the station went through ownership changes that eventually led to it being part of Austereo and then the Capital Radio Network.

Recent decades: In 1997, regulatory changes prompted the sale of 2CA to Capital Radio Network. In 2004, Grant Broadcasters joined the ownership group. 2CA serves Canberra and the Southern Tablelands, broadcasting 5,000 watts on 1053 AM and also via Digital (DAB+) and online streaming at its website.

In 2021 the station was rebranded as 2JAB to encourage COVID-19 vaccinations. Today, its local schedule includes The Classic Breakfast from 5:30 am to 9:00 am, a workday show from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm, afternoon drive from 2:00 pm to 7:00 pm, and evening programming from 7:00 pm to midnight with Mike Parry.