The Sky Sports Radio Story

Sky Sports Radio first went to air in 1925 under the broadcast ID of 2KY. The station was under the ownership of the Labor Council of New South Wales.

Over the years, some of the great names of Australian broadcasting have worked at the Station.

These include music presenters Lyal Richardson, Bill Perryman, Donald Day, Jim Tregonning, Bill McColl and Brian Howard.

High profile talk personalities John Harper, Ron Casey, Ita Buttrose, Mike Gibson, Bob Maumill and John Singleton have also graced the airwaves on Sky Sports Radio as have sportscasters of the calibre of Ken Howard, Cyril Angles, Ian Craig, Ray Conroy, Tiger Black, Doug Melton, Greg Hartley, Peter Peters, Peter Bosley and Ray Warren.

Sky Sports Radio is now best known for its comprehensive racing coverage but the Station's links with racing go back to 1949 when broadcasts of night trotting first commenced.

Broadcasts of greyhound racing soon followed and in the mid-60's the station obtained the network capability from 2GB for Wednesday thoroughbred racing descriptions.

By 1974 Sky Sports Radio (formerly 2KY) commenced its own Saturday afternoon gallops coverage and this became the exclusive commercial coverage in 1981 when 2GB dropped out.

In 1992 Sky Sports Radio (formerly 2KY) took advantage of the open narrowcasting provisions of the Broadcasting Services Act, commencing the establishment of a state-wide network to broadcast racing on behalf of the NSW TAB.

The network has now grown to transmit racing and sport to more than 140 centres throughout New South Wales.

Sky Sports Radio has embraced the next generation of technology, pioneering Digital Audio Broadcasting. Chief Engineer Max Carter received a REWARD in 2000 for his contribution to the early development of the medium.

In 2001 the station was acquired by Sky Channel Pty Ltd signalling a new era in broadcasting in the racing and sports industries.

The amalgamation between the two visual and audio broadcasters of racing has enabled the organisation to take advantage of the synergies that exist within the two entities.

This has resulted in an expanded and improved service for the racing enthusiast and promises an exciting future in sports radio which has now commenced with the station known as 2KY for almost 84 years undergoing a re-brand and now being known as Sky Sports Radio.