2NN Classic Hits FM was founded by Craig Allen and first went to air in 2014. It was a part of a national network of narrowcast radio stations playing classic hits music. The network included Classic Hits stations in
Orange,
Wollongong,
Mudgee, Mid North Coast,
Bowral,
Wagga Wagga,
Taree and
Roma, Queensland. There were other branding variations on the network including Oldies FM and Air FM in Penrith and a shortwave radio station called Ozyradio Hunter TV was formed in 2014 with the intent to gain a
community television licence to broadcast on
free-to-air digital terrestrial television in Newcastle, with the station going live online on 1 March 2014. However, their initial application for a community television licence from the
Australian Communications & Media Authority, and later appeals, were rejected due to uncertainty surrounding the future of community television. Hunter TV later reinforced their online services, becoming a community-orientated live streaming and video on demand service. In September 2020 2NN split from the Classic Hits FM network and merged with Hunter TV forming a new station 'Newy 87.8 FM'. The merged entity creates audio content for radio and video content for their video on demand service. In 2022 coverage was extended to
Gosford and the station plans to extend this further south through the
North Shore and
Northern Beaches of
Sydney in 2023. ==Stars of Newcastle==