By Riarne Gale of AirCheck/RCS Australia 

Grant Broadcasters is set to launch a locally produced and hosted afternoon sports show into 24 of their markets in 2021.

Radio presenter and journalist, Travis Winks from Wave FM in Wollongong, has just released his book Shattered, the true story of how a loyal family self-destructed over 67 days.
 
Told through the eyes of a hurting brother and son, Travis follows three family members through a series of fateful decisions that resulted in unthinkable consequences.
 

Wave FM Wollongong confirmed today that Damien Leith will be joining the Breakfast team, Jade, Straney with Damien Leith.
 
Since winning Australian Idol in 2006, Damien has stamped his mark on the Australian entertainment scene as a multi-talented singer, songwriter, producer, author, TV host and for the past 2 years co-host of the Power FM breakfast programme in Muswellbrook, another Grant Broadcasters owned radio station.
 

Despite the penetration by Sydney stations, local radio is the winner overall in the latest Xtra Insights Survey for Wollongong and the Illawarra with the local stations showing that live and local not only works, but wins.
 
i98 FM is still clearly the number one station (down 2.6 to 26.5), while Wave FM  gained 2.1 to 18.3 overall, with ABC Illawarra still third on 14.0 and triple j improving 2.2 to 11.4.

Despite the incursion of Sydney station into the Illawarra, local stations Wave FM and i98 FM show why local radio is so important to Wollongong listeners
 
In a survey conducted by Xtra Insights that involved up to 1200 respondents between 15 October to 3 November 2018, both stations consolidated audience with Wave FM up to 16.2 and i98 FM up to 29.1.
 
ABC Illawarra also added some audience to move to 15.3.

Click on the survey for a larger view

Wollongong commercial radio stations Wave FM and i98 FM will focus on the release of the region’s latest radio survey today to see how the stations have fared since the last survey a year ago.

The new breakfast team at Wave FM Wollongong will be Jade, Trav and Chris, after the departure of Mel Greig, who left the show last week for new opportunities in Sydney.

Survey results for Wollongong have been released, the first since November 2015.

i98 FM was a clear winner as the station listened to most with 29.1%.

Their nearest competitor with 18.5% is Wave FM and ABC Illawarra rounds out the top three spots with 13.5%.

"It really is just like getting back on the bike, I rode that bike this week and I didn't fall off. It felt comfortable and I loved it."