the harder rock format of its eastern Triple M counterparts. The revamped station failed to make a major impact up against its FM rivals. In 1996 as Triple M, with flagging ratings and finances the station dropped organising the annual Skyshow. The event was subsequently handed over to both the State Government and the City of Perth. Due to copyright ownership restrictions associated with the name the event has been rebranded 'Skyworks'. The format of the event was not significantly changed. In 1997, Village Roadshow subsidiary Austereo purchased PMFM and KYFM from local entrepreneur Jack Bendat. Australian media ownership laws required the divestiture of the station, and Village Roadshow subsequently sold it to Southern Cross Broadcasting which also owned AM radio station 6PR. Southern Cross returned the station back to its original 96FM branding, with a new logo. In 2007 96FM was part of the acquisition of Southern Cross Broadcasting by Fairfax Media. In 2012 a new logo was sighted on the websites with a new positioner "Keep Real Music Alive". In June 2012, 96FM went No. 1 All People for the first time since 1992. In December 2014, it was announced that Fairfax Media would merge with the Macquarie Radio Network, and sell 96FM to the Australian Radio Network. The sale was completed on 30 January 2015 with the station becoming part of the KIIS Network. In September 2015, 96FM rebranded with a new logo aligning it with the rest of the KIIS Network. For its 40th anniversary, the station launched a microsite with a collection of photos, videos and audio clippings of the stations history. On March 11, 2021 the station announced that breakfast host Fred Botica had chosen to retire, with co-host Lisa Shaw starting a new show with Dean Clairs ("Clairsy") called "The Bunch". In addition to the announcement, a new logo merging the original logo and the KIIS lips was introduced. The new show aired for the first time on March 15, 2021. Transmission 96FM transmits on 96.1 MHz across Perth and surrounding areas. It currently transmits on the Perth Radio Services tower adjacent to the Channel 7 tower in Television Road, Bickley. Its ERP is 40KW omnidirectional, which is the standard of the commercial FM stations in Perth. As well as covering Perth, 96FM can be heard as far north as New Norcia, south to Waroona and east to Northam. The studio is located