day. Prior to 1964, the controlling interest (45%) was held by Broadcasting Associates Pty Ltd., with 14% owned by the John Fairfax group of companies, and the balance owned by various smaller shareholders. Broadcasting Associates was owned by A.T.V. (Australia) Pty. Ltd., the Australian subsidiary of ITV company Associated Television. In 1964, Fairfax purchased ATV's Australian assets, including the 45% share in 2GB. Although the ownership of the station has subsequently passed to strictly commercial interests, the Theosophical Society was still presenting programmes on the station as late as 1975. Ray Hadley, previously with 2UE, became a presenter at the station in 2001. 2GB had a standby mast and its original 873 AM transmitter tower at Wentworth Point at Homebush Bay. Its location was visible via the Ryde Bridge, and also via the train line to Rhodes and Concord train stations. Due to a redevelopment occurring on the same land, the tower was brought down on Friday 11 September 2015. A month or two before, a new tower was erected for 2GB and is now situated at the 2KY transmitter site, also in Homebush. In October 2012, following the Alan Jones "died of shame" controversy, 2GB suspended advertising on the Alan Jones show. This decision was reversed in October 2012, but many advertisers declined to return to sponsoring the program. In June 2014, Michael Smith was fired as fill-in commentator for calling Muhammad a paedophile; Program Director David Kidd referred to Muhammad as a deity. Merger On 1 April 2015 The Macquarie Radio Network merged with the Fairfax Radio Network of Fairfax Media. The news teams of 2UE and 2GB are being merged with "significant job cuts." Consequently, on 9 April 2015 the 2UE newsroom was closed. Callsign and frequency The number 2 of the callsign refers to the state of New South Wales, which also has postcodes starting with 2. The two letters GB indicate an AM station, and were chosen to honour the Italian philosopher Giordano Bruno, who was much admired by Theosophists. Its original frequency allocation was 950 kHz and moved to 870 kHz in 1935, then to 873 on 23 November 1978, when channel separation was reduced from 10 kHz to 9 kHz as a result of an international medium wave frequency realignment. Former presenters Brian Carlton Philip Clark Jack Davey Bob Dyer Terry Dear Ken Howard (race caller) John Tapp (race caller) John Pearce Gwen