R.I.P. Australian Rock Music Media Pioneer Chris Winter

Australia rock music stalwart Chris Winter has passed away.

Original Double J Program Director Marius Webb announced, “It’s a sad day for us in broadcasting and more specifically DoubleJay as we learn that one of our finest, Chris Winter passed away yesterday. Chris became a legend as the original presenter of “Room to Move” a two-hour music programme presented weekly on the ABC’s first network from 1971. Conceived by producer Ted Robinson, it was an independent beacon in a sea of musical commercialisation and the idea that lead to the eventual establishment of Double/TripleJ in 1975. His career as a presenter of serious and interesting music continued at DoubleJay and his love of things digital and archival underlined his ‘second’ career in the ABC. We have lost a remarkable, talented and precious friend”.

Chris Winter interview

Chris Winter started working for the ABC in Sydney in 1971. He hosted the innovative music show ‘Room to Move’ on what was then called 2BL (now ABC 702) from August 1971 until early 1976. Sometime in that period the show was also broadcast to ABC regional stations.

Chris joined 2 Double J in January 1975 and hosted late nights. He left in 1976 to travel, returning in 1977 to rejoin the station and this time staying a further 10 years where he broadcast two years of late nights, two years of mornings and then joining the 2 Double J programming management staff.

While co-managing 2 Double J, the station turned 10 and Midnight Oil promised to play the 10th-anniversary party for free. Free ended up costing a small fortune at the time because the “free” show was on the remote Goat Island in Sydney Harbour and a live broadcast then was not as simple as it is today.

Chris moved into the Innovation department for the ABC. He retired in 2012.