Neil Adcock and Jeremy Cordeaux make talk, with news and sport, a solid part of 5DN 972 format from 1970s

5DN 972 "When Adelaide needs to know" was the station identitydeveloped during its news/talk format in the 1970s and 1980s. That 972 wavelength on the AM band was lost in the 1900s when the station went to FM. It now used by the ABC news radio station in South Australia.

5DN introduced Adelaide's first open-line radio talkback programme in 1969, starting the news/talk format that saw the station high in the ratings in the 1970s and 80s. The reverend Neil Adcock pioneered the format on his daytime show. Jeremy Cordeaux, who joined the station in 1976, took daytime show, with Adcock moving to a Sunday night spot. Cordeaux scored a coup in 1977 when he contacted terrorist Hamaas Khaalis who had already killed one of his hostages and was threatening many others. The interview was played worldwide.

But, for a long time, 5DN’s ratings record was held by late-night open-line host Roger Mac, whose figures often exceeded other stations’ prime-time programs.

In 1983-84, 5DN scratched its horse race broadcasts that were moved to beautiful music station 5AA – bought by the TAB for this purpose.

With Paul Linkson as general manager, 5DN 972 (“When Adelaide needs to know”) identity was developed from 1980. Other on-air personalitiesfrom that era  included Leigh Hatcher, Vincent Smith, Murray Nicoll, Gary Rivett, Kevin Crease, Ken Dickin, Judith Barr, Ken Cunningham, Gary Bau, David Hookes, Trevor Ford, Bob Byrne, Noel Yeates, Geoff Jay, Alex Zastera, Gerard Stone, Dave Waterman, Joan Hanger, Ray Fewings, Andrew Pearce, Chris Glenn, Dom Rinaldo, Murray "Buzzard" Olds, Terry Clark, Nan Witcomb and Jeff Medwell.

Jeremy Cordeaux went to 5KA in 1987 but returned to 5DN in 1988. Cordeaux had gained a 10% share in the station and he became its general manager. He was also a common thread in the ructions that would hit the station in the late 1980s and into the 1990s.