More than one in ten Australians are tuning in to commercial radio between midnight and dawn each week and they're younger and listening for longer than ever before.
In the latest, annual Midnight to Dawn survey conducted by Nielsen Media for Commercial Radio Australia, the fastest growth area for listeners was the 10 -17 age group up from six per cent last year to nine per cent. On average, this age group listened to commercial radio for four and a half hours between midnight and dawn each week over an hour longer than the average across all groups.
The other group to record an increase was the 18-24 years group with almost one in five in this age bracket tuning into commercial radio between midnight and dawn, for an average of almost three hours a week, up half an hour on last year's survey.
Chief executive officer of Commercial Radio Australia, Joan Warner, said the notion that only the elderly and the lonely listened to radio between midnight and 5.30am was being turned on its head.
Four unknown acts vie for stardom
Four new amazing Australian music acts have been given a shot at stardom after an intense selection process by commercial radio heavyweights.
In the highly competitive New Artists to Radio (NA2R) event, the four finalists were chosen from more than 160 emerging artists who had yet to sign a record deal. Co-ordinated by industry association, Commercial Radio Australia, NA2R has established a reputation for discovering home-grown talent that strikes a chord with radio audiences.
In the highly competitive New Artists to Radio (NA2R) event, the four finalists were chosen from more than 160 emerging artists who had yet to sign a record deal. Co-ordinated by industry association, Commercial Radio Australia, NA2R has established a reputation for discovering home-grown talent that strikes a chord with radio audiences.
ACMA finds Sam Newman's comments breached standards of decency
The Australian Communications and Media Authority has found that the licensee of 3MMM Melbourne, Triple M Melbourne Pty Ltd, breached the commercial radio code of practice by failing to meet contemporary standards of decency, having regard to the likely composition of its audience.The breach occurred in the Saturday Football program broadcast on 6 May 2006.
During the talk-back section of the broadcast, Mr Sam Newman described a caller who had criticised his comments on a match as a 'f —-wit'.
Triple M has advised ACMA that Mr Newman was suspended from the air immediately and has not returned to the program. He and the producer of the program have undergone training in the commercial radio code of practice and the licensee has introduced six-monthly staff training on the code.
ACMA considers that these actions address the compliance issues raised by this investigation but will nonetheless continue to monitor the licensee's performance in relation to the relevant code provision to satisfy itself that this was an isolated incident.
During the talk-back section of the broadcast, Mr Sam Newman described a caller who had criticised his comments on a match as a 'f —-wit'.
Triple M has advised ACMA that Mr Newman was suspended from the air immediately and has not returned to the program. He and the producer of the program have undergone training in the commercial radio code of practice and the licensee has introduced six-monthly staff training on the code.
ACMA considers that these actions address the compliance issues raised by this investigation but will nonetheless continue to monitor the licensee's performance in relation to the relevant code provision to satisfy itself that this was an isolated incident.
ACMA embargoes Digital Radio Mondiale
The Australian Communications and Media Authority has placed an embargo on frequency bands potentially suitable for use by broadcasting services using Digital Radio Mondiale. These bands are outside the broadcasting services bands used by traditional broadcasting services.
Rocktober the countdown has begun
Rocktober returns to the airwaves this Sunday across the Australian Radio Network Classic Hits stations. 4KQ Brisbane, WSFM Sydney and GOLD FM Melbourne will unleash this almighty powerforce we eagerly await each year as Rocktober rolls around!
AFL from every angle from 2007
The AFL radio rights are not quite signed, sealed and delivered for the 2007 - 2009 seasons, although things are coming together. The main players will be Austereo’s Triple M network and Southern Cross through 3AW and 6PR. Triple M and 3AW will get the pick of the round matches calling main games over Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Triple M will also call homes games into Brisbane, Sydney and Adelaide.
Media Watch - Live and Local or Dead & Buried!
Media watch has covered the current state of regional Radio and TV across the nation.
Live And Local - Dead And Buried
Wollongong News
Griffith - No WIN News
Local Radio - Remote Control
Regional Media - What Next?
To a small degree for ABC RADIO, is it not a case of people in glass houses? Maybe, maybe not, but when it comes to radio, people are now starting to accept the real deal in most regional towns as far as live and local goes are the community stations! A hard pill to swallow for those of us who are lovers of all the things a regional commercial station once stood for.
Live And Local - Dead And Buried
Wollongong News
Griffith - No WIN News
Local Radio - Remote Control
Regional Media - What Next?
To a small degree for ABC RADIO, is it not a case of people in glass houses? Maybe, maybe not, but when it comes to radio, people are now starting to accept the real deal in most regional towns as far as live and local goes are the community stations! A hard pill to swallow for those of us who are lovers of all the things a regional commercial station once stood for.
Village continues to offload Austereo!
Village Roadshow has continued to offload part of their large chunk of Austereo. According to Stock Exchange documentation obtained by Tattler Village netted close to $31 million late last week. 16.75 million shares at approx $1.86 each were traded over two days and further reducing their share in Austereo from a high of 67%.
Besides still holding around 60% of Austereo, Village previously netted a handsome $39 million just a week earlier from two swift sales
Village Roadshow are said to be looking at investing around $250 million with movie and production operations in the USA. Any further sale of their interest in Austereo leaves the radio network open for takeover and with the proposed media ownership laws approaching they look like they may be first cab off the rank.
Besides still holding around 60% of Austereo, Village previously netted a handsome $39 million just a week earlier from two swift sales
Village Roadshow are said to be looking at investing around $250 million with movie and production operations in the USA. Any further sale of their interest in Austereo leaves the radio network open for takeover and with the proposed media ownership laws approaching they look like they may be first cab off the rank.
ABC radio to extend further in SA
Federal Communications Minister Helen Coonan has announced a nation-wide extension of ABC radio services.
The extension will be carried out in three stages, starting in the new year.
The first stage will make ABC Local Radio and ABC NewsRadio accessible in Mount Gambier in the south-east and Port Augusta, Port Pirie and Whyalla in the northern Spencer Gulf area.
Site down Sunday
This site will be down from time to time today. The page may default to a similar template ensuring 90% of the content of the site is visible.
Since migrating to the ‘wordpress’ platform in late April (the current theme) we have noticed many broken links from previous articles that need inspecting and attempts will be made to repair what we can.
Since migrating to the ‘wordpress’ platform in late April (the current theme) we have noticed many broken links from previous articles that need inspecting and attempts will be made to repair what we can.
NewsRadio to cover Tassie
Services on the ABC’s NewsRadio network are to be expanded in Tasmania early next year.
As part one of a three-stage roll-out, ABC NewsRadio will be extended to 13 new areas across Australia, including Burnie, Somerset and Wynyard on the north-west coast.
The extension gives NewsRadio a possible new audience of more than 42,000 people in the region.
NewsRadio services in the Hobart metropolitan area will also reach more people with improvements to the Ralphs Bay transmitter site.
TripleM's James Brayshaw's Family Tragedy
AFL Footy Show and Triple M breakfast co-host James Brayshaw says the death of his sister in a freak incident at her Melbourne home was a “tragic, unthinkable accident”.
Sally, 36, was crushed to death on Wednesday night by bricks falling from a garage wall.
She had just closed the garage door at her house in Gerona Street, Keilor, in Melbourne’s north-west, when the top row of bricks from the front wall fell on her about 7.30pm (AEST), police said.
She was found by relatives who heard the noise of the falling bricks.
Sally, 36, was crushed to death on Wednesday night by bricks falling from a garage wall.
She had just closed the garage door at her house in Gerona Street, Keilor, in Melbourne’s north-west, when the top row of bricks from the front wall fell on her about 7.30pm (AEST), police said.
She was found by relatives who heard the noise of the falling bricks.
Management takes over at strike-ridden ABC
It was all hands to the pumps on ABC Local radio this morning as management rolled up their sleeves to bring listeners a skeleton service during the strike by the members of the broadcaster’s two main unions.
Was that the head of ABC radio, Sue Howard, I heard, giving the weather after 7am? The news was read by Lisa Sweeney, who is an executive in ABC Radio News, and the sport came from Peter Longman, the head of ABC Radio Sport. The breakfast program was run out of Melbourne with two of the remaining Coodabeen Champions, Geoff Richardson and Ian Cover (a former Liberal Party member of the Victorian Parliament). AM at 8am was basically the BBC World Service for half an hour.
Concert for Adam
Award winning radio broadcaster Adam Vaughan (Vorherr) who sadly passed away in May is being honoured with a 40th birthday party at the Corner Hotel.(Richmond)
Upon finding out that his cancer was terminal in March this year Adam's only wish was to have a party on his birthday, October 4th. Unfortunately, on May 26th, five months shy of his 40th birthday, Adam lost his battle and his final wish was unfulfilled.
The Concert for Adam is the idea of his brother Jason and sister Jade and is a wonderful gesture for a guy who loved his music just as much as his radio. All profits from Concert for Adam's ticket sales will be donated to the Cancer Council of Victoria. The concert Line up includes Glenn Shorrock, Phil Ceberano, Mick Pealing, Justin Murphy and Louis King.
Buy Tickets
Upon finding out that his cancer was terminal in March this year Adam's only wish was to have a party on his birthday, October 4th. Unfortunately, on May 26th, five months shy of his 40th birthday, Adam lost his battle and his final wish was unfulfilled.
The Concert for Adam is the idea of his brother Jason and sister Jade and is a wonderful gesture for a guy who loved his music just as much as his radio. All profits from Concert for Adam's ticket sales will be donated to the Cancer Council of Victoria. The concert Line up includes Glenn Shorrock, Phil Ceberano, Mick Pealing, Justin Murphy and Louis King.
Buy Tickets
ABC set to strike.
Staff at the national broadcaster will stop work for 24 hours this Thursday to kick off an industrial campaign aimed at forcing a better workplace deal.
ABC staff are pressing for a three-year agreement and have rejected management’s offer of an annual 3.5 per cent pay rise, saying that wages will fall behind inflation.
The ABC’s two staff unions, the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) and the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) said ABC management was asking for too many concessions on working conditions, such as changes to shift work and meal allowances.
MEAA federal assistant secretary Mark Ryan said about 2,500 ABC staff were members of either union and those who decided to take part in the action would not attend work that day, beginning from the first shift which starts about 3.30am.
“We expect a bit of disruption,” he said.
Previously, more than 1,600 ABC employees voted in two separate ballots conducted by the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC), with about 90 per cent favouring an industrial campaign.
Secret ballots before taking so-called protected industrial action during bargaining periods for collective agreements are now mandatory under the federal government’s WorkChoices laws.
The ballots conducted by the AEC collected only 117 votes against industrial action, with 1,577 staff voting in favour of the campaign.
Audio version of 'YOUTUBE' launched.
Commercial Radio Australia today launched an exciting new initiative website called SiVi, which will feature the best and most unusual audio that can be used for inspiration and ideas for radio advertisements.
Chief executive officer of Commercial Radio Australia, Joan Warner, said the idea was for visitors to submit their own material, with the page eventually becoming a creative portal of original, unusual and funny audio.
Chief executive officer of Commercial Radio Australia, Joan Warner, said the idea was for visitors to submit their own material, with the page eventually becoming a creative portal of original, unusual and funny audio.
CBAA Digital Radio Symposium
The transition to digital is one of the most significant issues facing the community broadcasting sector. As part of a broader sector consultation process the CBAA is organising a Digital Radio Symposium, to be held in Sydney from September 29 to 30. The Symposium will bring together representatives from DCITA, ACMA, peak sector organisations and wide area coverage stations from the six state capital cities that will be involved in the first phase of digital radio transition. The Symposium will allow an opportunity for discussion of operational and policy issues arising from the Australian Government’s Digital Radio Framework issued last October.
The Digital Radio Symposium has been supported by DCITA, the CBF and the CBAA.
> Read the Government’s Digital Radio Framework document and the CBAA’s response.
Source
The Digital Radio Symposium has been supported by DCITA, the CBF and the CBAA.
> Read the Government’s Digital Radio Framework document and the CBAA’s response.
Source
Johnny Chester's Country Connection radio show!
Veteran Australian Country Music singer/songwriter Johnny Chester has reached an agreement with eight Australian commercial radio stations to air his Country Connection radio show.
The program will be heard each Sunday Morning for an hour from October 1st on the ACE Radio Network 3YB Warrnambool 8am, 3CS Colac 8am, 3HA Hamilton 8am, 3WM Horsham 8am, 3SH Swan Hill 8am, 3GV Traralgon 9am and 2AY Albury/Wodonga 7am, plus 4KZ Innisfail 7am.
Johnny is also negotiating with several other stations that have shown an interest in broadcasting the program. It is being offered on the barter system and any commercial radio station programmer who might be interested in broadcasting the show can contact Johnny via email chess@johhnychester.com .
Johnny of course has many years of radio broadcasting experience having commenced his radio career forty years ago on 3UZ in Melbourne.
The program will be heard each Sunday Morning for an hour from October 1st on the ACE Radio Network 3YB Warrnambool 8am, 3CS Colac 8am, 3HA Hamilton 8am, 3WM Horsham 8am, 3SH Swan Hill 8am, 3GV Traralgon 9am and 2AY Albury/Wodonga 7am, plus 4KZ Innisfail 7am.
Johnny is also negotiating with several other stations that have shown an interest in broadcasting the program. It is being offered on the barter system and any commercial radio station programmer who might be interested in broadcasting the show can contact Johnny via email chess@johhnychester.com .
Johnny of course has many years of radio broadcasting experience having commenced his radio career forty years ago on 3UZ in Melbourne.
Radio Continues Growth In First Half Of 06
Commercial Economic Advisory Service of Australia (CEASA) figures, released today, for the first half of the 2006 calendar year show radio continues to perform in attracting advertising revenue with an increase of around 2 per cent (2.1%) to a total of $425.1 million.
Chief executive officer of Commercial Radio Australia, Joan Warner, said CEASA's Advertising Expenditure in Main Media report for the six months ended June 30, 2006 shows radio advertising continues to perform in a competitive market with the metropolitan market recording growth of around 2 per cent (1.8%) to a total of $280.4 million and regional markets growing by 2.5 per cent to a total of $144.7 million.
Chief executive officer of Commercial Radio Australia, Joan Warner, said CEASA's Advertising Expenditure in Main Media report for the six months ended June 30, 2006 shows radio advertising continues to perform in a competitive market with the metropolitan market recording growth of around 2 per cent (1.8%) to a total of $280.4 million and regional markets growing by 2.5 per cent to a total of $144.7 million.
Here is the news coming to you every hour upon the hour!
The SMH reports on how the new media ownership laws will ensure regional radio stations produce at least five news bulletins a day.
‘REGIONAL radio stations will be forced to produce a minimum of five local news bulletins a day and maintain existing staff levels and production facilities under the Government’s media changes.‘
Well there are many regional radio stations that have not produced a news bulletin in over a decade and then there are those that rely on syndication from capital cities or regional hubs. Did I forget to mention the stations that use the recycled bulletin from dawn to dusk or the regional FM stations that ask what is a news bullletin?
Related item SMH
‘REGIONAL radio stations will be forced to produce a minimum of five local news bulletins a day and maintain existing staff levels and production facilities under the Government’s media changes.‘
Well there are many regional radio stations that have not produced a news bulletin in over a decade and then there are those that rely on syndication from capital cities or regional hubs. Did I forget to mention the stations that use the recycled bulletin from dawn to dusk or the regional FM stations that ask what is a news bullletin?
Related item SMH
Media legislation introduced to Parliament
Legislation that would overhauling Australia’s media landscape has been introduced to Federal Parliament. The Government introduced two Bills to the Senate that would free up the rules to allow companies to own any media assets as long as there are at least five media operators in mainland capitals and four in other areas.Further legislation is to be introduced to the House of Representatives today.
Andy Lee Cleo Batchelor of the year
What a big week it has been for FOX FM’s Andy Lee, part of the comedy duo Hamish and Andy. It started with a win in the all important Drive shift that he and Hamish Blake present on FOX FM, beating rival Derryn Hinch from 3AW.
The crowning glory arrived on Thursday evening when he was as announced CLEO magazine Batchelor of the Year. Lee took the title out against sprinter Adam Miller and Home and Away stars Paul O’Brien and Mark Furze.
Hamish and Andy present drive across other TODAY FM station around the nation with the exception of 2DAY FM. The pair joined Austereo around 18 months ago with a Saturday morning show. After a brief stint covering FOX breakfast during holidays the pair were moved to drive in December 2005. They also have a comedy show on Network 10, Real Stories.
The crowning glory arrived on Thursday evening when he was as announced CLEO magazine Batchelor of the Year. Lee took the title out against sprinter Adam Miller and Home and Away stars Paul O’Brien and Mark Furze.
Hamish and Andy present drive across other TODAY FM station around the nation with the exception of 2DAY FM. The pair joined Austereo around 18 months ago with a Saturday morning show. After a brief stint covering FOX breakfast during holidays the pair were moved to drive in December 2005. They also have a comedy show on Network 10, Real Stories.
Radio Ratings Survey 6 are in!
Adelaide Brisbane Perth Melbourne Sydney
Radio ratings survey 6 and around the nation winners are grinners. In Melbourne 3AW are still number one although coming in at number four with a big jump on the ratings tree are Gold FM.
Adelaide we see Fiveaa holding the top spot with Mix 102.3 grabbing second place from SAFM. Brisbane and the crown goes to NOVA although a fantastic effort by 4KQ jumping up into fourth place helped along by a big climb in breakfast.
Sydney and 2GB retain top spot with 2DAY wrestling second place from sister station 2MMM. 2UE breakfast continues to climb. Perth and MIX 94.5 are still leading the charge followed by 96FM who must be happy with a big climb in breakfast. Check the links above to see state by state results.
Around the nation from THE AUSTRALIAN
Media merger role for ACCC
The competition watchdog will be given specific powers to set conditions on media mergers in regional areas as part of a strengthened cross-media ownership laws.
As Communications Minister Helen Coonan prepares to unveil a shake-up of media laws today, new regional content rules will be enshrined in the legislation that could force media owners to divest assets if they breach the rules. FULL STORYÂ
Bathurst Broadcasters launch the Peter Brock Memorial Fund
Since the tragic accident which claimed the life of motor racing legend Peter Brock, Bathurst radio stations B-Rock FM and 2BS have been inundated with tributes and suggestions of how to best remember the man who firmly placed Mt Panorama and Bathurst on the map.
Chairman of Bathurst Broadcasters Ron Camplin today said it is only fitting that the station named in honour of the great man be the one to launch the memorial fund.
Mr Camplin says “Peter Brock is an honorary citizen of Bathurst, his name graces our walk of fame more than anyone else, and our local radio station was named after him. He was a part of our community and should be honoured as such.”
Mayor of Bathurst Norm Mann has pledged his support to the memorial for Brock and is inviting members of the public put forward their suggestions.
International Radio and television personality, and friend of Brock, Ken Sparkes kicked off the fund with a personal contribution of $500, which has already been matched by several local organizations.
Further details:
Justin Coombes-Pearce        02 6331 7777
Jennifer Menchin                    02 6331 7777
Southern Cross results
Southern Cross Broadcasting (SCB) has reported a fall in year to date profit but says it expects positive earnings growth this year despite an unpredictable advertising market.
The owner of radio stations 2UE and 3AW, and Channel Nine Adelaide, yesterday posted a net profit of $50.1 million for 2005-2006, down 22 per cent.
Normalised net profit, before one-off items such as staff redundancies and the closure of a non-performing television production joint-venture in Singapore, was $57.4 million, down six per cent.
About 64 staff, including 36 in television, 25 in radio and three in corporate, were made redundant during the year. FULL STORY
Slap on the wrist for 2GB stabbing!
The teenager at the centre of the stabbing of Macquarie newsreader Rowan Barker has been given a two year suspended jail sentence.
The 17-year-old, who cannot be named, was sentenced in the NSW District Court at Penrith today for maliciously inflicting grievous bodily harm on Mr Barker on December 3 last year. FULL STORY
The 17-year-old, who cannot be named, was sentenced in the NSW District Court at Penrith today for maliciously inflicting grievous bodily harm on Mr Barker on December 3 last year. FULL STORY
Vale Don Lunn
Don Lunn ‘The Daddio of the Radio’ has died suddenly at his Melbourne home at the age of 71. He passed away sometime after returning home from driving his wife to work on Wednesday evening. The news of his death has touched the industry with tributes flowing in from many who were fortunate enough to work with the legendary DJ.
I spent a good part of a Saturday night with Don in the 3AK studios back in 1998. Here I was with a man who had been to the top in the industry and was now on the battleship known as 3AK. The Daddio was swinging, the music was playing and even though he knew the audience was limited he kept the show flowing. The excitement projected from the stories he told that night of years of spinning them in was priceless. Thanks mate!
Don Lunn was born Douglas Raymond Harold Lunn in England before migrating to Australia. Much of his early years were spent in Tasmania.
We first heard of this exciting new voice introduced to Melbourne radio by The Greater 3UZ, initially known as MR D. Don with his American inspired voice and antics spun them in on drive at UZ for quite sometime and moved to breakfast in 1965. What was that, a rocky jockey on breakfast? It worked and Don stamped his name on the shift. The top 40 era of 3UZ heralded some great names in radio all in one place working along side Don including Alan Lappan, Sam Anglesey, Ken Sparkes and Stan Rofe just to name a few.
After departing 3UZ Don did the rounds of many stations including interstate stints, 3DB, 3KZ and back at 3UZ . In between he operated his own Travel Agent and at one stage hired Philip Brady in a PR role. The roles Don held across the industry are many so please accept we have only touched on a small portion of his LONG career.
To a younger audience Don became involved with 3KZ to present his own unique SIX O’CLOCK ROCK on a Saturday night, a program that he later presented on the same GOLD FM well into the 90’s. In the mid 90’s he also was part of the weekday lineup on GOLD.
In the late 90’s he joined the battleship 3AK to present the Saturday Night Party Time and after being moved to a short lived retrospective Sunday night program he like many others around him were flung from the fast sinking 3AK. He then had an ongoing segment with 3AW’s Remember When (around 2000) for around 12 months. Vale Don Lunn a true radio legend.
Bankrupt station in land deal
PERTH’S only indigenous radio station disappeared off the airwaves last week amid calls for a police investigation into the highly irregular sale of its former city studio premises for a $100,000 transfer fee. FULL STORY THE AUSTRALIAN
ABC testing the water
Further to our item on Peter Rowsthorn in ‘Radionews‘ yesterday, the ABC has a swag of names it will be using as fill in presenters. Whilst commercial stations seem to be adopting a regular B side who are on standby Aunty continues to offer up a variety of names.  Kaz Cooke will fill in for 774 afternoon presenter Richard Stubbs from next Monday.
Jennifer Byrne will fill in for Radio National’s late-night presenter Phillip Adams from next Monday (September 11). The long-time journalist and television presenter says she’ll relish the chance to spend an hour either delving into one subject or covering several topics of interest. Related item from THE AGE here
Media reforms could be tabled next week.
Communications Minister Helen Coonan says her plan to change Australia’s media ownership rules could be put before Parliament next week.
If successful it will lift restrictions on foreign media ownership, and allow companies to own a newspaper, radio and TV station in the same market.Â
While Nationals Party MP’s have strong concerns about the changes controversal MP Barnaby Joyce has gone on public record saying he will not vote for the changes.
Senator Coonan is continues to talk to colleagues in relation to the proposed changes, looking at as many different angles to see just what impact they may have. She said today “It may be next week … It depends of course on the program,” she said.”We’re having very constructive discussions, I take none of my colleagues for granted and we continue to work through issues that they raise.”
Singo’s Macquarie Radio lifts annual profit
Macquarie Radio Network has boosted its annual earnings by almost 60 per cent after outperforming the radio advertising market.MRN today reported an annual net profit of $5.73 million for 2005/06, up 57 per cent, in its first year as a publicly-listed company.
The operator of the East-coast based 2GB and 2CH radio stations said it had outperformed the Sydney radio advertising market and increased market share.
“We have outperformed the radio advertising revenue market for 2H06 (second half of fiscal 2006), and reduced our costs to ensure increased profitability,” MRN chairman Max Donnelly said.
“Appropriately, 2GB’s dominance all year and 2CH’s consistent ratings, combined with our focus on improved sales, has seen MRN secure a larger share of radio advertising dollars.”
MRN’s revenue performance in the second half was stronger than in the first, despite a deterioration in the Sydney radio advertising market.
MRN said 2GB was the number one Sydney radio station in terms of both revenue and ratings in 2005/06, and had increased its lead to the biggest by a station in 10 years.
Mr Donnelly said the broadcaster was investing for the future and increasingly viewed itself as a content business, with enormous potential to leverage existing and new content across multiple platforms.
“Initial investments in our websites, podcasting, video podcasting and streaming content to mobile phones are generating new income streams for the business,” he said.
“We anticipate further revenue growth in these areas.
“Further investment will be made in these new media opportunities in 2007.”
Revenue excluding contra, a non-cash revenue where airtime is exchanged for goods and services, increased 1.5 per cent in the 12 months to June 30, 2006.
Including contra, overall revenue was $41.75 million, a 0.59 per cent decrease on the previous year.
MRN attributed the decrease to a deliberate reduction in advertising contra to $445,000 in fiscal 2006 from $1.31 million in 2004/05.
The company said significant cost savings had been achieved, with expenses decreasing 7.8 per cent, including contra, and 5.6 per cent, excluding contra.
MRN declared a final dividend of 3.5 cents a share, resulting in total dividends for the year of six cents a share.
Idol to go out live across TODAY Network.
Channel 10 will join forces with Austereo’s TODAY Network and broadcast the Sunday night Australian Idol live performance across the radio network. SA FM, B1O5, 92.9, FOX and 2DAY FM will bring radio listeners IDOL live from Sunday September 10.
The cross promotion campaign will step up a notch this week. With Kyle Sandilands part of the IDOL judging panel and part of 2DAY FM breakfast it could mean the extended TODAY Network coverage may see other radio networks restricting or limiting their coverage of IDOL interviews etc.Â
One has to ask will the proposed media ownership laws see TEN and Austereo seriously looking at working towards a union? With a joint venture such as this the programming departments will be looking very closely at all aspects of future possibilities.
The Today Network is proud to announce an expanded partnership with Network Ten for Australian Idol which will see the program’s Sunday night live performance shows broadcast live across the Today Network’s 2Day FM, Fox FM, SAFM, B105 and 92.9 radio stations.
Kicking-off on Sunday, 10th September 2006, the initiative brings together two of the country’s leading entertainment brands.
Underpinning the Today Network’s broad listener appeal around the country, the broadcast will further leverage Kyle Sandilands’ dual role as co-host on 2Day FM’s number one FM breakfast show, and as a judge for Australian Idol.
The broadcast will provide Network Ten with a national platform from which to promote the series to the Today Network’s 1.7 million listeners.
Television viewers in each state will see individual station TVCs air during Australian Idol ad breaks.
Craig Bruce, Program Director, Today Network, said; “Australian Idol is back in form this year, the talent is outstanding and the show looks as sharp as it ever has. We’re rapt to be a part of the biggest pop music television event of the year.”
“This year we’ve said Australian Idol would be much more than a TV show but a major multi-media experience encompassing online, mobile and radio. Our partnership with the Today Network is a key element in that strategy,” Stephen Tate, Executive Producer Network Ten.
Prime primed for more radio!
Regional Media company Prime Television has reported a 35 increase in profit to net $30.5 million. This was boosted to the tune of over $6.5 million after the sale of their millstone New Zealand operations and the first time contribution of their 6 radio stations.
Broadcasting, progamming along with transmission costs rose by just on $10 million over the year to $87.3 million it was reported. Quite a large slice of that surrounds the acquired radio stations.
The radio stations all in North Queensland were purchased in September 2005 from Macquarie Regional Radio Group. Chief executive Warwick Syphers said Prime would be waiting for the outcome of the proposed media ownership rules and would be interested in looking at purchasing further radio stations should the opportunity arise.
Prime have just signed an agreement with the Seven Network that will see them together for another 10 years.
What will radio sound like in 2010
The impact of the Internet, cross media ownership and what radio will sound and look like in 2010 are some of the hot topics that will be discussed when the commercial radio industry gathers in Sydney next month for its annual national conference and awards.Â
There will also be a number of panel discussions, including one featuring financial analysts who will discuss the revenue outlook for radio and media, and another that will fast forward to 2010, exploring future roles and relationships between radio and the Internet. There will also be a panel examining digital radio developments featuring experts in multimedia content and technology.
A range of international speakers will address the conference, including:
* comic genius John Cleese, who will give the key note speech about his early days in radio, his experience in advertising and his views on creativity in life, drawing on a 42-year career spanning radio, films, TV and advertising
* Graeme Samuel, chairman of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, will discuss the future of media in Australia as a result of changes to media laws and the ACCC’s role in facilitating digital radio
* Milan Rokic, Asia Pacific Marketing Director of Cirque du Soleil, will talk about balancing creativity and the business side of managing a unique global entertainment brand
* Tasmanian-born Dirk Anthony, Group Program Director at Gcap Media, formed in 2005 from the merger of the UK’s two biggest radio companies, GWR and Capital, will talk about how to find and keep good on-air talent
* Â Jim Cook, Senior Vice President of Creative at Clear Channel Radio, which operates 1200 radio stations reaching 100 million listeners across the US each week, will discuss how to engage listeners in an over-communicated world
* California-based Dennis Clark, who produces Ryan Seacrest’s KIIS FM radio program and spent 10 years working for the legendary Rick Dees, will talk about successful breakfast radio
* The imaging producer for Howard Stern’s satellite radio channels in the US, Jeff Thomas, will join a discussion panel on what makes great audio imaging and promotions
* Chris Lytle, the author of the business best seller, The Accidental Salesperson, which has been published in English, Mandarin, Korean and Spanish, will offer up-to-the-minute practical strategies and tools for advertising, marketing, sales and management.
* Paul Gardner, chairman of Grey Global Group Australia, will present latest insights on communications and the media from the annual Eye on Australia study into consumer attitudes to life and brands.
There will also be a number of panel discussions, including one featuring financial analysts who will discuss the revenue outlook for radio and media, and another that will fast forward to 2010, exploring future roles and relationships between radio and the Internet. There will also be a panel examining digital radio developments featuring experts in multimedia content and technology.
This year’s Australian Radio Conference will be held at the Crystal Palace Conference Centre at Luna Park in Sydney on Friday, 13 October and is expected to attract over 400 people.  Tickets can be booked now.
Media contact: Judy Shaw. Ph: 0418 415 965
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Burgo back at 3MP!
John ''Baby John'' Burgess is returning to Melbourne's 3MP to present breakfast. Come September the 25th the radio veteran takes over breakfast at 3MP just over 30 years since he did the same when the station launched in 1976.
Burgo is no stranger to Melbourne radio having joined 3AK from Sydney's 2UW in 1970. He also did breakfast at AK and took the shift to number one in the ratings in 1971. Many people believe it was at 3AK that Burgo was given the name ''Baby John'' although that did come earlier whilst at 2UW. He was given the nickname by Ward Austin.
With radio gigs all over the country over a long career John also presented 2CH breakfast from 1997 to 2003. Welcome back Burgo!
Mid-dawns attracts young radio listeners.
Friday, September 29, 2006 | Labels: Radionews | 0 comments »
More than one in ten Australians are tuning in to commercial radio between midnight and dawn each week and they're younger and listening for longer than ever before.
In the latest, annual Midnight to Dawn survey conducted by Nielsen Media for Commercial Radio Australia, the fastest growth area for listeners was the 10 -17 age group up from six per cent last year to nine per cent. On average, this age group listened to commercial radio for four and a half hours between midnight and dawn each week over an hour longer than the average across all groups.
The other group to record an increase was the 18-24 years group with almost one in five in this age bracket tuning into commercial radio between midnight and dawn, for an average of almost three hours a week, up half an hour on last year's survey.
Chief executive officer of Commercial Radio Australia, Joan Warner, said the notion that only the elderly and the lonely listened to radio between midnight and 5.30am was being turned on its head.
In the latest, annual Midnight to Dawn survey conducted by Nielsen Media for Commercial Radio Australia, the fastest growth area for listeners was the 10 -17 age group up from six per cent last year to nine per cent. On average, this age group listened to commercial radio for four and a half hours between midnight and dawn each week over an hour longer than the average across all groups.
The other group to record an increase was the 18-24 years group with almost one in five in this age bracket tuning into commercial radio between midnight and dawn, for an average of almost three hours a week, up half an hour on last year's survey.
Chief executive officer of Commercial Radio Australia, Joan Warner, said the notion that only the elderly and the lonely listened to radio between midnight and 5.30am was being turned on its head.
Four unknown acts vie for stardom
Thursday, September 28, 2006 | Labels: Radionews | 0 comments »
Four new amazing Australian music acts have been given a shot at stardom after an intense selection process by commercial radio heavyweights.
In the highly competitive New Artists to Radio (NA2R) event, the four finalists were chosen from more than 160 emerging artists who had yet to sign a record deal. Co-ordinated by industry association, Commercial Radio Australia, NA2R has established a reputation for discovering home-grown talent that strikes a chord with radio audiences.
In the highly competitive New Artists to Radio (NA2R) event, the four finalists were chosen from more than 160 emerging artists who had yet to sign a record deal. Co-ordinated by industry association, Commercial Radio Australia, NA2R has established a reputation for discovering home-grown talent that strikes a chord with radio audiences.
The Australian Communications and Media Authority has found that the licensee of 3MMM Melbourne, Triple M Melbourne Pty Ltd, breached the commercial radio code of practice by failing to meet contemporary standards of decency, having regard to the likely composition of its audience.The breach occurred in the Saturday Football program broadcast on 6 May 2006.
During the talk-back section of the broadcast, Mr Sam Newman described a caller who had criticised his comments on a match as a 'f —-wit'.
Triple M has advised ACMA that Mr Newman was suspended from the air immediately and has not returned to the program. He and the producer of the program have undergone training in the commercial radio code of practice and the licensee has introduced six-monthly staff training on the code.
ACMA considers that these actions address the compliance issues raised by this investigation but will nonetheless continue to monitor the licensee's performance in relation to the relevant code provision to satisfy itself that this was an isolated incident.
During the talk-back section of the broadcast, Mr Sam Newman described a caller who had criticised his comments on a match as a 'f —-wit'.
Triple M has advised ACMA that Mr Newman was suspended from the air immediately and has not returned to the program. He and the producer of the program have undergone training in the commercial radio code of practice and the licensee has introduced six-monthly staff training on the code.
ACMA considers that these actions address the compliance issues raised by this investigation but will nonetheless continue to monitor the licensee's performance in relation to the relevant code provision to satisfy itself that this was an isolated incident.
The Australian Communications and Media Authority has placed an embargo on frequency bands potentially suitable for use by broadcasting services using Digital Radio Mondiale. These bands are outside the broadcasting services bands used by traditional broadcasting services.
Rocktober the countdown has begun
Wednesday, September 27, 2006 | Labels: Radionews | 0 comments »
Rocktober returns to the airwaves this Sunday across the Australian Radio Network Classic Hits stations. 4KQ Brisbane, WSFM Sydney and GOLD FM Melbourne will unleash this almighty powerforce we eagerly await each year as Rocktober rolls around!
AFL from every angle from 2007
Tuesday, September 26, 2006 | Labels: Radionews | 0 comments »
The AFL radio rights are not quite signed, sealed and delivered for the 2007 - 2009 seasons, although things are coming together. The main players will be Austereo’s Triple M network and Southern Cross through 3AW and 6PR. Triple M and 3AW will get the pick of the round matches calling main games over Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Triple M will also call homes games into Brisbane, Sydney and Adelaide.
Media watch has covered the current state of regional Radio and TV across the nation.
Live And Local - Dead And Buried
Wollongong News
Griffith - No WIN News
Local Radio - Remote Control
Regional Media - What Next?
To a small degree for ABC RADIO, is it not a case of people in glass houses? Maybe, maybe not, but when it comes to radio, people are now starting to accept the real deal in most regional towns as far as live and local goes are the community stations! A hard pill to swallow for those of us who are lovers of all the things a regional commercial station once stood for.
Live And Local - Dead And Buried
Wollongong News
Griffith - No WIN News
Local Radio - Remote Control
Regional Media - What Next?
To a small degree for ABC RADIO, is it not a case of people in glass houses? Maybe, maybe not, but when it comes to radio, people are now starting to accept the real deal in most regional towns as far as live and local goes are the community stations! A hard pill to swallow for those of us who are lovers of all the things a regional commercial station once stood for.
Village continues to offload Austereo!
Monday, September 25, 2006 | Labels: Radionews | 0 comments »
Village Roadshow has continued to offload part of their large chunk of Austereo. According to Stock Exchange documentation obtained by Tattler Village netted close to $31 million late last week. 16.75 million shares at approx $1.86 each were traded over two days and further reducing their share in Austereo from a high of 67%.
Besides still holding around 60% of Austereo, Village previously netted a handsome $39 million just a week earlier from two swift sales
Village Roadshow are said to be looking at investing around $250 million with movie and production operations in the USA. Any further sale of their interest in Austereo leaves the radio network open for takeover and with the proposed media ownership laws approaching they look like they may be first cab off the rank.
Besides still holding around 60% of Austereo, Village previously netted a handsome $39 million just a week earlier from two swift sales
Village Roadshow are said to be looking at investing around $250 million with movie and production operations in the USA. Any further sale of their interest in Austereo leaves the radio network open for takeover and with the proposed media ownership laws approaching they look like they may be first cab off the rank.
ABC radio to extend further in SA
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Federal Communications Minister Helen Coonan has announced a nation-wide extension of ABC radio services.
The extension will be carried out in three stages, starting in the new year.
The first stage will make ABC Local Radio and ABC NewsRadio accessible in Mount Gambier in the south-east and Port Augusta, Port Pirie and Whyalla in the northern Spencer Gulf area.
Site down Sunday
Sunday, September 24, 2006 | Labels: Radionews | 0 comments »
This site will be down from time to time today. The page may default to a similar template ensuring 90% of the content of the site is visible.
Since migrating to the ‘wordpress’ platform in late April (the current theme) we have noticed many broken links from previous articles that need inspecting and attempts will be made to repair what we can.
Since migrating to the ‘wordpress’ platform in late April (the current theme) we have noticed many broken links from previous articles that need inspecting and attempts will be made to repair what we can.
NewsRadio to cover Tassie
Saturday, September 23, 2006 | Labels: Radionews | 0 comments »
Services on the ABC’s NewsRadio network are to be expanded in Tasmania early next year.
As part one of a three-stage roll-out, ABC NewsRadio will be extended to 13 new areas across Australia, including Burnie, Somerset and Wynyard on the north-west coast.
The extension gives NewsRadio a possible new audience of more than 42,000 people in the region.
NewsRadio services in the Hobart metropolitan area will also reach more people with improvements to the Ralphs Bay transmitter site.
TripleM's James Brayshaw's Family Tragedy
Thursday, September 21, 2006 | Labels: Radionews | 0 comments »
AFL Footy Show and Triple M breakfast co-host James Brayshaw says the death of his sister in a freak incident at her Melbourne home was a “tragic, unthinkable accident”.
Sally, 36, was crushed to death on Wednesday night by bricks falling from a garage wall.
She had just closed the garage door at her house in Gerona Street, Keilor, in Melbourne’s north-west, when the top row of bricks from the front wall fell on her about 7.30pm (AEST), police said.
She was found by relatives who heard the noise of the falling bricks.
Sally, 36, was crushed to death on Wednesday night by bricks falling from a garage wall.
She had just closed the garage door at her house in Gerona Street, Keilor, in Melbourne’s north-west, when the top row of bricks from the front wall fell on her about 7.30pm (AEST), police said.
She was found by relatives who heard the noise of the falling bricks.
It was all hands to the pumps on ABC Local radio this morning as management rolled up their sleeves to bring listeners a skeleton service during the strike by the members of the broadcaster’s two main unions.
Was that the head of ABC radio, Sue Howard, I heard, giving the weather after 7am? The news was read by Lisa Sweeney, who is an executive in ABC Radio News, and the sport came from Peter Longman, the head of ABC Radio Sport. The breakfast program was run out of Melbourne with two of the remaining Coodabeen Champions, Geoff Richardson and Ian Cover (a former Liberal Party member of the Victorian Parliament). AM at 8am was basically the BBC World Service for half an hour.
Concert for Adam
Tuesday, September 19, 2006 | Labels: Radionews | 0 comments »
Award winning radio broadcaster Adam Vaughan (Vorherr) who sadly passed away in May is being honoured with a 40th birthday party at the Corner Hotel.(Richmond)
Upon finding out that his cancer was terminal in March this year Adam's only wish was to have a party on his birthday, October 4th. Unfortunately, on May 26th, five months shy of his 40th birthday, Adam lost his battle and his final wish was unfulfilled.
The Concert for Adam is the idea of his brother Jason and sister Jade and is a wonderful gesture for a guy who loved his music just as much as his radio. All profits from Concert for Adam's ticket sales will be donated to the Cancer Council of Victoria. The concert Line up includes Glenn Shorrock, Phil Ceberano, Mick Pealing, Justin Murphy and Louis King.
Buy Tickets
Upon finding out that his cancer was terminal in March this year Adam's only wish was to have a party on his birthday, October 4th. Unfortunately, on May 26th, five months shy of his 40th birthday, Adam lost his battle and his final wish was unfulfilled.
The Concert for Adam is the idea of his brother Jason and sister Jade and is a wonderful gesture for a guy who loved his music just as much as his radio. All profits from Concert for Adam's ticket sales will be donated to the Cancer Council of Victoria. The concert Line up includes Glenn Shorrock, Phil Ceberano, Mick Pealing, Justin Murphy and Louis King.
Buy Tickets
ABC set to strike.
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Staff at the national broadcaster will stop work for 24 hours this Thursday to kick off an industrial campaign aimed at forcing a better workplace deal.
ABC staff are pressing for a three-year agreement and have rejected management’s offer of an annual 3.5 per cent pay rise, saying that wages will fall behind inflation.
The ABC’s two staff unions, the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) and the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) said ABC management was asking for too many concessions on working conditions, such as changes to shift work and meal allowances.
MEAA federal assistant secretary Mark Ryan said about 2,500 ABC staff were members of either union and those who decided to take part in the action would not attend work that day, beginning from the first shift which starts about 3.30am.
“We expect a bit of disruption,” he said.
Previously, more than 1,600 ABC employees voted in two separate ballots conducted by the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC), with about 90 per cent favouring an industrial campaign.
Secret ballots before taking so-called protected industrial action during bargaining periods for collective agreements are now mandatory under the federal government’s WorkChoices laws.
The ballots conducted by the AEC collected only 117 votes against industrial action, with 1,577 staff voting in favour of the campaign.
Audio version of 'YOUTUBE' launched.
Monday, September 18, 2006 | Labels: Radionews | 0 comments »
Commercial Radio Australia today launched an exciting new initiative website called SiVi, which will feature the best and most unusual audio that can be used for inspiration and ideas for radio advertisements.
Chief executive officer of Commercial Radio Australia, Joan Warner, said the idea was for visitors to submit their own material, with the page eventually becoming a creative portal of original, unusual and funny audio.
Chief executive officer of Commercial Radio Australia, Joan Warner, said the idea was for visitors to submit their own material, with the page eventually becoming a creative portal of original, unusual and funny audio.
CBAA Digital Radio Symposium
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The transition to digital is one of the most significant issues facing the community broadcasting sector. As part of a broader sector consultation process the CBAA is organising a Digital Radio Symposium, to be held in Sydney from September 29 to 30. The Symposium will bring together representatives from DCITA, ACMA, peak sector organisations and wide area coverage stations from the six state capital cities that will be involved in the first phase of digital radio transition. The Symposium will allow an opportunity for discussion of operational and policy issues arising from the Australian Government’s Digital Radio Framework issued last October.
The Digital Radio Symposium has been supported by DCITA, the CBF and the CBAA.
> Read the Government’s Digital Radio Framework document and the CBAA’s response.
Source
The Digital Radio Symposium has been supported by DCITA, the CBF and the CBAA.
> Read the Government’s Digital Radio Framework document and the CBAA’s response.
Source
Johnny Chester's Country Connection radio show!
Sunday, September 17, 2006 | Labels: Radionews | 0 comments »
Veteran Australian Country Music singer/songwriter Johnny Chester has reached an agreement with eight Australian commercial radio stations to air his Country Connection radio show.
The program will be heard each Sunday Morning for an hour from October 1st on the ACE Radio Network 3YB Warrnambool 8am, 3CS Colac 8am, 3HA Hamilton 8am, 3WM Horsham 8am, 3SH Swan Hill 8am, 3GV Traralgon 9am and 2AY Albury/Wodonga 7am, plus 4KZ Innisfail 7am.
Johnny is also negotiating with several other stations that have shown an interest in broadcasting the program. It is being offered on the barter system and any commercial radio station programmer who might be interested in broadcasting the show can contact Johnny via email chess@johhnychester.com .
Johnny of course has many years of radio broadcasting experience having commenced his radio career forty years ago on 3UZ in Melbourne.
The program will be heard each Sunday Morning for an hour from October 1st on the ACE Radio Network 3YB Warrnambool 8am, 3CS Colac 8am, 3HA Hamilton 8am, 3WM Horsham 8am, 3SH Swan Hill 8am, 3GV Traralgon 9am and 2AY Albury/Wodonga 7am, plus 4KZ Innisfail 7am.
Johnny is also negotiating with several other stations that have shown an interest in broadcasting the program. It is being offered on the barter system and any commercial radio station programmer who might be interested in broadcasting the show can contact Johnny via email chess@johhnychester.com .
Johnny of course has many years of radio broadcasting experience having commenced his radio career forty years ago on 3UZ in Melbourne.
Radio Continues Growth In First Half Of 06
Friday, September 15, 2006 | Labels: Radionews | 0 comments »
Commercial Economic Advisory Service of Australia (CEASA) figures, released today, for the first half of the 2006 calendar year show radio continues to perform in attracting advertising revenue with an increase of around 2 per cent (2.1%) to a total of $425.1 million.
Chief executive officer of Commercial Radio Australia, Joan Warner, said CEASA's Advertising Expenditure in Main Media report for the six months ended June 30, 2006 shows radio advertising continues to perform in a competitive market with the metropolitan market recording growth of around 2 per cent (1.8%) to a total of $280.4 million and regional markets growing by 2.5 per cent to a total of $144.7 million.
Chief executive officer of Commercial Radio Australia, Joan Warner, said CEASA's Advertising Expenditure in Main Media report for the six months ended June 30, 2006 shows radio advertising continues to perform in a competitive market with the metropolitan market recording growth of around 2 per cent (1.8%) to a total of $280.4 million and regional markets growing by 2.5 per cent to a total of $144.7 million.
The SMH reports on how the new media ownership laws will ensure regional radio stations produce at least five news bulletins a day.
‘REGIONAL radio stations will be forced to produce a minimum of five local news bulletins a day and maintain existing staff levels and production facilities under the Government’s media changes.‘
Well there are many regional radio stations that have not produced a news bulletin in over a decade and then there are those that rely on syndication from capital cities or regional hubs. Did I forget to mention the stations that use the recycled bulletin from dawn to dusk or the regional FM stations that ask what is a news bullletin?
Related item SMH
‘REGIONAL radio stations will be forced to produce a minimum of five local news bulletins a day and maintain existing staff levels and production facilities under the Government’s media changes.‘
Well there are many regional radio stations that have not produced a news bulletin in over a decade and then there are those that rely on syndication from capital cities or regional hubs. Did I forget to mention the stations that use the recycled bulletin from dawn to dusk or the regional FM stations that ask what is a news bullletin?
Related item SMH
Media legislation introduced to Parliament
Thursday, September 14, 2006 | Labels: Radionews | 0 comments »
Legislation that would overhauling Australia’s media landscape has been introduced to Federal Parliament. The Government introduced two Bills to the Senate that would free up the rules to allow companies to own any media assets as long as there are at least five media operators in mainland capitals and four in other areas.Further legislation is to be introduced to the House of Representatives today.
Andy Lee Cleo Batchelor of the year
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What a big week it has been for FOX FM’s Andy Lee, part of the comedy duo Hamish and Andy. It started with a win in the all important Drive shift that he and Hamish Blake present on FOX FM, beating rival Derryn Hinch from 3AW.
The crowning glory arrived on Thursday evening when he was as announced CLEO magazine Batchelor of the Year. Lee took the title out against sprinter Adam Miller and Home and Away stars Paul O’Brien and Mark Furze.
Hamish and Andy present drive across other TODAY FM station around the nation with the exception of 2DAY FM. The pair joined Austereo around 18 months ago with a Saturday morning show. After a brief stint covering FOX breakfast during holidays the pair were moved to drive in December 2005. They also have a comedy show on Network 10, Real Stories.
The crowning glory arrived on Thursday evening when he was as announced CLEO magazine Batchelor of the Year. Lee took the title out against sprinter Adam Miller and Home and Away stars Paul O’Brien and Mark Furze.
Hamish and Andy present drive across other TODAY FM station around the nation with the exception of 2DAY FM. The pair joined Austereo around 18 months ago with a Saturday morning show. After a brief stint covering FOX breakfast during holidays the pair were moved to drive in December 2005. They also have a comedy show on Network 10, Real Stories.
Radio Ratings Survey 6 are in!
Monday, September 11, 2006 | Labels: Radionews | 0 comments »
Adelaide Brisbane Perth Melbourne Sydney
Radio ratings survey 6 and around the nation winners are grinners. In Melbourne 3AW are still number one although coming in at number four with a big jump on the ratings tree are Gold FM.
Adelaide we see Fiveaa holding the top spot with Mix 102.3 grabbing second place from SAFM. Brisbane and the crown goes to NOVA although a fantastic effort by 4KQ jumping up into fourth place helped along by a big climb in breakfast.
Sydney and 2GB retain top spot with 2DAY wrestling second place from sister station 2MMM. 2UE breakfast continues to climb. Perth and MIX 94.5 are still leading the charge followed by 96FM who must be happy with a big climb in breakfast. Check the links above to see state by state results.
Around the nation from THE AUSTRALIAN
Media merger role for ACCC
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The competition watchdog will be given specific powers to set conditions on media mergers in regional areas as part of a strengthened cross-media ownership laws.
As Communications Minister Helen Coonan prepares to unveil a shake-up of media laws today, new regional content rules will be enshrined in the legislation that could force media owners to divest assets if they breach the rules. FULL STORYÂ
Bathurst Broadcasters launch the Peter Brock Memorial Fund
Sunday, September 10, 2006 | Labels: Radionews | 0 comments »
Since the tragic accident which claimed the life of motor racing legend Peter Brock, Bathurst radio stations B-Rock FM and 2BS have been inundated with tributes and suggestions of how to best remember the man who firmly placed Mt Panorama and Bathurst on the map.
Chairman of Bathurst Broadcasters Ron Camplin today said it is only fitting that the station named in honour of the great man be the one to launch the memorial fund.
Mr Camplin says “Peter Brock is an honorary citizen of Bathurst, his name graces our walk of fame more than anyone else, and our local radio station was named after him. He was a part of our community and should be honoured as such.”
Mayor of Bathurst Norm Mann has pledged his support to the memorial for Brock and is inviting members of the public put forward their suggestions.
International Radio and television personality, and friend of Brock, Ken Sparkes kicked off the fund with a personal contribution of $500, which has already been matched by several local organizations.
Further details:
Justin Coombes-Pearce        02 6331 7777
Jennifer Menchin                    02 6331 7777
Southern Cross results
Saturday, September 9, 2006 | Labels: Radionews | 0 comments »
Southern Cross Broadcasting (SCB) has reported a fall in year to date profit but says it expects positive earnings growth this year despite an unpredictable advertising market.
The owner of radio stations 2UE and 3AW, and Channel Nine Adelaide, yesterday posted a net profit of $50.1 million for 2005-2006, down 22 per cent.
Normalised net profit, before one-off items such as staff redundancies and the closure of a non-performing television production joint-venture in Singapore, was $57.4 million, down six per cent.
About 64 staff, including 36 in television, 25 in radio and three in corporate, were made redundant during the year. FULL STORY
Slap on the wrist for 2GB stabbing!
Friday, September 8, 2006 | Labels: Radionews | 0 comments »
The teenager at the centre of the stabbing of Macquarie newsreader Rowan Barker has been given a two year suspended jail sentence.
The 17-year-old, who cannot be named, was sentenced in the NSW District Court at Penrith today for maliciously inflicting grievous bodily harm on Mr Barker on December 3 last year. FULL STORY
The 17-year-old, who cannot be named, was sentenced in the NSW District Court at Penrith today for maliciously inflicting grievous bodily harm on Mr Barker on December 3 last year. FULL STORY
Vale Don Lunn
Thursday, September 7, 2006 | Labels: Radionews | 0 comments »
Don Lunn ‘The Daddio of the Radio’ has died suddenly at his Melbourne home at the age of 71. He passed away sometime after returning home from driving his wife to work on Wednesday evening. The news of his death has touched the industry with tributes flowing in from many who were fortunate enough to work with the legendary DJ.
I spent a good part of a Saturday night with Don in the 3AK studios back in 1998. Here I was with a man who had been to the top in the industry and was now on the battleship known as 3AK. The Daddio was swinging, the music was playing and even though he knew the audience was limited he kept the show flowing. The excitement projected from the stories he told that night of years of spinning them in was priceless. Thanks mate!
Don Lunn was born Douglas Raymond Harold Lunn in England before migrating to Australia. Much of his early years were spent in Tasmania.
We first heard of this exciting new voice introduced to Melbourne radio by The Greater 3UZ, initially known as MR D. Don with his American inspired voice and antics spun them in on drive at UZ for quite sometime and moved to breakfast in 1965. What was that, a rocky jockey on breakfast? It worked and Don stamped his name on the shift. The top 40 era of 3UZ heralded some great names in radio all in one place working along side Don including Alan Lappan, Sam Anglesey, Ken Sparkes and Stan Rofe just to name a few.
After departing 3UZ Don did the rounds of many stations including interstate stints, 3DB, 3KZ and back at 3UZ . In between he operated his own Travel Agent and at one stage hired Philip Brady in a PR role. The roles Don held across the industry are many so please accept we have only touched on a small portion of his LONG career.
To a younger audience Don became involved with 3KZ to present his own unique SIX O’CLOCK ROCK on a Saturday night, a program that he later presented on the same GOLD FM well into the 90’s. In the mid 90’s he also was part of the weekday lineup on GOLD.
In the late 90’s he joined the battleship 3AK to present the Saturday Night Party Time and after being moved to a short lived retrospective Sunday night program he like many others around him were flung from the fast sinking 3AK. He then had an ongoing segment with 3AW’s Remember When (around 2000) for around 12 months. Vale Don Lunn a true radio legend.
Bankrupt station in land deal
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PERTH’S only indigenous radio station disappeared off the airwaves last week amid calls for a police investigation into the highly irregular sale of its former city studio premises for a $100,000 transfer fee. FULL STORY THE AUSTRALIAN
ABC testing the water
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Further to our item on Peter Rowsthorn in ‘Radionews‘ yesterday, the ABC has a swag of names it will be using as fill in presenters. Whilst commercial stations seem to be adopting a regular B side who are on standby Aunty continues to offer up a variety of names.  Kaz Cooke will fill in for 774 afternoon presenter Richard Stubbs from next Monday.
Jennifer Byrne will fill in for Radio National’s late-night presenter Phillip Adams from next Monday (September 11). The long-time journalist and television presenter says she’ll relish the chance to spend an hour either delving into one subject or covering several topics of interest. Related item from THE AGE here
Media reforms could be tabled next week.
Wednesday, September 6, 2006 | Labels: Radionews | 0 comments »
Communications Minister Helen Coonan says her plan to change Australia’s media ownership rules could be put before Parliament next week.
If successful it will lift restrictions on foreign media ownership, and allow companies to own a newspaper, radio and TV station in the same market.Â
While Nationals Party MP’s have strong concerns about the changes controversal MP Barnaby Joyce has gone on public record saying he will not vote for the changes.
Senator Coonan is continues to talk to colleagues in relation to the proposed changes, looking at as many different angles to see just what impact they may have. She said today “It may be next week … It depends of course on the program,” she said.”We’re having very constructive discussions, I take none of my colleagues for granted and we continue to work through issues that they raise.”
Macquarie Radio Network has boosted its annual earnings by almost 60 per cent after outperforming the radio advertising market.MRN today reported an annual net profit of $5.73 million for 2005/06, up 57 per cent, in its first year as a publicly-listed company.
The operator of the East-coast based 2GB and 2CH radio stations said it had outperformed the Sydney radio advertising market and increased market share.
“We have outperformed the radio advertising revenue market for 2H06 (second half of fiscal 2006), and reduced our costs to ensure increased profitability,” MRN chairman Max Donnelly said.
“Appropriately, 2GB’s dominance all year and 2CH’s consistent ratings, combined with our focus on improved sales, has seen MRN secure a larger share of radio advertising dollars.”
MRN’s revenue performance in the second half was stronger than in the first, despite a deterioration in the Sydney radio advertising market.
MRN said 2GB was the number one Sydney radio station in terms of both revenue and ratings in 2005/06, and had increased its lead to the biggest by a station in 10 years.
Mr Donnelly said the broadcaster was investing for the future and increasingly viewed itself as a content business, with enormous potential to leverage existing and new content across multiple platforms.
“Initial investments in our websites, podcasting, video podcasting and streaming content to mobile phones are generating new income streams for the business,” he said.
“We anticipate further revenue growth in these areas.
“Further investment will be made in these new media opportunities in 2007.”
Revenue excluding contra, a non-cash revenue where airtime is exchanged for goods and services, increased 1.5 per cent in the 12 months to June 30, 2006.
Including contra, overall revenue was $41.75 million, a 0.59 per cent decrease on the previous year.
MRN attributed the decrease to a deliberate reduction in advertising contra to $445,000 in fiscal 2006 from $1.31 million in 2004/05.
The company said significant cost savings had been achieved, with expenses decreasing 7.8 per cent, including contra, and 5.6 per cent, excluding contra.
MRN declared a final dividend of 3.5 cents a share, resulting in total dividends for the year of six cents a share.
Channel 10 will join forces with Austereo’s TODAY Network and broadcast the Sunday night Australian Idol live performance across the radio network. SA FM, B1O5, 92.9, FOX and 2DAY FM will bring radio listeners IDOL live from Sunday September 10.
The cross promotion campaign will step up a notch this week. With Kyle Sandilands part of the IDOL judging panel and part of 2DAY FM breakfast it could mean the extended TODAY Network coverage may see other radio networks restricting or limiting their coverage of IDOL interviews etc.Â
One has to ask will the proposed media ownership laws see TEN and Austereo seriously looking at working towards a union? With a joint venture such as this the programming departments will be looking very closely at all aspects of future possibilities.
The Today Network is proud to announce an expanded partnership with Network Ten for Australian Idol which will see the program’s Sunday night live performance shows broadcast live across the Today Network’s 2Day FM, Fox FM, SAFM, B105 and 92.9 radio stations.
Kicking-off on Sunday, 10th September 2006, the initiative brings together two of the country’s leading entertainment brands.
Underpinning the Today Network’s broad listener appeal around the country, the broadcast will further leverage Kyle Sandilands’ dual role as co-host on 2Day FM’s number one FM breakfast show, and as a judge for Australian Idol.
The broadcast will provide Network Ten with a national platform from which to promote the series to the Today Network’s 1.7 million listeners.
Television viewers in each state will see individual station TVCs air during Australian Idol ad breaks.
Craig Bruce, Program Director, Today Network, said; “Australian Idol is back in form this year, the talent is outstanding and the show looks as sharp as it ever has. We’re rapt to be a part of the biggest pop music television event of the year.”
“This year we’ve said Australian Idol would be much more than a TV show but a major multi-media experience encompassing online, mobile and radio. Our partnership with the Today Network is a key element in that strategy,” Stephen Tate, Executive Producer Network Ten.
Prime primed for more radio!
| Labels: Radionews | 0 comments »
Regional Media company Prime Television has reported a 35 increase in profit to net $30.5 million. This was boosted to the tune of over $6.5 million after the sale of their millstone New Zealand operations and the first time contribution of their 6 radio stations.
Broadcasting, progamming along with transmission costs rose by just on $10 million over the year to $87.3 million it was reported. Quite a large slice of that surrounds the acquired radio stations.
The radio stations all in North Queensland were purchased in September 2005 from Macquarie Regional Radio Group. Chief executive Warwick Syphers said Prime would be waiting for the outcome of the proposed media ownership rules and would be interested in looking at purchasing further radio stations should the opportunity arise.
Prime have just signed an agreement with the Seven Network that will see them together for another 10 years.
What will radio sound like in 2010
Monday, September 4, 2006 | Labels: Radionews | 0 comments »
The impact of the Internet, cross media ownership and what radio will sound and look like in 2010 are some of the hot topics that will be discussed when the commercial radio industry gathers in Sydney next month for its annual national conference and awards.Â
There will also be a number of panel discussions, including one featuring financial analysts who will discuss the revenue outlook for radio and media, and another that will fast forward to 2010, exploring future roles and relationships between radio and the Internet. There will also be a panel examining digital radio developments featuring experts in multimedia content and technology.
A range of international speakers will address the conference, including:
* comic genius John Cleese, who will give the key note speech about his early days in radio, his experience in advertising and his views on creativity in life, drawing on a 42-year career spanning radio, films, TV and advertising
* Graeme Samuel, chairman of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, will discuss the future of media in Australia as a result of changes to media laws and the ACCC’s role in facilitating digital radio
* Milan Rokic, Asia Pacific Marketing Director of Cirque du Soleil, will talk about balancing creativity and the business side of managing a unique global entertainment brand
* Tasmanian-born Dirk Anthony, Group Program Director at Gcap Media, formed in 2005 from the merger of the UK’s two biggest radio companies, GWR and Capital, will talk about how to find and keep good on-air talent
* Â Jim Cook, Senior Vice President of Creative at Clear Channel Radio, which operates 1200 radio stations reaching 100 million listeners across the US each week, will discuss how to engage listeners in an over-communicated world
* California-based Dennis Clark, who produces Ryan Seacrest’s KIIS FM radio program and spent 10 years working for the legendary Rick Dees, will talk about successful breakfast radio
* The imaging producer for Howard Stern’s satellite radio channels in the US, Jeff Thomas, will join a discussion panel on what makes great audio imaging and promotions
* Chris Lytle, the author of the business best seller, The Accidental Salesperson, which has been published in English, Mandarin, Korean and Spanish, will offer up-to-the-minute practical strategies and tools for advertising, marketing, sales and management.
* Paul Gardner, chairman of Grey Global Group Australia, will present latest insights on communications and the media from the annual Eye on Australia study into consumer attitudes to life and brands.
There will also be a number of panel discussions, including one featuring financial analysts who will discuss the revenue outlook for radio and media, and another that will fast forward to 2010, exploring future roles and relationships between radio and the Internet. There will also be a panel examining digital radio developments featuring experts in multimedia content and technology.
This year’s Australian Radio Conference will be held at the Crystal Palace Conference Centre at Luna Park in Sydney on Friday, 13 October and is expected to attract over 400 people.  Tickets can be booked now.
Media contact: Judy Shaw. Ph: 0418 415 965
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Burgo back at 3MP!
Sunday, September 3, 2006 | Labels: Radionews | 0 comments »
John ''Baby John'' Burgess is returning to Melbourne's 3MP to present breakfast. Come September the 25th the radio veteran takes over breakfast at 3MP just over 30 years since he did the same when the station launched in 1976.
Burgo is no stranger to Melbourne radio having joined 3AK from Sydney's 2UW in 1970. He also did breakfast at AK and took the shift to number one in the ratings in 1971. Many people believe it was at 3AK that Burgo was given the name ''Baby John'' although that did come earlier whilst at 2UW. He was given the nickname by Ward Austin.
With radio gigs all over the country over a long career John also presented 2CH breakfast from 1997 to 2003. Welcome back Burgo!
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