Govt Moves on ABC Board Supported by Friends of ABC

"Today the Government took a significant step to protect the independence of the ABC into the future", said Glenys Stradijot, a spokesperson for Friends of the ABC (Vic).

If adopted, the National Broadcasting Amendment Bill will usher in a process of appointments to the boards of the ABC and SBS that is merit-based and more transparent. It will restore the staff-elected director position to the ABC Board.

Ash Bradnam case adjourned

Ash Bradnam is doing it a little tough at the moment and at one stage today it got a little tougher. After failing to show up at Beenleigh Magistrates Court this morning on a drink-driving charge an arrest warrant was issued but later withdrawn. The case has been adjourned until November 12 on medical grounds.
Since he was pulled over on October the 8th it is understood the Nova radio star has sought treatment and has been staying at a rehabilitation clinic on the Gold Coast.

High noon at Highland FM

FORMER Highland FM community radio co-manager Graham Moir was elected to the Highlands Media Co-operative Ltd board at a heated annual general meeting on Monday night.
Mr Moir’s nomination was originally refused by the former board, which dismissed him from co-manager’s position in January. The board was forced to accept his nomination after it was found the station’s constitution did not allow it to reject it.

Also elected to the board on Monday were presenters Carolyn Beaumont and Zina Thompson and lawyer Tony Glenn. They join Nick Padol, Bobby Stuart and Luke Broadbent on the seven-member board. Full story

$6.66 an hour, wow!

4WK’s parent company has been fined $8500 for underpaying one of its staff at a rate of just $6.66 an hour.

The Federal Magistrate’s Court in Brisbane imposed the penalty against Amalgamated Marketing Pty Ltd, which trades under that name and as radio station 4WK, after being prosecuted by the Fair Work Ombudsman.

The company admitted underpaying a full-time advertising consultant $15,000 over 19 months in 2006 and 2007. Full story The Chronical

mcm media renews contract with Austereo

Austereo has renewed its contract to receive programming from mcm entertainment group Ltd for a further two years.

The agreement ensures mcm media pty ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of mcm, continues to supply nationally syndicated radio programs, such as Take 40 Australia, to the Austereo radio network until December 2011.

Radio to broadcast bushfire warnings

CRA release: Chief executive officer of Commercial Radio Australia, Joan Warner, today welcomed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Victorian Government, making commercial radio stations official broadcasters of emergency services information.

“The MoU represents a useful complement to the Commercial Radio Code of Practice 8 which contains commercial broadcasters’ obligations in relation to the broadcasting of emergency services information,” Ms Warner said.