RADIO STATIONS – AUSTRALIA

Smooth operators ease way to top of heap

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Original article by Stephen Brook
The Australian – Page: 3 : 28-Apr-17

Nova Entertainment’s SmoothFM topped the FM ratings in both Sydney and Melbourne in GfK’s second radio ratings survey for 2017. SmoothFM boasted an audience share of 9.9 per cent in both cities, almost five years after being launched under the Vega banner. Meanwhile, Sydney’s 2GB increased its overall audience share by 0.3 points to 11.6 per cent. Ratings for its breakfast show rose by 0.6 points to 13.5 per cent following the return of Alan Jones after an extended absence on medical grounds.

CORPORATES
SMOOTHFM 91.5 PTY LTD, SMOOTHFM 95.3 PTY LTD, NOVA ENTERTAINMENT PTY LTD, ILLYRIA PTY LTD, 2GB, GFK PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, KIIS1065, TRIPLE M CORPORATION PTY LTD, SEVEN NETWORK LIMITED

Over half of Australians listen to breakfast radio

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 16-Aug-16

A Roy Morgan Single Source survey has found that 86 per cent of Australians aged 14+ (nearly 17 million people) listen to radio during the week. The survey, which was carried out in the year to March 2016, also shows that the total national radio audience in an average week is 16,861,000. Across the week, the Breakfast time slot reaches a net 10,402,000 listeners (53 per cent), ahead of Drive-Time (8,211,000, 42 per cent), Morning (7,780,000, 40 per cent) and Afternoon (6,621,000, 34 per cent). More than seven in 10 radio listeners tune in during multiple different time slots in a seven-day period: 38 per cent listen at two different time slots and 31 per cent listen during three or more different time slots.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED

Bauer targets Southern Cross

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Original article by Jake Mitchell, Darren Davidson
The Australian – Page: 23 : 23-Nov-15

Bauer Media is believed to be considering a takeover bid for Southern Cross Media Group in order to diversify its Australian business. Bauer approached rival radio group Nova Entertainment in 2014, but Nova has ruled out a sale. Southern Cross Media’s network of metropolitan and regional radio stations accounts for the bulk of its revenue, and Bauer is said to be keen to reduce its reliance on revenue from magazines. Bauer is the leading player in Europe’s radio sector.

CORPORATES
BAUER MEDIA KG, SOUTHERN CROSS MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX SXL, SOUTHERN CROSS AUSTEREO PTY LTD, NOVA ENTERTAINMENT PTY LTD, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, MACQUARIE GROUP LIMITED – ASX MQG, MACQUARIE MEDIA LIMITED – ASX MRN, ACP MAGAZINES LIMITED, HIT NETWORK, TRIPLE M CORPORATION PTY LTD, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, ILLYRIA PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN RADIO NETWORK PTY LTD, APN NEWS AND MEDIA LIMITED – ASX APN, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, KIIS1065, SMOOTHFM, ALLAN GRAY AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, WIN CORPORATION PTY LTD

Bauer takes a Nova approach to sector entry

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Original article by Dominic White, Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 26 : 12-Oct-15

Germany-based Bauer Media Group is said to still be keen to acquire commercial radio stations in Australia, after being rebuffed by Nova Entertainment in 2014. Bauer is believed to have made an indicative offer of about $A450m to acquire Nova, which is owned by Lachlan Murdoch. Bauer paid $A525m for ACP in 2012, and has since discontinued a number of print magazines.

CORPORATES
BAUER MEDIA KG, NOVA ENTERTAINMENT PTY LTD, ILLYRIA PTY LTD, ACP MAGAZINES LIMITED, DAILY MAIL AND GENERAL TRUST PLC, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION, AUSTRALIAN COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA AUTHORITY, SBS DISCOVERY RADIO, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC

Rivals roll up sleeves as Hamish and Andy lift Hit

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Original article by Michael Bodey
The Australian – Page: 7 : 30-Sep-15

Australian Radio Network executive Duncan Campbell has downplayed a rise in the ratings of the Southern Cross Austereo-owned Hit network. The drive-slot team of Hamish Blake and Andy Lee enjoyed a two per cent increase in ratings in four capital cities in the latest radio ratings survey. However, Campbell notes that Hit continues to have lower ratings than rival networks. Nova’s Paul Jackson notes that Hit has also been heavily promoting Hamish and Andy.

CORPORATES
SOUTHERN CROSS AUSTEREO PTY LTD, SOUTHERN CROSS MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX SXL, HIT NETWORK, AUSTRALIAN RADIO NETWORK PTY LTD, NOVA ENTERTAINMENT PTY LTD, KIIS 101.1, KIIS1065, TRIPLE M BUILDERS PTY LTD, 2DAY FM AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, MACQUARIE RADIO NETWORK LIMITED – ASX MRN, 3AW SOUTHERN CROSS RADIO PTY LTD, 2GB, ABC RADIO, 97.3 FM, MIX 94.5, MIX102.3, SMOOTHFM

Davis ready to take APN reins

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Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 29 : 22-Jun-15

Australian Radio Network (ARN) CEO Ciaran Davis will succeed Michael Miller as CEO of parent company APN News & Media. ARN recruited Kyle Sandilands and Jackie Henderson for the rebranded KIIS radio station during Davis’s five-year tenure as CEO. Meanwhile, Miller will become executive chairman of News Corp’s Australasian division.

CORPORATES
APN NEWS AND MEDIA LIMITED – ASX APN, AUSTRALIAN RADIO NETWORK PTY LTD, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, KIIS1065, MIX-FM, 2DAY FM AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, SOUTHERN CROSS MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX SXL

Blackley to work on keeping Ten

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Original article by Dominic White
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 16 : 29-May-15

Former Ten Network CEO Grant Blackley will become CEO of Southern Cross Media Group on 29 June 2015. He has indicated that the regional broadcaster will seek to negotiation a new affiliation agreement with Ten as quickly as possible, but has not ruled out ending the alliance. Blackley will receive a base salary of $A1.05m at Southern Cross, plus an incentives package.

CORPORATES
SOUTHERN CROSS MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX SXL, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, APN NEWS AND MEDIA LIMITED – ASX APN, 2DAY FM AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, KIIS1065, WIN CORPORATION PTY LTD, KEYSTONE GROUP PTY LTD, FOUR SEASONS MEDIA PTY LTD

Southern Cross wants CEO ready for deals

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Original article by Dominic White
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 15 & 20 : 12-May-15

Heidrick & Struggles has been hired to find a successor to Southern Cross Media Group CEO Rhys Holleran, who will step down on 31 July 2015. Non-executive chairman Peter Bush will take up the role of executive chairman until Holleran’s replacement is appointed. Bush says priorities for the new CEO will include reversing a downturn in revenue and preparing the group for potential cross-media ownership reforms.

CORPORATES
SOUTHERN CROSS MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX SXL, HEIDRICK AND STRUGGLES AUSTRALIA LIMITED, APN NEWS AND MEDIA LIMITED – ASX APN, AUSTRALIAN RADIO NETWORK PTY LTD, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, 2DAY FM AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, KIIS1065, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, NETFLIX INCORPORATED, GOOGLE INCORPORATED, MACQUARIE GROUP LIMITED – ASX MQG

Murdoch eyes radio assets in APN play

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Original article by Dominic White, Sarah Thompson
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 13 & 18 : 20-Mar-15

Independent News & Media (INM) and Baycliffe have exited the share register of Australian-listed APN News & Media. INM netted about $A180m for its 191 million shares, while Baycliffe offloaded 125 million shares for $A117m. Meanwhile, News Corporation has built a 14.99 per cent stake in APN, although under existing media ownership laws it is prohibited from increasing this. APN shares were placed in a trading halt at $A0.94 on 19 March 2015

CORPORATES
APN NEWS AND MEDIA LIMITED – ASX APN, INDEPENDENT NEWS AND MEDIA PLC, BAYCLIFFE LIMITED, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, NOVA ENTERTAINMENT PTY LTD, KIIS1065, AUSTRALIAN RADIO NETWORK PTY LTD, SOUTHERN CROSS MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX SXL, 101.7 WS-FM, NOVA 96.9 PTY LTD, SMOOTHFM, 2DAY FM AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NZME, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION, AUSTRALIA. FOREIGN INVESTMENT REVIEW BOARD, CREDIT SUISSE (AUSTRALIA) LIMITED, ALLAN GRAY AUSTRALIA PTY LTD

Radio toasts advertising renaissance

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Original article by Dominic White
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 14 : 10-Mar-15

Data from Deloitte shows that advertising revenue for commercial radio stations in Australia’s five largest capital cities increased by 5.03 per cent during the first half of 2014-15. Australian Radio Network CEO Ciaran Davis attributes the rise to the defection of radio presenters Kyle and Jackie O. Commonwealth Bank media analyst Alice Bennett says the lower cost of radio advertising compared with TV was a key factor

CORPORATES
DELOITTE TOUCHE TOHMATSU LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN RADIO NETWORK PTY LTD, KIIS1065, APN NEWS AND MEDIA LIMITED – ASX APN, 2DAY FM AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, SOUTHERN CROSS MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX SXL, COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, COMMERCIAL RADIO AUSTRALIA LIMITED, NOVA ENTERTAINMENT PTY LTD, FAIRFAX RADIO NETWORK PTY LTD, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, MACQUARIE RADIO NETWORK LIMITED – ASX MRN, COMMERCIAL ECONOMIC ADVISORY SERVICE OF AUSTRALIA, GOLDMAN SACHS AND PARTNERS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD