Is he ever going to retire?
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It’s unlikely that Lawsie will ever relinquish his golden microphone, at least voluntarily. Radio is all he’s ever known; take that away and his identity is nought.
He’s outlasted both Bob Rogers and Alan Jones, two prominent rivals. There’s nothing much more to achieve. At this point he’s doing it solely for his own sanity.
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I’d put money on the real possibility that he will “fade away” whilst behind the mic.
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He probably will
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He’s still got a way to go to catch Bob Rogers agewise on air….
He was 93 when he finally retired on air.
Perhaps Laws is waiting to be #1 against Ray Hadley before he retires!
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It is always said within the network that Laws will pass away at the mic
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John Laws back on. He apparently returned this week.
Keeping 2SM alive.
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According to the recent Campbelltown survey figures, it seems Laws is still (obviously) the highest rating 2SM announcer.
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Did Super Radio Network staff gather to meet today as foreshadowed by radioinfo?
‘Industry sources have said there are gatherings of staff of SCA and of the Bill Caralis owned Super Radio Network to happen today. Again this could all be further smoke, mirrors and…’
Many stations did social media posts earlier this week, Monday. Glad John’s in good health.
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I’ll hit the nail on the wall. Caralis is well into his 80s with apparently no family interested. Surely it is time to bail out and smell the roses.
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That time was 20 years ago.
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They should relax the two station rule in relation to AM stations. I think you should be able to own two FM and one AM max. Might stop AM completely dying.
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Imagine if ARN buys SCA, and whatever is left is snapped up by ACP/SCA/whatever the remaining company is called.
Then it’ll essentially be ARN v SCA across metro & regional markets.
There are echoes of Bill Caralis in what happened to Nick Fotiou, the late proprietor of the Olympia Milk Bar:
Both reclusive and stubborn to a fault, letting their valuable assets decay. 2SM is the radio version of the Olympia, and it’s probably too far gone to save now. Who will be the wielder of the bulldozer upon Caralis’ passing?
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Polar opposites actually! Nicholas Fotiou had mental health issues that lead to the ultimate demise of the Olympia. Nicholas final years in the shop showed a man living in a fantasy world, basically playing shop with empty cans and kit kat boxes.
Nicholas had no concept that it was all over, not even the building crumbling around him signaled it was time to go.
Bill Caralis is a shrewd calculating operator. Some say tight as a fish’s b@9(side. Whatever you think of Bill, good or bad, he has built an empire. Bill bashing has gone on for close to 2 decades, way back when Bob Scott brokered that first deal and no doubt it will continue.
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Though in his 80s and apparently with no family members to take over, you have to wonder for how long.
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Censoring backside are we now? 
I find it hard to believe that some level of succession planning hasnt taken place
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Nothing would surprise me with him…
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Bill has also let his investments crumble significantly too. It’s one thing to save a few pennys where you can (eg Grant Broadcasters) but he’s taken it much further beyond simply reducing costs which provide no benefit. The lack of resources available and direction given have seriously compromised the network. Anyone in business will tell you that a business needs a team of people. SRN isn’t that. There’s no team. It’s just a network of individuals at middle management level essentially working alone with a few junior staff. Some are passionate and do an outstanding job, but there’s so much that just doesn’t get done because it’s outside the scope of what they can afford, are interested in, have skills in and/or have time to do.
The network would actually be in a prime position for a private equity takeover. With a small amount of investment and consolidation the network could have a much better product, improve sales and be worth a lot more than it currently is.
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