Discussion about the corporate side of radio that doesn’t fit in any other thread. (For discussion about Southern Cross Austereo, see the Southern Cross Austereo (Company) thread.)
The Music Network reports Southern Cross Austereo has acquired Authentic Entertainment (formerly MCM Entertainment). Authentic are currently responsible for the syndicated programmes Take 40 and Planet VEVO on the SCA Hit Network, as well as My Generation on ARN’s Pure Gold and Mix streams.
In addition, it is expected that SCA will enter discussions to extend the licensing of Vevo, “the largest premium video publisher in Australia and New Zealand”.
SCA confirmed today it had bought Authentic Entertainment for an undisclosed amount, reported Radio Today. SCA will exclusively represent Vevo in Australia, and take production of syndicated shows in-house.
Nova Entertainment announced today that chief operating officer Louise Higgins would leave the company after six years to pursue new career directions, reports Radio Today. Group sales director Peter Charlton will take on the additional role of acting COO until further notice. Sydney sales director Peter Colosimo has been appointed to the role of Melbourne general manager effective September 1.
Southern Cross Austereo lifts profit by 19%
Southern Cross Media has posted a 19 per cent rise in net profit to $77.2 million, thanks to higher advertising revenue at its metropolitan radio stations and regional television stations and reduced financing costs for its debt. Operating earnings in the year to June edged up 2.8 per cent to $167.7 million on revenues of $642.3 million.
Advertising revenue from Southern Cross’s metropolitan radio stations increased to $222 million in financial 2015/16, up from $204 million the year before. Ad sales at its regional TV stations increased to $352 million from $337 million in the same period.
Big day on Thursday for APN News & Media as they’ll be announcing their new Corporate Name at the AGM in the morning. Now that the Regional Newspapers aren’t part of the company, keeping the APN name was seen as pointless. I work for Adshel and as I understand it we’ll be keeping our own branding along with ARN and the other subsidiaries at this stage. Nobody knows what the new name is yet, we all find out Thursday morning as well.
Likely to be another useless name that means nothing to anyone outside the advertising ponytails who were paid a wasteful amount to think up a new name.
Think: Jemena, Ergon, Energex, Arrium or the most laughable: South32.
All names that could fit well in an episode of Utopia or similar.
And as suspected, it’s another lame name in the veins of TEGNA and TRONC… APN News & Media will become HT&E which stands for Here, There & Everywhere.
From the CEO’s AGM Presentation this morning:
WHY CHANGE THE NAME?
• APN = Australian Provincial Newspapers
• Zero exposure to traditional publishing
• Move from a holder of media assets to an operator
• Re-position APN as Tier 1 media business
• Uniquely positioned
Link to the Media Release is here.
Commercial Radio Australia is changing it’s branding, dumping Radio, It’s A Love Thing, and replaced with:
The launch is today, according to Media Diary, with more to be revealed at the radio industry conference in October.
Terrible marketing, either campaign.
For a communication medium, you’d think they’d have a better understanding on how to do it right.
If it means getting rid of Duncan Campbell, sell, sell, sell.
From Radioinfo, changes are afoot at Nova Entertainment Adelaide, which includes Nova 919 & FiveAA.
Nova Entertainment Adelaide GM Neil O’Reilly will exit the business at the end of June following changes to the leadership structure of Nova’s local Adelaide stations, with two senior leaders appointed to new positions at Nova 919 and FIVEaa.
O’Reilly joined Nova as Adelaide’s Financial Controller in August 2009, and was appointed General Manager for Nova 919 and FIVEaa in 2015
Current FIVEaa Program Director, Craig Munn has been appointed to the role of Station Manager FIVEaa and current Sales Director, Katie Bridges has been appointed to the new role of Commercial Director & Market Lead.
Read more at: https://radioinfo.com.au/news/nova-adelaide-gm-exits-following-changes-leadership-structure
Now it falls to Craig to hold strong against the execs to maintain the 24 hour localism that talk radio rightly should have.
Hopefully he’s learnt from outgoing Perth GM, Gary Roberts who knows all about this.
Sad for Neil, he has done a great job.
Nova Entertainment chief technology officer Mark Downes has passed away suddenly due to heart failure.
How sad. Steve Cairns ex 4TAB and Sport 927 died similarly.
Would be great if Steve Adler could be lured back to radio.
It’s the only good asset and of size they have. @TV-Expert