Feel as though SEN could do with a complete overhaul of how they manage their content- they’ve picked up a lot of premium sporting content but the way it’s spread across their channels and managed is pretty confusing and bizarre. As part of this I’d also implement Android Auto and the ability to ask Smart Speakers to play channels in the SEN app. I’d also improve the app to be more user friendly and have live radio streams as a dedicated, prominent section.
I’d have three sets of streams- terrestrial simulcasts, online-only channels, and live events channels.
Terrestrial simulcasts- this would encompass all the unique terrestrial linear channels, such as 1116 SEN, 1170 SEN, the various versions of SEN Track, SEN Spirit 621, SEN SA 1629 etc.
Online-only channels- these would be the linear channels like SEN Ballarat, SEN Bendigo, SEN Geelong that have no terrestrial broadcasts, I’d question their value however for all I know they may have a listener base.
Finally, I would have all live sporting events separated into unique program streams, that can be selected on the app and also requested from Smart Speakers (“Hey Google, play AFL Nation”, “Hey Google, play SEN Cricket” etc.)- off the top of my head there could be ones for AFL (multiple commentary feeds at times), NRL, International Cricket, Big Bash, Australian Open Tennis, NFL, Premier League (from SENZ), A-League (selected games), NBL (selected games) etc.
Cleaning it all up and making it more user friendly and easy to find live sport is by far and away the best chance SEN has of obtaining success in the niche of live sports broadcasting. There is plenty of potential to harness their content as they’ve actually got a pretty impressive suite of live sports to offer- it just needs to be marketed properly.
To go on a bit of a tangent with this, I’m thinking that long term for SEN the terrestrial narrowcasting path is a bit of a dead end, I can understand SEN Track was probably set up as a plan B once the ACMA rejected general sports as being a ‘narrowcast’ format but I think it’s time to walk away from these stations as I can’t see them ever being able to beat Sky/RSN/TAB who’ve been the sole provider for that market for years.
Link to that ACMA determination mentioned above:
As a first option, if I were SEN I’d approach Sky 1017 and RSN 927, and try and buy the stations out in a swap of frequencies (Sky would go to 1539 and RSN 1593).That would then provide two proper, unencumbered commercial licences in Melbourne and Sydney and would allow for a primary channel and a secondary channel (for example, you could have AFL on one and NRL on the other, or Cricket on one and Tennis on the other in this week’s case). The secondary channel wouldn’t set the ratings on fire I’d imagine but would be a solid alternative especially for a network with such a large suite of sports rights. I’d also approach RadioTAB 1008 in Brisbane and try and swap for 1053 SEN Track for a similar reason (except it would be a primary channel).
Another alternative for the narrowcast licences (especially in Sydney and Melbourne) would be to approach one of the god squad networks as I’m sure they’d be very interested as well (if Sky and/or RSN weren’t interested in a swap).