I lost count the amount of times previous owners replaced local programming for syndicated content, I remember they once syndicated Luke Bona into 3AW for overnights… didn’t last long before they realised it was a bad idea..
great way to lose market share to the ABC… a very great way
But I can see them do it anyway…if they are the only commercial talk back game in town, and if there is blood to be squeeze from this rock, they’ll do it.
Again, they shouldn’t do it, but they’re a business. They’ll do it regardless of what we or the audience think.
This news change on the face of it seems like it adds workload in the newsrooms but I can see how it would also cut costs.
Providing affiliates with prerecorded bulletins while continuing to run live and local bulletins on Tapt’s own stations increases the workload in the newsrooms as they now have two top of hour bulletins to produce rather than one. It might reduce the amount of satellite bandwidth they need though as they would no longer need enough bandwidth to carry multiple simultaneous news bulletins plus potentially overlapping programming; they would only need enough for the live programs. The extra bulletin might not need more staff as it should largely be a handful of script changes between the two bulletins and they can both still be read by the same presenter, so perhaps the reduction in satellite costs makes it worthwhile.
From an affiliate perspective, the lack of live news isn’t great if there’s breaking news, but it might be good if the bulletins for affiliates carry less of the hyperlocal capital city stories. The audience of the Ace Network in Victoria, for example, doesn’t really need to hear about a robbery in Kew or an interruption to the number 48 tram. And if that means the newsroom can provide more local news for the capital city stations in the live bulletin as they don’t have a regional network hanging off it, that could also be a good thing for Tapt’s audience.
Under Nine’s ownership last year, the National Prefeed News made a similar switch. It changed from being live on the satellite at 10 minutes before the hour 6am-10pm weekdays and 6am-6pm weekends, plus a copy available via Digital Courier, to being solely available via Digital Courier and ending at 8pm on weekdays. I wonder if this change could mean the end of the National Prefeed News with clients of that bulletin being moved over to the pre-recorded state bulletins, which will apparently be national after 6pm weekdays and 12pm weekends anyway. It would, in theory, mean the existing Prefeed clients would have access to a 24/7 service rather than the current 14 hour service. It would also be a cost saving in not needing to have that extra bulletin produced.
As far as cost-cutting measures go, this one actually seems reasonable.
i disagree, especilly if this means the end of up to date news on the tapt network
on a music station its different to a talk station where news is a big component of the talkback. talk stations also provide companionship and comfort to a lot of people over night - wether its insomiacs, night shift workers or just night owls. i know when i worked nights in a servo i’d have ABC local on because it made me feel semi normal - id still get the news and information
Ben Fordham’s live chat with acting PM Richard Marles this morning can be heard here.
Cutting back on news is never good. I have recordings of my community radio show back in 2005 the news every hour was 4.5 minutes now it’s three. It was sourced from 2UE at the time.
If you listen to the news on a Saturday night when 2GB has the football on through 2UE or through the 2GB app it sounds pre recorded even at 8pm at night. Not good plus 2UE don’t take the news during part of Jukebox Saturday night show which runs from 7pm to midnight. I did notice them taking it at 10pm last weekend.
Most journos are doing multiple bulletins per hour/half hour etc. Traffic reporters are doing several stations at once every 20 minutes. Nothing new there.
Tapt Media has launched a new podcast AFLW Inside Out, hosted by 3AW football EP and ex-Geelong captain Meg McDonald, and 3AW football presenter and journalist Laura Spurway.
Herald Sun food and wine editor Kara Monssen confirmed yesterday that she would be the new food critic on 3AW breakfast. Her first appearance is tomorrow (August 7).
https://www.instagram.com/p/Dbpkzy3pwin/
Kara replaces Emilia Fuller.
Been listening to Phil O’Neil abit. He’s so good. They should really go networked with his show. There’s absolutely no need for two overnight shows.
Give it time…
Listened to Kara’s first review on Ross and Russ this morning. There was no formal welcome by the hosts, she went straight into her pub of the week, which was The Flying Fox Public House at Bridge Road, Richmond.
Agree, he is brilliant, I listen to his stream from Melbourne.
Quite a few 3AW listeners seem to ring and text in to Phil’s program.
Phil is reasonably well known in Melbourne too. He did a networked day-time shift about 10 years ago into Triple M Melbourne and had a high profile in the 1990s on the Today network with the networked Hot 30 show. It could work well.
That said, Tony McManus is hardly on the big bucks so is there really money to save there?
Not just about saving money. It’s more about quality
People can stream the Sydney show if they want like above. There’s clearly an established loyal audience for the local show.
What has happened to Emilia?
“big bucks” is subjective. Depends on the person signing the paycheck.
In business, if you can save money and maintain quality, you’ll do it. Although, it must be said, these two are often mutually exclusive.
True, and I hope that the audience sticks with it.
But, I must act as the devil’s advocate here. Or avocado if you like. 
As we’ve seen in the media sector, if there is money to be made, it will be made, regardless of what the audience thinks. Our media proprietors aren’t that smart. They don’t always listen to the audience, they listen to the accountants. You need the audience to stick with you. Piss them off and they will go elsewhere, which gives the accountants a headache.
I think she is moving overseas.
Laundy keeping close eye on star performer 3AW
Craig Laundy, who oversees the radio assets owned by the Laundy family, has maintained a highly visible presence on-air and behind the scenes since the acquisition of the Nine Radio business and the subsequent rebranding as Tapt Media.
Laundy spent several days at 3AW this week, telling Mumbrella he has visited the station more times than any of the others the family business acquired earlier this year.
One decision he is expected to announce shortly is the relocation of the Melbourne studios of 3AW. Melbourne’s leading station in ratings and revenue continues to occupy the top floor of the largely empty Media House, that was formerly home to the Age.
Laundy and the Tapt Media executives, including 3AW station manager Stephen Beers, are believed to have settled on a new property where it will fit out a new studio facility.