Stripe launch tomorrow

Stripe Radio Network, digital radio using the 3G network, will launch across Australia tomorrow, Thursday October 2.

For $7.95 a month, via optus mobile or on-line, subscribers will get over 30 radio stations from classic hits to hip hop and everything in between.
There are plans for more stations including Stripe's very own pop-culture station with a focus on film, music and celebrities.
Stripe can be found [link=http://stripe.com/home]here[/link]

Three unsigned acts discovered by radio

CRA: Three unsigned acts have been announced today as the winners of the Australian radio industry’s search for the next big on-air discovery, the New Artist 2 Radio (NA2R) initiative. The winners are Boston Shaker (rock category); Ashleigh Mannix (pop category) and Emma-Louise (adult contemporary category).

The winners will share in a $150,000 advertising prize across the four major radio networks down the east coast of Australia, with an opportunity to be added to the playlists of selected radio stations from early next year.



Ashleigh Mannix: (Pop) Hailing from the ACT, Ashleigh picked up her first guitar at the age of 11, a few years later adding to this musical experience with her own voice. She is currently exploring new music with guitarist and writing partner, Richie Harris and is looking forward to recording her debut album later this year.

Emma-Louise: (Adult contemporary) Emma-Louise is a 17 year old school student from Cairns in far north Queensland. She started playing guitar at the age of twelve and has been in love with writing and performing her own material ever since. Emma has just finished recording her new EP titled “autumn tongues”, which is scheduled for release in September.

Boston Shaker: (Rock) Sydney band, Boston Shaker is described as “high energy rock and roll.” The four-member band, started by two brothers, plays local venues around Sydney like the Sando, The Annadale and Manly Fishos. The band has been described by one reviewer as “what happens nine months after hard rock and indie pop crawl drunkenly into bed together”.

Chief executive officer of Commercial Radio Australia, Joan Warner, said the three winners had been chosen from around 200 artists - a record number of entries for the NA2R.

The winners were decided by a panel including top commercial radio network program and music directors and a representative of VGM Media & Marketing and MGM Distribution as well as MySpace. The decision was made based on each act’s commercial radio potential.

Judge, Allan Cameron, Program Director SEAFM/2GO, Macquarie Southern Cross Media said:
"It's encouraging to see the future of Australian music is alive and well, with such a great amount of entries and high quality of this year’s NA2R entries. To be able to give the up and coming artists an opportunity to get a well deserved break into commercial radio is a gratifying experience."

The winners were announced at a workshop held today in Sydney which included leading radio program directors and music marketing experts, talking about how to maximize radio airplay and exposure – a popular feature of the event aimed at helping artists. All nine finalists in the event: Boston Shaker, Stone Parade, The Dirty Secrets (rock category); Ashleigh Mannix, Emma Dean; Julie Kember (pop) BoomLa, Emma-Louise and Mark Wilkinson (adult contemporary) attended the workshop.

The winning act in each genre will perform at East on the Gold Coast on October 10, before radio industry leaders and heavyweights, with host for the night, Sea FM’s Big K, well-known for his popular afternoon music show, Hit Music Factory. One artist will then be chosen to perform the following night at the Australian Commercial Radio Awards (ACRAs).

The NA2R commercial radio industry initiative aims to discover the next big music star to be played on commercial radio throughout the country and is now in its seventh year. The event is open to unsigned Australian artists who have not charted in the top 100 Australian National airplay chart.

Ms Warner said the initiative was one of the main ways in which the commercial radio sector helped nurture and support new Australian musical talent. “This is an industry-wide initiative which has helped launched some very successful music careers since its inception including artists like Delta Goodrem, Kid Courageous, Sarah Blasko, Thirsty Merc, Jade Macrae and the Sunpilots.

The three winners of the event will share in $150,000 worth of advertising airtime on four of the major commercial radio networks: Australian Radio Network, Austereo, DMG Radio and Macquarie Southern Cross Media. In addition, the four networks will choose a genre winner to add to their network play list for early 2009. Each winner will be released and distributed through MGM with ongoing media and marketing support provided by VGM Media & Marketing.

“Unearthing new Australian music talent has always been one of the key roles played by commercial radio and the additional benefits provided to NA2R winners this year will help increase their chance of success and exposure – all very positive outcomes,” Ms Warner said.

Keep our ABC Creative & Commercial-free

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Those who appreciate the quality of ABC programming and are concerned about the public broadcaster's increasingly commercial outlook may be interested in the 'Keep our ABC Creative & Commercial-free' petition to the ABC Board.
The petition can be accessed at Friends of the ABC's website [link=http://www.fabc.org.au ]here[/link]

Jetstar to broadcast Nova and Vega

Jetstar will broadcast DMG's radio stations Nova and Vega FM on all domestic and international flights from October 1, 2008. Passengers will be able to purchase headsets for $3.00 which gives them access to the audio while they are in transit

DMG Radio Australia chief executive Cathy O’Connor said the partnership with Jetstar was an example of how the radio group was continuing to innovate. "We regularly like to challenge mainstream conceptions of radio and this is another example of how we’re exploring different frontiers,” Ms O’Connor said.

60 years of short-wave broadcasting in New Zealand

Radio New Zealand is celebrating 60 years of international shortwave broadcasting.

On September 27, the Dominion Day holiday in 1948, New Zealand’s first international short-wave service was launched by Prime Minister Peter Fraser. It took the name ‘Radio New Zealand’ and was part of the New Zealand Broadcasting Service (NZBS).


The network has had a chequered history but, sixty years on, is stronger than ever, broadcasting today as Radio New Zealand International, an award winning, internationally recognised service, providing an essential link between New Zealand and its Pacific neighbours.

Today Radio New Zealand International is well respected and widely heard across the Pacific and into South East Asia. Eighteen Pacific radio stations re-broadcast Radio New Zealand International material each day and the service is available through digital and analogue short-wave, and via the internet.

In 2007 Radio New Zealand International won the prestigious International Radio Station of the Year Award at the Association for International Broadcasting (AIB) Media Excellence Awards in London.

The AIB represents more than 25,000 public and commercial radio and television professionals worldwide and their annual awards recognise the very best in international broadcasting. Radio New Zealand International also won the award for Most Innovative Partnership, in recognition of its work with radio stations and media across the Pacific.

Radio New Zealand International Manager, Linden Clark, acknowledges the technological revolution that has allowed the network to achieve its current international recognition.

“From humble beginnings using two second hand transmitters US military transmitters left behind after the Second World War, the station has grown to become a significant international broadcaster using shortwave, digital and analogue technology which allows us to play a vital role in increasing understanding and awareness of New Zealand’s role in the Pacific.”

Anniversary celebrations this week will include a special programme to be broadcast on Radio New Zealand National at 12.20am on Saturday 27th September and at 9.06pm on Tuesday 30th September. This programme will also be broadcast on Radio New Zealand International throughout the week. It includes the opening announcement by the Prime Minister of the day, Peter Fraser, excerpts from early programmes and interviews with former and current staff.

Source Radio New Zealand International

Vale Gary Pekin

2QN - Classic Rock Deniliquin sales rep Gary Pekin passed away suddenly on Wednesday evening from a heart attack. Gary was at Deni for around 7 years and prior to that was General Sales Manager at 105.7 The River Albury. He is survived by his wife Wendy and son Jack.

94.5 frequency to get new name

When you wake up Friday morning (Friday Sep 26), Mix 94.5 which sits at 94.5 on the FM dial will have a new name!

The Mix team has been busy all week preparing to change the name of the station to celebrate the twenty fifth anniversary of the day that Perth entered the world stage.

That’s right! It will be 25 years to the day that Australia II stole the America’s Cup from Dennis Connor and Liberty.
So when you turn the radio onto Mix 94.5 Friday, you will get a brand new station, called “Australia 2 FM”.





Fred Botica and his bunch will start the day broadcasting live from the Maritime Museum in Fremantle with one hundred invited listeners all dressed just how they were back in 1983.

Content Director Steve Mummery said “How could we ignore the day Perth came of age, and an entire nation became sailing experts. It’s going to be an exciting day, and to help take everybody who lived in
Perth that day back to those memories, every song we play will be from 1983”.

Australia II crew members including John Longley and Skip Lissiman will join the celebrations on air
throughout the day.

The Maritime Museum will be having an open day on Sunday between 9.30am and 5pm. It will be free entry to go and see the famous winged keel that’s still attached to Australia II.

Emily Everywhere - now where?

Contract renegotiations between Nova 106.9 and Emily Jade-O'Keefe have ended and the outcome sees the popular afternoon announcer out of a job at the end of the year.

Nova chief executive Sean Ryan last night confirmed the axing, saying the move was designed to allow O'Keefe more time to work on her burgeoning television career.

O'Keefe has been at the station since 2004

Vale Peter Leonard

Canberra's Peter Leonard has lost his battle with mesothelioma, passing away yesterday in Canberra at the age of 66.

To a generation Peter is best known as the face of Win television news which he presented from 1991 until midway through 2007 when he retired.

Peter Leonard got his start in radio in 1962 when he joined 2CA as a cadet copyrighter - progressing through the ranks to become a fixture of the station as an announcer and newsreader.

He later joined the ABC in Canberra presenting news on both radio and television prior to joining WIN.

He was muched loved and respected by his peers, and as Andrew Gordon of WIN said in his tribute to Peter ''He was a great supporter of young people starting their careers in the media and generous when sharing his knowledge and expertise.

Peter is survived by his wife Gwen, children Matthew, Nathan and Natasha and grandchildren.

The D Star Play MPE system

The D Star Play MPE system is all about making life easier for those in the radio and music industry.

The Player software is a software application, which has a web-browser interface that allows industry professionals to gain access to authorized MPE music and video files.

Similarly, the Player is a simple and feature enhanced software, which provides the ability to create personal Playlists, quickly stream preview songs or music videos. [link=http://plaympe.com/v3/software/mpeplayer/what_is_mpe_player.php]See what others are saying about MPE[/link]
Each Monday Radio News will publish the top ten most popular downloaded tracks for the previous 7 days. [link=http://radiorumours.com/page.php?18]here[/link]

More Multiple Choices

Due to popular demand ABC Local Radio has commissioned columnist, author and social commentator Susan Maushart, to create a second series of her weekly podcast Multiple Choice. The first series, which explored the choices we make each day, has received thousands downloads.

“It is very pleasing to see what a great success the Multiple Choice podcast has become,” said Michael Mason, Head ABC Local Radio.


“Susan’s podcast has sparked a connection with listeners, dealing with the issues of choice in a funny and confronting way, with a keen interest in why people make the choices they do.”

The second series continues to celebrate and interrogate the challenge of choice; from big-picture, life-changing choices to trivial, nit-picky ones. Choice is both empowering and exhausting; by listening to Multiple Choice listeners have an opportunity to hear how other people are managing their options.

Episode 17, the first of series two, is now available online and explores work/love choices for busy people, including a fast look at speed dating and a day care centre that works a treat for dog owners.

Dr. Susan Mauchart is a mother of three and the author of The Mask of Motherhood, Wifework: What Marriage Really Means for Women and What Women Want. Susan writes a weekly column in The Weekend Australian Magazine and can be heard regularly on ABC Radio.

The second series of Multiple Choice is only available through ABC Local Radio websites and at abc.net.au/local/podcasts (http://abc.net.au/local/podcasts).

The first series of Multiple Choice will now be heard on ABC Local Radio nationally from Saturday October 4 at 6.30pm.

New role at AFTRS

Jane Smith has been appointed the inaugural head of the Australian Film, Television and Radio School's new Centre for Screenwriting. The Centre for Screenwriting has been developed with the Australian Writers Guild and will offer a one-year,part-time program that will collaborate with other streams and students at AFTRS.

Radio continues growth in first half of 08

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CRA: Commercial Economic Advisory Service of Australia (CEASA) figures, released, for the first half of the 2008 calendar year show radio continues to perform in attracting advertising revenue with an increase of 5.7 percent to a total of over $486 million.



Chief executive officer of Commercial Radio Australia, Joan Warner, said CEASA’s Advertising Expenditure in Main Media report for the six months ended June 30, 2008 shows radio advertising continues to perform in a competitive market with the metropolitan market recording growth of around 3.3 percent to a total of nearly $311 million and regional markets growing by 9.8 percent to a total of just under $165 million.

Ms Warner said, “An increase of 3.3 percent in metropolitan markets and 9.8 percent in regional markets for the January to June 08 period compared to January to June in 2007 is good news for the radio sector. However, we need to take a cautious approach to any growth forecasts over the rest of the year as we cannot yet predict the likely flow on effect of the current uncertainty in global financial markets.”

Denis Walter gets 3AW afternoon gig

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3AW have announced Denis Walter will replace Ernie Sigley (retiring) on the afternoon program in November. Walter has been the regular fill in / holiday presenter on the 3AW afternoon program for quite some time now.
For the last 15 years he has also read television news on the Win network, across regional Victoria. He will leave the Win news reading role in November.

On-line for over 5 years

Radio News has now been on-line in one form or another for over 5 years now. This site is maintained by a small dedicated team all with a passion for radio. Feel free to contribute station movement, any form of industry press release and general radio industry happenings.

Reclusive media moguls the quiet achievers

Mark Day has an article in The Australian today outlining those 'other' families that make up media ownership in Australia. Day writes
"there are other media families that like to fly under the radar. They are the privateers; those that eschew the scrutiny of listed corporate structures, stay privately held, do it their way and -- genes and good fortune willing -- hope to pass on their empires to the next generation.' [link=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24381009-7582,00.html]Read the entire article here [/link]

Sandilands high risk of a heart attack.

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Austereo's Today network presenter Kyle Sandilands is a walking time bomb with a high risk of suffering a heart attack if he does not change his lifestyle.
Sandilands sucks in at least a packet of fags a day, downs countless cups of coffee and guzzles up to 8 litres of Coca Cola - all this with a very unhealthy diet as well.

The 2DAY FM breakfast presenter recently said '"I should make big changes. I know that I'd rather be more healthy, but I just really like bad food and chocolate and cigarettes too much'. [link=http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,24377124-2902,00.html]Related article here[/link]

Weekend Sport Preview

Helmes Media continues to expand and has recently launched a new program, "Weekend Sport Preview", hosted by Bruce Eva.

“Weekend Sport Preview” will include information about all those great sporting events which take place over the warmer months such as cricket, tennis, golf, Bathurst and Sydney to Hobart etc.

The segment will be completely free and will be delivered on Thursday nights for Friday air play. To find out more visit Helmes [link=http://www.helmes.com.au]here [/link]

Brendan McGreal Magic 1278

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Brendan McGreal heard on Melbourne's Magic 1278 sitting in for Peter Van. Brendan, who is a breath of freah air, had a loyal following back when he was a regular on 1377 3MP.

Vic Roads ad wins Round 2 of 2009 Siren Awards (19-Sep-08)

An ad for Vic Roads, which uses humor to promote custom made number plates, has won the overall and single categories for round two of the 2009 Siren Awards. Written by Neil Mallet from agency, Marmalade in Melbourne, the ad is called “6 Foot Blonde”.

Judge and previous round winner, Thomas Duncan-Watt from agency Gorilla Communications, Sydney said the ad was funny: “In this age of Facebook, MySpace, customised ring tones and every kind of way to force your personality on other people, the idea that 'the real you' isn't always



An ad for Vic Roads, which uses humor to promote custom made number plates, has won the overall and single categories for round two of the 2009 Siren Awards. Written by Neil Mallet from agency, Marmalade in Melbourne, the ad is called “6 Foot Blonde”.

Judge and previous round winner, Thomas Duncan-Watt from agency Gorilla Communications, Sydney said the ad was funny: “In this age of Facebook, MySpace, customised ring tones and every kind of way to force your personality on other people, the idea that 'the real you' isn't always fit for public consumption was not only totally refreshing, but downright funny.”

Mr Mallet said the ad was unique for its simplicity. “Remembering the environment in which the
spot will be heard. It is a world of wall to wall sound - which is most important when creating an effective radio commercial.”

There were two highly commended entries in the single category. They included another ad for Vic Roads by Neil Mallet called “Amun Ra” as well as an ad called “Drink and Dial” for Thirsty Camel, written by Matthew Ellis and Andrew Panozzo from agency, Twenty20 in Melbourne.

Winner of the campaign category was “Never Leave” for Ford Falcon Ute. Writers were Carly Williams and James Orr from agency, JWT in Melbourne.

Judge, Thomas Duncan-Watt from agency, Gorilla Communications said about the campaign winner: “In the campaign category, there were some excellent contenders, but Ford Ute stood out, not only because it contains a great new thought for a challenging brief, but each spot was as good as the next. The voices sound authentic and 'live', which is still a refreshing break from the over-produced sound of most radio voice-overs. Most importantly though, it’s bloody funny.”

There were two highly commended ads in the campaign category. They were “UBD Traffic Chopper” for UBD Street Directory, written by Jim McKeown, from agency, DDB in Melbourne. And “Small Market/ Professor/ Small Market Support” for Commercial Radio Australia, written by Ralph van Dijk from agency, Eardrum in Sydney.

Winner of the craft category was “Everything” for RAC Insurance, produced by sound engineer, Ross Batten from production studio, The Cutting Edge. Dale Simmonds and Craig Buchanan were the creative directors for the ad.

There were two highly commended ads in the craft category. They included an ad for International Sports Clothing, called “My Conscious”. The ad was produced by sound engineer, Glen Styles from Radio Network Austereo in Sydney. Glen was also the creative director with Kade Robinson.
The other highly commended ad in the craft category was an ad called “Paintball - Bring Out Your Wicked Side” for Paintball Games. It was produced by sound engineer, David Hinchley from DMG Radio Australia in Melbourne. Creative director was Paul Varrasso.

The national Siren Awards are run by Commercial Radio Australia and are designed to recognise the best radio advertising in the country. The awards promote the importance of creativity as a way to make radio advertising more effective. Entries for round 3 for 2009 are now open and close on October 17. For more information visit the dedicated website www.sirenawards.com.au.

Better Homes gets into the Mix

TV's Better Homes and Gardens is to become a radio program to be heard on ARN Mix stations across the country. [link=http://www.thewest.com.au/aapstory.aspx?StoryName=515771]MORE[/link]

Vale Malcolm Searle

Former 3AK Good Guy, Malcolm Searle, passed away on Monday the
15th of September.
Malcolm is remembered for his time spent on radio although he was also involved in television, hosting such quiz programs as Coles $6000 Question and The Marriage Game.

Green Guide: 18 Sept 2008

There are those who hope they will wake up one morning to hear that TT FM has returned to the Melbourne airwaves and the Mix name has been dropped. Could they really pick up where they left off? The Green Guide looks at what is missing from Mix 101.1.

In 1997, TTFM - now known as Mix - finally claimed Melbourne's No.1 FM spot from arch-rival Fox. But over the next 11 years, it somehow lost almost two-thirds of its market share. In the most recent survey, it attracted just 4.3% of listeners, putting it well behind Fox, Nova, Gold and TripleM - and just 0.4points ahead of Vega. [link=http://www.theage.com.au/news/entertainment/tv--radio/what-gives-with-mix/2008/09/17/1221330909114.html]MORE[/link]

David Borean replacing Mandi Wicks

David Borean will replace Mandi Wicks as General Manager of Nova 969 and Vega 953, Sydney.

Akmal f word storm

Akmal Saleh was more radio shock than jock yesterday after not just telling a teenage boy he was ugly, but calling an outraged listener a "f...head" during his afternoon show on Nova.

The comedian, who has added an advice segment to his program, took a call from a self-proclaimed bad-looking 16-year-old named James, who wanted help on becoming more attractive to the opposite sex. [link=http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,24358003-5012980,00.html]Courier Mail [/link]

Ernie to quit 3AW afternoons

3AW's Ernie Sigley will leave full-time radio in around six weeks. The 70 year old radio veteran who got his start on Melbourne's 3DB over 55 years ago told 3AW of his decision yesterday.
Sigley's ratings took a 1.8 point slide in the most recent survey which gave him around 8.8 points of the market, something not seen on 3AW afternoons for quite some time.
He initially came to 3AW in 1996 to fill in for Caroline Wilson who previously presented afternoons, it was while Caroline was on maternity leave Sigley was made full-time.
At this stage it has been suggested he may return to do fill in shifts on 3AW in 2009.

The Nigel Lythgoe and Imran Khan show!

British television talent, well-known for his work in light entertainment, and judge on the American hit show, “So You Think You Can Dance”, Nigel Lythgoe, will headline this year’s Australian Radio Conference and Australian Commercial Radio Awards (ACRAs), along with Imran Khan, renowned Pakistani cricketer and politician. Both events will be held on the Gold Coast in October.


Mr Lythgoe, currently the President of 19 Television, is well -known for producing “Pop Idol” from which “American Idol” was born. He was also responsible for bringing “American Gladiators” to the UK and was a producer and judge on the British version of “Popstars”, where he was nicknamed “Nasty Nigel”, for being tough on competitors


He will talk about creating celebrities through television and radio shows.

Formerly an employee of London Weekend Television, where he was Head of Entertainment and Comedy, Mr Lythgoe joined Simon Fuller’s 19 Entertainment in 2001 and developed the concept of “Idol” which became a huge hit around the world.

The show on which he is resident judge, “So You Think You Can Dance”, recently picked up two Emmys for its choreography. Mr Lythgoe trained as a dancer, originally working as part of the song and dance group, Young Generation.

He will be joined at the radio conference and Awards, by Pakistani cricketer and politician, Imran Khan, who will talk about the importance of radio in communities. Mr Khan played for the Pakistani cricket team from 1971 to 1992, and led them as captain to his country’s first and only World Cup victory in1992. He is known as one of the finest all-rounder’s in the history of the game.

In 1996, Mr Khan founded the Movement for Justice political party in Pakistan. He served over five years as an elected politician and last year, spent time under house-arrest for speaking out against the then Pakistani Government of the day.

This year’s Australian Radio Conference will be held at Conrad Jupiters on the Gold Coast on October 10. The annual conference is a highlight for the Australian radio industry and has featured legendary keynote speakers over the past few years including the voice of The Simpsons, Harry Shearer; the world’s funniest man, John Cleese; Sir Bob Geldof, Barry Humphries; astronaut, Buzz Aldrin, Clive James and director Bruce Beresford. More speakers for the conference will be announced shortly.

The ACRAs will be held the following night on October 11, and will also feature Mr Lythgoe and Mr Khan.

Get well Paul

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2UE's Paul B Kidd has announced that he has cancer of the bladder. Paul who together with Geogre Moore co-hosts weekends, between 8am & 2pm, will be away from the program for at least the next 6 weeks.

Fans of Paul, whether they be from radio or via his successful series of crime books, no doubt wish him a safe and speedy recovery.

The field is wide, who will replace KG?

Speculation continues as to who will replace the soon to be retired Ken "KG" Cunningham on Fiveaa's drive slot. KG will be heard on air with co-host Graham Cornes until later this year.

Names that have been thrown around include Andrew Jarman, Mark Bickley, Stephen Rowe and Ryan Fitzgerald. Related article

Ian Craig clocks up 40 years with 2KY

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Ian Craig will celebrate 40 years of broadcasting with 2KY this Sunday, 14 September having joined the station in 1968. Ian has been 2KY's chief race caller since 1975 and called his 34th consecutive Golden Slipper, Doncaster Handicap, Sydney Cup and AJC Australian Derby this year.
He actually started his radio career at 2KA, calling the Richmond greyhounds.

Brian Carlton joins ABN Newswire

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Brian Carlton AKA known as Triple M's Spoonman has joined ABN Newswire to present online audio podcasts aimed at the corporate market. Carlton has spent more than 20 years at senior levels in metropolitan news / talk radio as a presenter, executive producer, writer, journalist and program director.

Carlton also has experience at corporate media management and understands the importance of getting undiluted messages to the media, the market and shareholders.






"I expect more and more CEO's of listed companies will come to see the bottom line benefits of communicating directly with their stakeholders utilising audio on modern media platforms, in their own voice," Carlton said. "The human voice is more intimate, personal and passionate than simple text. [link=http://www.abnnewswire.net/press/en/56881/Brian_Carlton_Joins_ABN_Newswire_as_Audio_Presenter.html]ABN press release [/link]

Warwick Capper to be knocked about the ring.

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Former AFL star Warwick Capper will do anything to stay in the limelight, even spending six weeks training with his former bodyguard Scott Sanders to prepare for an upcoming boxing bout.

Warwick is set to come up against Gold Coast radio jock Anthony Toohey, best known as Beck from Sea FM's Ant and Beck's The Benchwarmers show. Beck is no stranger to the boxing capper, oops caper having ten bouts under his belt.

The fight, promoted by the Variety Club and Conrad Jupiters, will be at the Nerang PCYC this afternoon.

Ernie Dingo tells it as it is + audio

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Ernie Dingo has labelled breakfast radio host Kyle Sandilands a "commercial wanker" during a heated radio interview, which was cut short after Sandilands hung up on Dingo, telling him to "get out of here".

Dingo was on the Kyle and Jackie O program on the Austereo network this morning to promote a new Channel 7 TV show he is hosting about saving native wildlife. [link=http://www.smh.com.au/news/tv--radio/dingo-blasts-kyle-sandilands-on-air/2008/09/12/1220857790433.html]SMH article[/link] Audio [link=http://austereo.castmetrix.net/download/180143985094841197/1/ErnieDingovKyle.mp3"]here[/link]

Brad takes on a new direction

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Mix 106.5's Brad Mac is the newly appointed Australian Radio Network (Sydney) Digital Music Director and also Mix 106.5 Assistant Music Director. He will retain his on air role presenting the Friday Night Party Mix.

Ronnie Stanton heads to Canada

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Prime Group Program Director Ronnie Stanton has resigned to join Astral Media's 95 Crave in Vancouver Canada as Program Director after 5 years on the Sunshine Coast. .

Replacing him as GPD is Daniel 'Doc' O'Carroll and breakfast host Dave Warner from Sea FM Cairns. The new breakfast program 'The Sami Todd and Dave Show' starts Monday on Hot 91.

We wish Ronnie all the best in his new venture.

Digital Radio Reveals Logo & Marketing Plans

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Listen live to the digital radioplus player by clicking [link=http://digitalradioplus.cra.predelegation.com/player.cfm]here[/link]

The Australian radio industry today revealed the digital radio logo and multi-million dollar on-air awareness campaign that will launch the switch-on of the Australian radio industry’s new technology platform.



“Digital Radio – it’s radio as you know it…plus”, forms the basis of the campaign. A plus (+) feature acts as a constant memory aid in all – radio, online, point of sale and visual media and a distinctive audio sonic mnemonic will identify the brand on radio, television and online.

Developed by the independent creative agency SMART in conjunction with Commercial Radio Australia and with the support of all the commercial stations, plus the ABC and SBS, the launch campaign for digital radio will illustrate that radio is about to undergo a multimedia technology transition.
Chief executive officer of Commercial Radio Australia, Joan Warner showcased the new Digital Radio Plus brand, the consumer website and the unique sonic sound tag at a business briefing attended by key stakeholders from the radio, retail, car and receiver manufacturer industries.

“The industry-wide Digital Radio Plus on-air awareness campaign, worth an estimated $10 million will be rolled out in three phases in the first quarter of 2009 in the digital radio launch markets of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide,” said Ms Warner .

“The first phase in the campaign will be a tease tactic to commence in the first quarter of 2009 to introduce the brand and raise awareness. Phase two will outline the new capabilities and benefits of digital radio and generate excitement in preparation for a specific retail promotion to take place. Phase three will drive the usage of digital radio as the switch-on takes place and also promote a national listener focused “Launch Event” said Ms Warner.

“We have worked closely with the radio industry, manufacturers and retailers to develop a logo and collateral that will work in all third party applications. The audio sonic mnemonic can be applied as a tag on retail advertising and the Digital Plus logo can be used on manufacturers packaging to distinguish it as Australian DAB+ product,” Ms Warner explained.





DAB+ is the digital radio technical delivery system that will allow radio broadcasters to deliver a much more dynamic, multi-media experience to the listener.
The additional spectrum in the DAB+ system will enable broadcasters to provide extra audio channels, a superior sound quality, a pause and rewind facility plus a new visual aspect to radio with the introduction of scrolling news, sport and weather text and the ability to transmit on a small screen a picture of a radio host or band, the cover of a CD or an animated logo.
“Every execution in the campaign is designed to generate interest by illustrating that no matter what type of radio broadcast you listen to – music, talk, sport, news, lifestyle… digital radio will enhance the experience and make it that much better,” explained SMART Sydney Managing Director, Jamie Clift.
The Digital Radio Plus sonic mnemonic feature of the campaign is a subtle 'plus' vocal using the voice of a child.

“The sonic is the most important part of the brand,” said SMART Creative Director, John Mescall. “It‘s designed to serve as an audio shorthand for the brand like the iconic Intel sound or Windows start up sound.”

All communication will direct listeners, readers and viewers to the new consumer website digitalradioplus.com.au

The consumer website will become the digital radio information gateway where listeners, retailers and all key stakeholders can easily access information about digital radio. The site will incorporate training modules for retailers and the advertising industry about what digital radio can deliver

Consumers will also be able to SMS their postcode to the mobile phone number 0409DRPLUS (0409 377 587) to find out if they can receive digital radio in their area.

“Ideally, after the first phase of the on-air campaign begins, listeners will have seen and heard the digital radio awareness raising campaign, will go on to the consumer website to find out more about what digital radio will mean for them; undertake a postcode search to find out where the broadcasts will be available and which retailers will stock digital radios and then will purchase a new receiver ready for the launch,” Ms Warner said.

Commercial Radio Australia is working together with retailers and receiver manufacturers to ensure a digital radio is on top of everyone’s must buy list in 2009, said Ms Warner.

Free-to-air digital radio services will begin in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth on 1 May 2009.


Visit the Digital Radio Plus website at digitalradioplus.com.au

ACMA finding on 4DDB Toowoomba

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ACMA: The Australian Communications and Media Authority has found that the licensee of community radio station 4DDB Toowoomba breached the conditions of its licence that prohibit the broadcasting of advertisements and the broadcasting of sponsorship announcements that run in excess of five minutes per hour. ACMA has also found that the licensee has operated the service as part of a profit-making enterprise.



Under the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 (BSA), sponsorship announcements on community radio which do not include appropriate acknowledgements of financial support (‘tags’) are considered to be advertisements and so fall within the prohibition. The Authority found that the licensee failed to include tags in relation to numerous pre-recorded announcements for financial sponsors and two live cross-over chats.

Where they are appropriately tagged, the BSA allocates a time limit of five minutes per hour for the broadcast of sponsorship announcements. The Authority found that on three occasions the licensee broadcast sponsorship announcements that ran in excess of this time limit.

This is 4DDB’s second breach of these licence conditions this year.

Community broadcasters must not operate their services for profit or as part of a profit-making enterprise. While ACMA is satisfied that 4DDB is not operating for profit, it has found that the terms of 4DDB’s commercial agreement with a third party are such that its service has been contributing to the generation of income for this organisation. In practice, this means that the service was an integral part of a profit-making enterprise operated by the third party. As such, 4DDB’s service has been operated ‘as part of’ a profit-making enterprise in breach of the licence condition.

In light of these serious breaches of its licence conditions, ACMA will now move to pursue compliance measures addressing the potential for future breaches of the relevant licence conditions. ACMA will be writing to the licensee of 4DDB, Darling Downs Broadcasting Society Inc, shortly about the proposed compliance actions, details of which will be announced when finalised.

ACMA’s investigation followed complaints that 4DDB was broadcasting advertisements and sponsorship announcements in excess of the five minute per hour limit and that the service was operating for profit. The complainants also alleged that the service was failing to represent its community interest in line with its licence conditions. However, ACMA’s investigation found that the licensee was meeting the requirements of the community interest licence condition.

Darling Downs Broadcasting Society Inc holds a community broadcasting licence to provide a radio service in the Toowoomba RA1 licence area, which includes the local government areas of Toowoomba, Cambooya, Crows Nest, Gatton, Jondaryan, Pittsworth and Rosalie in Queensland.

A copy of investigation report 1993 is available on the ACMA website.

Media contact: Donald Robertson, ACMA Media Manager, on (02) 9334 7980.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Backgrounder
ACMA conducts various types of investigations under the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 (the Act). Investigations under Part 11 of the Act are conducted in response to complaints received by ACMA relating to a possible breach by:

a licensed broadcaster of the Act, the regulations, a licence condition, a class licence or a code of practice; or
the ABC or SBS of a code of practice.
If a person wishes to complain about something of concern they have seen or heard on a program broadcast by a radio or TV station, and the matter is covered by a code of practice, the person must, by law, first make a written complaint to the station.

However, if a complaint relates to a matter covered by a licence condition, the person can complain directly to ACMA and need not complain to the station first.

There is a different code of practice for each broadcasting sector, and each code of practice contains a section that explains the complaints process that applies to that sector.

As some codes impose time limits for complaints, it is advisable that people who wish to make a complaint write to the radio or TV station as soon as possible. For instance, the code of practice that applies to commercial television broadcasters enables them to decide to not respond in writing to complaints that are made more than 30 days after the date of broadcast.

When making a complaint to ACMA, people must provide a copy of their complaint to the station, a copy of the station’s reply if this has been received, and any other relevant correspondence with the station. ACMA takes all complaints seriously (except for those that are frivolous or vexatious or not made in good faith) and acknowledges all complaints in writing.

For valid complaints, ACMA considers the information provided and offers the relevant station an opportunity to provide its perspectives. When all relevant information is available, ACMA assesses the complaint against the relevant licence condition or code of practice.

When an investigation is completed, ACMA is required to notify a complainant of the results of an investigation under Part 11 of the Act. The form this notification is to take is not specified in the Act – it might be in the form of a letter or, alternatively, it could be in the form of a more formal investigation report, which is provided to both the complainant and the licensee concerned.

Generally, personal or private information provided in a complaint, including name and address details, are not disclosed to the licensee concerned if it is a licence condition matter. However, as code complaints are first made to a licensee, code complaints are usually made available to the licensee concerned. ACMA’s usual practice is to not provide personal or private information in an investigation report.

Under the Act, ACMA has a discretion whether or not to publish the report of an investigation conducted under Part 11 of the Act. ACMA’s usual practice is to publish such reports. However, ACMA is not required to publish an investigation report if publication would disclose matter of a confidential character or likely to prejudice the fair trial of a person. If ACMA intends to publish an investigation report that may adversely affect the interests of a person, ACMA must give the person an opportunity to make representations in relation to the matter.

Blast from the past - the denim machine

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Long ago when vans were cool, radio stations quite often offered suped up versions to be given away as prizes. These were normally part of a competition jointly sponsered by companies such as Coca Cola. The picture above is of The Denim Machine (what were they smoking at 3XY?) which for most of us has faded to a distant memory.
Over at [link=http://www.flickr.com/photos/doctor_keats/2561022844/]Flickr 'Dr Keats' [/link]has a full size image of the pic above. He also lets us in on what has become of that long lost relic -the [link=http://www.flickr.com/photos/doctor_keats/2259336391/]3XY Bedford Freedom Machine. [/link]

ABC Media Release: The ABC - 2012 and Beyond

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ABC Managing Director Mark Scott said it was the ABC’s priority to vastly increase the amount of content available to Australian audiences through digital television and radio, and high-speed broadband leading up to 2012 and beyond.

In an address to the National Press Club today, Mr Scott said the ABC had a once in a generation opportunity to tap the potential and take up the opportunities offered by digital technology in a multi-platform, multi-channel media environment.

ABC Managing Director Mark Scott said it was the ABC’s priority to vastly increase the amount of content available to Australian audiences through digital television and radio, and high-speed broadband leading up to 2012 and beyond.

In an address to the National Press Club today, Mr Scott said the ABC had a once in a generation opportunity to tap the potential and take up the opportunities offered by digital technology in a multi-platform, multi-channel media environment.

“The digital dividend that we’re starting to hear a lot about is not just the money that can be raised from selling excess spectrum, it is the additional services that digital technology makes possible and the enrichment it brings to all Australians,” Mr Scott said.

“To obtain that dividend requires some additional investment in content, because content will drive the take-up of digital TV, radio and broadband - and new content is what audiences value.

“The ABC is demonstrating the potential through the success of services such as ABC2, ABC iView, ABCNow and the successful podcasting and vodcasting offerings.

“I believe the ABC’s continuing contribution to the nation will be best made through more Australian drama, more regional content, a dedicated children’s TV channel, public affairs broadcasting, and more online innovation in an Australia where fast broadband becomes an increasingly mainstream proposition.”

As part of this suite of offerings, Mr Scott argued for a dedicated non-commercial children’s channel, with at least 50% Australian content.

“Next year there are likely to be fifteen free-to-air digital channels in Australia as we move to analogue switch-off. One should be an ABC children’s channel, commercial free and brought to you by the most trusted and valued source of children’s television in Australia’s history,” Mr Scott said.

“If we are concerned about the impact fast food advertising on television is having on our children, doesn’t it make sense to give parents the choice of a completely commercial free children’s channel, with high quality, Australian content. No pester power, no exposure to fast food advertising – just quality children’s content.”

Building on the ABC’s extensive local, national and international news gathering resources, Mr Scott said the ABC could also develop a public affairs channel.

“We want to be able to create a service – online and on television – that allows citizens to watch for themselves key democratic processes and public events: unmediated, unfiltered.

“I include in that category Parliament from Canberra and the State chambers; press conferences and Parliamentary hearings; major fora like the annual ABARE conference; key annual general meetings; public addresses at places like the Lowy Institute, the Melbourne Press Club or the Centre for Independent Studies.

“This is something that should be available free in every Australian home – access to our democracy in action.”

Mr Scott said these services could add an immediate lift in the take-up of digital television as we move towards analogue switch-off and a significant opportunity for Government with the freeing up of the analog spectrum.

“At the ABC, we are acutely aware that these new services cost real money to deliver. We are being rigorous in ensuring the money we currently spend is allocated wisely and spent efficiently.”

Please click here to read the full address.

Community broadcasters singled out in frequency fiasco

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The Community Broadcasting Association of Australia (CBAA) is furious about the proposal to move several community radio stations to lower powered frequencies.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) plans to make channels available for ABC NewsRadio in four regional areas and community radio stations are being told they have to move frequency and broadcast at lower power. Read the [link=http://www.cbaa.org.au/content.php/236.html?newsid=1369]full item here[/link]

Gold changes

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At GOLD 1242 Len Johns is now presenting the afternoon shift, replacing Greg Allen who has moved to the newsroom.

Digital Radio Switch-On Set for May 2009

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CRA release: The radio industry announced today that the national switch-on for digital radio will take place on 1 May 2009 following resolution of infrastructure issues relating to the rollout of transmission equipment.

Commercial Radio Australia and ABC Radio have consistently taken the position that the successful introduction of digital radio in Australia is dependent on an integrated national industry rollout with both public and commercial broadcasters switching on simultaneously in the 5 mainland capital cities.

The radio industry announced today that the national switch-on for digital radio will take place on 1 May 2009 following resolution of infrastructure issues relating to the rollout of transmission equipment.

Commercial Radio Australia and ABC Radio have consistently taken the position that the successful introduction of digital radio in Australia is dependent on an integrated national industry rollout with both public and commercial broadcasters switching on simultaneously in the 5 mainland capital cities.

“We have maintained from the outset that the digital radio rollout in Australia would be on a national basis, with the first five markets in the mainland capital cities of Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth to be launched simultaneously,” Joan Warner, CEO of Commercial Radio Australia said.

“Given we have timeline infrastructure issues in a number of the launch cities and after consultation with the commercial sector, the industry has made a united decision to officially launch digital radio to listeners on 1 May 2009 in all markets,” said Sue Howard, Director of ABC Radio

Ms Warner said the timeline issues had arisen as a result of intensive and collaborative work being done on a second draft of the Digital Radio Channel Plans (DRCPs) developed by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA). These will now not be finalised until December 2008.

“It’s from these technical specifications that the antenna design is developed and the final specifications of broadcast system can be finalised. After close collaboration between ACMA and the industry, we are looking forward to a set of specifications which will allow much improved coverage to that offered by the earlier DRCPs released late in 2007.The infrastructure build of an entirely new broadcast technology is a complex one. We are committed to ensuring that we get it right from day one. Transmission networks last a very long time,” Ms Warner said.

Des DeCean Austereo Director of Technologies and Chair of the Commercial Radio Australia Digital Technical Advisory Committee said, “All of our transmission equipment has been ordered and is in production. The finalisation of the antenna design and installation will allow us to move forward to complete the infrastructure build.”

“In addition, the radio industry is briefing all stakeholders on the new brand and logo for digital radio on Thursday 11 September in Sydney and on Friday 12 September in Melbourne. This unavoidable extension of the launch date allows all those involved – radio networks, retailers, manufacturers and advertisers - more time to collaborate on the launch and to deliver a fantastic product to the marketplace,” Ms Warner said.

Free to air digital radio will allow radio broadcasters to provide additional audio channels, a superior quality sound, a pause and rewind facility, plus a new visual aspect to radio with the introduction of scrolling news, sport and weather text and the ability to transmit a picture of a radio host or band, the cover of a CD or an animated logo on screen.

Nielsen radio ratings survey 6

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The big news item is FOX FM have knocked 3AW from the top of the ratings tree. State by state : Melb FOX, Sydney 2GB, Adelaide Fiveaa, Perth Mix 94.5 and Brisbane Nova 1069. Survey 6 of the Nielsen radio ratings are available on each of the limks below.
  • Adelaide
  • Brisbane
  • Perth
  • Melbourne
  • Sydney
  • SEN Olympic hope still high

    [img]{e_IMAGE}newspost_images/sen.jpg[/img]

    RADIO executives are known to obsess over the release of the periodic ratings results but this morning's release will take on added significance for SEN boss Barrie Quick, as it will reveal whether the sports station's Olympics gamble has paid off.

    The Richmond-based broadcaster, which fought off receivership in 2005, paid a "substantial" but undisclosed fee to secure the Melbourne commercial broadcast rights for the Games, ahead of its bigger rival 3AW. [link=http://business.theage.com.au/business/sen-olympic-hope-still-high-20080908-4cap.html]Full story The Age[/link]

    Radio ratings

    We will have all the latest radio ratings here from around 10.20am. (Tuesday)

    Helmes Media Solutions segments go interactive

    Listeners to Helmes Media Solutions segments will now be able to contribute to their content with a national feedback line now in operation.

    Helmes Media Solutions General Manager Joel Helmes says its one thing to listen to interesting radio but now listeners can also have their say as well.


    “For example on Behind the Wheel someone might have a technical question to put to us, we will incorporate that question into the segment, hearing from the actual listener”.

    “I don’t think that’s ever been done before in this format”.


    Mr. Helmes says the 1300 number (1300 784 212) and feedback line will enable Helmes Media Solutions to help grow the interest not only in the segments, but in the radio stations they are heard on.

    ‘People love feeling like their part of their favorite radio stations, we think this can only help”.

    The feedback line is free for your listeners to use and will be promoted in Behind the Wheel, In the Garden and New Horizons.

    Waking up is hard to do

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    Get a few breakfast announcers together in a room and it is really dull, says Vega's Mikey Robins. "We just talk about sleep. It's like junkies trying to score. 'Do you nap? What time do you go to bed?"' Most breakfast presenters rely on two alarms, a clock and mobile phone, and they make sure at least one is out of arm's reach so they can't hit the snooze button. Even so, nearly everyone has a disaster story.
    [link=http://www.smh.com.au/news/tv--radio/waking-up-is-hard-to-do/2008/09/06/1220121584405.html]Full story SMH [/link]

    Vale Ted Curé

    Former regional Victorian radio newsreader Ted Curé has passed away after a battle with cancer. Ted is the brother of former 7HT and ABC Tasmania announcer Bob Curé.

    Mark Parton back on air

    Mark Parton has returned to the Canberra airwaves this week albeit for 2 days. The former Mix 106.3 breakfast presenter is filling in for 2CC's drive presenter Mike Welsh. Parton was in the chair yesterday (Thursday) and will return again today between 3.00pm and 6.00pm.

    APD's times two at Nova 106.9

    Nova 106.9 has two new APD’s by way of Tim Lordan, after almost a decade at SEA FM Gold Coast and Kate Casey who has been at 106.9 for just over three years. Kate's role will also take in those of Music Director. Well dome Guys1

    Nine finalists in radio’s premier music competition

    A nation-wide hunt for Australia’s best unsigned musical acts for commercial radio is underway with the announcement today of nine finalists – three in each of the nominated genres: adult contemporary, pop and rock - to feature in the New Artist 2 Radio Showcase (NA2R).

    Chief executive officer of Commercial Radio Australia, Joan Warner, said the nine finalists had been chosen from around 200 artists - a record number of entries for the NA2R.



    “These finalists will now compete for the chance to share in a $150,000 advertising prize across the four major radio networks down the east coast of Australia, together with the opportunity to be added to the playlists of selected radio stations,” Ms Warner said.

    The finalists are:
    Rock: Boston Shaker, Stone Parade, The Dirty Secrets
    Pop: Ashleigh Mannix, Emma Dean; Julie Kember
    Adult Contemporary: BoomLa, Emma-Louise, Mark Wilkinson

    The finalists will be judged by a panel including top commercial radio network program and music directors and a representative of VGM Media and Marketing, MGM Distribution and MySpace. The decision will be made based on each act’s commercial radio potential, with a winner in each section announced later this month.

    The winning act in each genre will perform at East on the Gold Coast on October 10, before radio industry leaders and heavyweights, with host for the night, Sea FM’s Big K, well-known for his popular afternoon music show, Hit Music Factory. One artist will then be chosen to perform the following night at the Australian Commercial Radio Awards (ACRAs).

    The commercial radio industry initiative aims to discover the next big music star to be played on commercial radio throughout the country and is now in its seventh year. The event is open to unsigned Australian artists who have not charted in the top 100 Australian National airplay chart.

    Ms Warner said the initiative was one of the main ways in which the commercial radio sector helped nurture and support new Australian musical talent. “This is an industry-wide initiative which has helped launched some very successful music careers since its inception including artists like Delta Goodrem, Kid Courageous, Sarah Blasko, Thirsty Merc, Jade Macrae and The Sunpilots.”

    All the finalists also attend a workshop by leading radio program directors and music marketing experts about how to maximize radio airplay and exposure – a popular feature of the event aimed at helping artists.

    The three winners of the event will share in $150,000 worth of advertising airtime on four of the major commercial radio networks: Australian Radio Network, Austereo, DMG Radio Australia and Macquarie Southern Cross Media. In addition, the four networks will choose a genre winner to add to their network play list for early 2009.

    “Unearthing new Australian music talent has always been one of the key roles played by commercial radio and the additional benefits provided to NA2R winners this year will help increase their chance of success and exposure – all very positive outcomes,” Ms Warner said.

    Media contact: Jenny Stevenson Ph: (0402) 214 039. Finalists’ bios attached. Pics are available.

    ADULT CONTEMPORARY
    BoomLa
    Melbourne-based, Ben Brazil and Syrene, have merged their musical talents, described as “funk, soul and groove”, along with a 12 piece band made up of some of the finest young musicians in the country. BoomLa’s debut album, called “From Brasil to Cyrene” is available in early October.

    Emma-Louise
    Emma-Louise is a 17 year old school student from Cairns in far north Queensland. She started playing guitar at the age of twelve and has been in love with writing and performing her own material ever since. Emma has just finished recording her new EP titled “autumn tongues”, which is scheduled for release in September.

    Mark Wilkinson
    Based in Sydney, Mark Wilkinson launched himself into the original music scene in 2005. He performs regularly at The Basement, Will & Toby’s and Luna Park in Sydney and has supported Diesel, Sarah McLeod, Marcia Hines and Damien Leith. His debut album and national tour are scheduled for next February.

    POP
    Ashleigh Mannix
    Hailing from the ACT, Ashleigh picked up her first guitar at the age of 11, a few years later adding to this musical experience with her own voice. She is currently exploring new music with guitarist and writing partner, Richie Harris and is looking forward to recording her debut album later this year.

    Emma Dean
    This Brisbane-based performer has released her debut album, “Real Life Computer Game”. Emma’s music is described as “like pop music but it’s also music theatre” She has been performing solo since a three-year stint with Brisbane duo, Bittersuite.

    Julie Kember
    From outback Western Australia to busking in the streets of London, and now based in Sydney, Julie’s music is described as “acoustic rock with a bit of pop.” She has recorded her debut album. “Sugar & Stone”, due for release in October. Julie also made it to the final 15 for the reality TV show, “Pop Stars.”

    ROCK
    Boston Shaker
    Sydney band, Boston Shaker is described as “high energy rock and roll.” The four-member band, started by two brothers, plays local venues around Sydney like the Sando, The Annadale and Manly Fishos. The band has been described by one reviewer as “what happens nine months after hard rock and indie pop crawl drunkenly into bed together”.

    Stone Parade
    Stone Parade’s blend of melody driven rock and compelling lyrics reveals a band with an interest in the world around them. The band has toured throughout Australia, supporting artists like Maroon 5, Hoobastank , INXS and 3 Doors Down. Their debut album, “Chase the setting sun” will be released later this year.

    The Dirty Secrets
    This rock band includes Jarrah McCleary (keyboards/vocals), Woody Taylor (drums), Warren Page (bass/vocals) and Mike Sanders (guitars) and their self-titled debut album was released earlier this year. The band has played extensively in Australia and overseas.

    Mac radio says web strategy is reaching more people

    MACQUARIE Radio Network says its digital strategy is paying off as it prepares to launch a suite of community-based news websites that will broaden its digital reach around the nation.

    The listed owner of leading Sydney talkback station 2GB says its year-old national breaking news website, LiveNews.com.au, is delivering a wider reach to advertisers and is attracting 483,925 visitors a month. Its entire portfolio of digital sites - WhatCareer, RugbyLeagueLive, and AmazingAustralians - registered 633,030 visitors a month in July. [link=http://business.smh.com.au/business/mac-radio-says-web-strategy-is-reaching-more-people-20080903-48x1.html]Full story SMH[/link]

    ACMA finding on Bendigo's Fresh 89.5 FM

    The Australian Communications and Media Authority has found that the licensee of Fresh 89.5 FM, Goldfields Community Radio Cooperative Limited, breached conditions of its licence by failing to continue to represent the Bendigo community and by not encouraging members of that community to participate in the operations of the service.


    Goldfields Community Radio holds a temporary community broadcasting licence to provide a service for Bendigo. It has been broadcasting to the Bendigo area since 1983.

    Goldfields Community Radio had not held annual general meetings of its members for the years 2001 to 2006. Annual general meetings are a key part of the operations of community broadcasting services as they deal with accountability issues of the first order including reporting obligations and important governance decisions, including the election of the board of directors. Failure to hold such meetings means that a licensee is excluding members from its most important decision-making forum and that it is operating with a board that has not been elected by its members.

    In those circumstances, ACMA found that Fresh 89.5 FM could not claim to be representative of the Bendigo community or to have encouraged members of that community to be involved in all aspects of its operations.

    ACMA’s view is that compliance with these licence conditions is a key obligation of a community broadcasting service and that non-compliance with these conditions is a serious matter.

    Fresh 89.5 FM has now held its AGM and is now being managed by a board elected by its members at that meeting. In light of these circumstances, ACMA will not take any further compliance or any formal enforcement action at this stage. In any event, ACMA will also scrutinise compliance with these, and other key licence conditions, in any allocation process for a long-term community broadcasting licence for Bendigo.

    ACMA investigated this issue following a complaint alleging that Fresh 89.5 FM did not encourage members of the community to participate in the operations of the service, that it did not continue to represent the community interest and that it had breached the prohibition on broadcasting advertisements. ACMA found that Fresh 89.5 FM had not broadcast advertisements.

    Investigation Report No. 1833 is available on the ACMA website.

    Media contact: Blake Murdoch, ACMA Media, on (02) 9334 7817.


    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Backgrounder
    ACMA conducts various types of investigations under the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 (the Act). Investigations under Part 11 of the Act are conducted in response to complaints received by ACMA relating to a possible breach by:

    a licensed broadcaster of the Act, the regulations, a licence condition, a class licence or a code of practice; or
    the ABC or SBS of a code of practice.
    If a person wishes to complain about something of concern they have seen or heard on a program broadcast by a radio or TV station, and the matter is covered by a code of practice, the person must, by law, first make a written complaint to the station.

    However, if a complaint relates to a matter covered by a licence condition, the person can complain directly to ACMA and need not complain to the station first.

    There is a different code of practice for each broadcasting sector, and each code of practice contains a section that explains the complaints process that applies to that sector.

    As some codes impose time limits for complaints, it is advisable that people who wish to make a complaint write to the radio or TV station as soon as possible. For instance, the code of practice that applies to commercial television broadcasters enables them to decide to not respond in writing to complaints that are made more than 30 days after the date of broadcast.

    When making a complaint to ACMA, people must provide a copy of their complaint to the station, a copy of the station’s reply if this has been received, and any other relevant correspondence with the station. ACMA takes all complaints seriously (except for those that are frivolous or vexatious or not made in good faith) and acknowledges all complaints in writing.

    For valid complaints, ACMA considers the information provided and offers the relevant station an opportunity to provide its perspectives. When all relevant information is available, ACMA assesses the complaint against the relevant licence condition or code of practice.

    When an investigation is completed, ACMA is required to notify a complainant of the results of an investigation under Part 11 of the Act. The form this notification is to take is not specified in the Act – it might be in the form of a letter or, alternatively, it could be in the form of a more formal investigation report, which is provided to both the complainant and the licensee concerned.

    Generally, personal or private information provided in a complaint, including name and address details, are not disclosed to the licensee concerned if it is a licence condition matter. However, as code complaints are first made to a licensee, code complaints are usually made available to the licensee concerned. ACMA’s usual practice is to not provide personal or private information in an investigation report.

    Under the Act, ACMA has discretion whether or not to publish the report of an investigation conducted under Part 11 of the Act. ACMA’s usual practice is to publish such reports. However, ACMA is not required to publish an investigation report if publication would disclose matter of a confidential character or likely to prejudice the fair trial of a person. If ACMA intends to publish an investigation report that may adversely affect the interests of a person, ACMA must give the person an opportunity to make representations in relation to the matter.

    Tambie in for POC

    Jess of Mornington emailed us to say she has enjoyed John Tamb on 3MP over the last few mornings, and wants to hear more of him during the day. John has been sitting in for the fabulous Peter O'Callaghan.

    Benno's Big Breakfast

    Ben Sorensen is now flying solo on Classic Hits 4GY breakfast. Ben joined Classic Hits 4GY back in May to co-host breakfast with Jay Dixon who has recently left the station. Benno's Big Breakfast can be heard between 6am - 9am

    Hinch regrets his decades of drinking

    Derryn Hinch says he will not drink again because decades of alcohol abuse nearly cost him his life.

    The 64-year-old 3AW drive host nearly died from blood poisoning in 2006 and last year revealed he also had advanced cirrhosis brought on by a lifetime of boozing.

    Reflecting on his past as a "professional drunk", Hinch - who underwent surgery last year to remove a liver tumour - said binge drinking was one of society's worst problems. [link=http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=624453]Nine MSN has more[/link]

    Kevin Heinze 'Cheerio'

    [img]{e_IMAGE}newspost_images/cheeriokev.jpg[/img]
    Gardening legend Kevin Heinze passed away in Melbourne yesterday at the age of 81. Kevin suffered a heart attack at the weekend.
    He hosted a weekly gardening talkback segment on Melbourne's ABC Radio for 37 years until sadly he was asked to leave the station at the end of 2004. ([link=http://www.theage.com.au/news/TV--Radio/Kevin-bids-his-last-cheerio/2004/12/18/1103312783710.html]article[/link])

    To many he will be best remembered for the ABC gardening television show Sow What from 1967 to 1988, with his signiture sign off of ''Cheerio for now'. Sow What was mainly broadcast from his own property in Montrose, in Melbourne's outer-east.

    Virgin Radio is Absolute Radio

    From October 2008 the new name for the UK's Virgin radio will be Absolute Radio. Virgin Radio, but not the name, was sold to the Times of India Group and Absolute in June. [link=http://www.virginradio.co.uk/about/index.html]More info[/link]

    Wil and Lehmo, for breakfast?

    At this stage Triple M have not locked in their breakfast line-up to for 2009 to replace The Shebang yet plenty of names have been thrown around.

    The SMH has touched on the subject this week, pinpointing current networked drive team Wil and Lehmo. The article mentioned:
    'Their contracts are up at the end of the year. There's no doubt they will be offered another deal considering the Wil And Lehmo Show rates much higher than any other shift on the low-rating station.

    The question is whether they'll be asked to take on the critical breakfast slot following the axing of The Shebang. Triple M executives need a strong breakfast show if the station is to reclaim a solid foothold in the market and keep Vega at bay.' [link=http://www.smh.com.au/news/tv--radio/national-laugh-grid/2008/08/30/1219516773751.html]Full story[/link]

    2LM'S Neil Marks political ambitions

    2LM's breakfast presenter Neil Marks who is at the centre of an item that appeared on Monday nights ABC Media Watch has now gone on leave from the station. Marks is currently standing for position on the Lismore City Council and has also nominated for for the Mayoral position. Being Mayor and breakfast announcer would no doubt be a huge conflict of interest.
    Neil Marks has full intentions to combine the Council role with his current radio gig however a statement on behalf of 2LM's owner, Bill Caralis, stated 'Mr Marks will not be returning to his on air shift until after the Council Elections and should Mr Marks be elected to Council his future tenure at the station will be reviewed by 2LM management'

    Michael Pate remembered

    Australian actor, writer and director Michael Pate has died in Sydney at the age of 88. Like so many of his era Pate cut his teeth in the early days of radio prior to heading to Hollywood.

    Much will be witten about his screen triumphs however it all began with his radio career in 1938, with the ABC. In those early days he also wrote theatre reviews for newspapers and magazines. Pate appeared in many radio serials, across numerous Australian stations, including 'Escape Me Never' and 'Johnny October'.

    Born in Sydney in 1920, his is experiences with an Entertainment Unit in the Pacific during WW2 formed the basis of his book An Entertaining War (1986). After the war, his performance in a Sydney production of the play Bonaventure led to a role in Hollywood 's film version, Thunder on the Hill (1951).

    He went on to appear in around 50 films, including Julius Caesar (1953) with Marlon Brando, Hondo (1953) with John Wayne, PT 109 (1963), Major Dundee (1965), and The Singing Nun (1966).

    He also received screenwriting credits for Escape from Fort Bravo (1953) and The Most Dangerous Man Alive (1961). After returning to Australia in 1968 Pate appeared in TV's Matlock Police , wrote and produced The Mango Tree (1977) and directed Mel Gibson in Tim.

    Through the 1970's and 1980's Pates distinctive tones were in how demand for voice over work across all mediums

    In 1997 he performed in two short plays at Sydney's Belvoir Street Theatre with Margaret Christensen. The one night only performance recreated the atmosphere of a radio recording studio of those bygone days, theatre of the mind no doubt. The plays were a fundraiser for Print Handicap Radio station 2RPH.

    Later in life Pate often spoke of the expierence radio had given him in those early days and was the motivation to keep on writing, something he was still doing write up until his death.

    Stripe launch tomorrow

    Tuesday, September 30, 2008 | 0 comments »

    Stripe Radio Network, digital radio using the 3G network, will launch across Australia tomorrow, Thursday October 2.

    For $7.95 a month, via optus mobile or on-line, subscribers will get over 30 radio stations from classic hits to hip hop and everything in between.
    There are plans for more stations including Stripe's very own pop-culture station with a focus on film, music and celebrities.
    Stripe can be found [link=http://stripe.com/home]here[/link]

    Three unsigned acts discovered by radio

    Sunday, September 28, 2008 | 0 comments »

    CRA: Three unsigned acts have been announced today as the winners of the Australian radio industry’s search for the next big on-air discovery, the New Artist 2 Radio (NA2R) initiative. The winners are Boston Shaker (rock category); Ashleigh Mannix (pop category) and Emma-Louise (adult contemporary category).

    The winners will share in a $150,000 advertising prize across the four major radio networks down the east coast of Australia, with an opportunity to be added to the playlists of selected radio stations from early next year.



    Ashleigh Mannix: (Pop) Hailing from the ACT, Ashleigh picked up her first guitar at the age of 11, a few years later adding to this musical experience with her own voice. She is currently exploring new music with guitarist and writing partner, Richie Harris and is looking forward to recording her debut album later this year.

    Emma-Louise: (Adult contemporary) Emma-Louise is a 17 year old school student from Cairns in far north Queensland. She started playing guitar at the age of twelve and has been in love with writing and performing her own material ever since. Emma has just finished recording her new EP titled “autumn tongues”, which is scheduled for release in September.

    Boston Shaker: (Rock) Sydney band, Boston Shaker is described as “high energy rock and roll.” The four-member band, started by two brothers, plays local venues around Sydney like the Sando, The Annadale and Manly Fishos. The band has been described by one reviewer as “what happens nine months after hard rock and indie pop crawl drunkenly into bed together”.

    Chief executive officer of Commercial Radio Australia, Joan Warner, said the three winners had been chosen from around 200 artists - a record number of entries for the NA2R.

    The winners were decided by a panel including top commercial radio network program and music directors and a representative of VGM Media & Marketing and MGM Distribution as well as MySpace. The decision was made based on each act’s commercial radio potential.

    Judge, Allan Cameron, Program Director SEAFM/2GO, Macquarie Southern Cross Media said:
    "It's encouraging to see the future of Australian music is alive and well, with such a great amount of entries and high quality of this year’s NA2R entries. To be able to give the up and coming artists an opportunity to get a well deserved break into commercial radio is a gratifying experience."

    The winners were announced at a workshop held today in Sydney which included leading radio program directors and music marketing experts, talking about how to maximize radio airplay and exposure – a popular feature of the event aimed at helping artists. All nine finalists in the event: Boston Shaker, Stone Parade, The Dirty Secrets (rock category); Ashleigh Mannix, Emma Dean; Julie Kember (pop) BoomLa, Emma-Louise and Mark Wilkinson (adult contemporary) attended the workshop.

    The winning act in each genre will perform at East on the Gold Coast on October 10, before radio industry leaders and heavyweights, with host for the night, Sea FM’s Big K, well-known for his popular afternoon music show, Hit Music Factory. One artist will then be chosen to perform the following night at the Australian Commercial Radio Awards (ACRAs).

    The NA2R commercial radio industry initiative aims to discover the next big music star to be played on commercial radio throughout the country and is now in its seventh year. The event is open to unsigned Australian artists who have not charted in the top 100 Australian National airplay chart.

    Ms Warner said the initiative was one of the main ways in which the commercial radio sector helped nurture and support new Australian musical talent. “This is an industry-wide initiative which has helped launched some very successful music careers since its inception including artists like Delta Goodrem, Kid Courageous, Sarah Blasko, Thirsty Merc, Jade Macrae and the Sunpilots.

    The three winners of the event will share in $150,000 worth of advertising airtime on four of the major commercial radio networks: Australian Radio Network, Austereo, DMG Radio and Macquarie Southern Cross Media. In addition, the four networks will choose a genre winner to add to their network play list for early 2009. Each winner will be released and distributed through MGM with ongoing media and marketing support provided by VGM Media & Marketing.

    “Unearthing new Australian music talent has always been one of the key roles played by commercial radio and the additional benefits provided to NA2R winners this year will help increase their chance of success and exposure – all very positive outcomes,” Ms Warner said.

    Keep our ABC Creative & Commercial-free

    | 0 comments »

    [img]{e_IMAGE}newspost_images/abc_logo.png[/img]

    Those who appreciate the quality of ABC programming and are concerned about the public broadcaster's increasingly commercial outlook may be interested in the 'Keep our ABC Creative & Commercial-free' petition to the ABC Board.
    The petition can be accessed at Friends of the ABC's website [link=http://www.fabc.org.au ]here[/link]

    Jetstar to broadcast Nova and Vega

    | 0 comments »

    Jetstar will broadcast DMG's radio stations Nova and Vega FM on all domestic and international flights from October 1, 2008. Passengers will be able to purchase headsets for $3.00 which gives them access to the audio while they are in transit

    DMG Radio Australia chief executive Cathy O’Connor said the partnership with Jetstar was an example of how the radio group was continuing to innovate. "We regularly like to challenge mainstream conceptions of radio and this is another example of how we’re exploring different frontiers,” Ms O’Connor said.

    60 years of short-wave broadcasting in New Zealand

    Friday, September 26, 2008 | 0 comments »

    Radio New Zealand is celebrating 60 years of international shortwave broadcasting.

    On September 27, the Dominion Day holiday in 1948, New Zealand’s first international short-wave service was launched by Prime Minister Peter Fraser. It took the name ‘Radio New Zealand’ and was part of the New Zealand Broadcasting Service (NZBS).


    The network has had a chequered history but, sixty years on, is stronger than ever, broadcasting today as Radio New Zealand International, an award winning, internationally recognised service, providing an essential link between New Zealand and its Pacific neighbours.

    Today Radio New Zealand International is well respected and widely heard across the Pacific and into South East Asia. Eighteen Pacific radio stations re-broadcast Radio New Zealand International material each day and the service is available through digital and analogue short-wave, and via the internet.

    In 2007 Radio New Zealand International won the prestigious International Radio Station of the Year Award at the Association for International Broadcasting (AIB) Media Excellence Awards in London.

    The AIB represents more than 25,000 public and commercial radio and television professionals worldwide and their annual awards recognise the very best in international broadcasting. Radio New Zealand International also won the award for Most Innovative Partnership, in recognition of its work with radio stations and media across the Pacific.

    Radio New Zealand International Manager, Linden Clark, acknowledges the technological revolution that has allowed the network to achieve its current international recognition.

    “From humble beginnings using two second hand transmitters US military transmitters left behind after the Second World War, the station has grown to become a significant international broadcaster using shortwave, digital and analogue technology which allows us to play a vital role in increasing understanding and awareness of New Zealand’s role in the Pacific.”

    Anniversary celebrations this week will include a special programme to be broadcast on Radio New Zealand National at 12.20am on Saturday 27th September and at 9.06pm on Tuesday 30th September. This programme will also be broadcast on Radio New Zealand International throughout the week. It includes the opening announcement by the Prime Minister of the day, Peter Fraser, excerpts from early programmes and interviews with former and current staff.

    Source Radio New Zealand International

    Vale Gary Pekin

    Thursday, September 25, 2008 | 0 comments »

    2QN - Classic Rock Deniliquin sales rep Gary Pekin passed away suddenly on Wednesday evening from a heart attack. Gary was at Deni for around 7 years and prior to that was General Sales Manager at 105.7 The River Albury. He is survived by his wife Wendy and son Jack.

    94.5 frequency to get new name

    Wednesday, September 24, 2008 | 0 comments »

    When you wake up Friday morning (Friday Sep 26), Mix 94.5 which sits at 94.5 on the FM dial will have a new name!

    The Mix team has been busy all week preparing to change the name of the station to celebrate the twenty fifth anniversary of the day that Perth entered the world stage.

    That’s right! It will be 25 years to the day that Australia II stole the America’s Cup from Dennis Connor and Liberty.
    So when you turn the radio onto Mix 94.5 Friday, you will get a brand new station, called “Australia 2 FM”.





    Fred Botica and his bunch will start the day broadcasting live from the Maritime Museum in Fremantle with one hundred invited listeners all dressed just how they were back in 1983.

    Content Director Steve Mummery said “How could we ignore the day Perth came of age, and an entire nation became sailing experts. It’s going to be an exciting day, and to help take everybody who lived in
    Perth that day back to those memories, every song we play will be from 1983”.

    Australia II crew members including John Longley and Skip Lissiman will join the celebrations on air
    throughout the day.

    The Maritime Museum will be having an open day on Sunday between 9.30am and 5pm. It will be free entry to go and see the famous winged keel that’s still attached to Australia II.

    Emily Everywhere - now where?

    | 1 comments »

    Contract renegotiations between Nova 106.9 and Emily Jade-O'Keefe have ended and the outcome sees the popular afternoon announcer out of a job at the end of the year.

    Nova chief executive Sean Ryan last night confirmed the axing, saying the move was designed to allow O'Keefe more time to work on her burgeoning television career.

    O'Keefe has been at the station since 2004

    Vale Peter Leonard

    Tuesday, September 23, 2008 | 0 comments »

    Canberra's Peter Leonard has lost his battle with mesothelioma, passing away yesterday in Canberra at the age of 66.

    To a generation Peter is best known as the face of Win television news which he presented from 1991 until midway through 2007 when he retired.

    Peter Leonard got his start in radio in 1962 when he joined 2CA as a cadet copyrighter - progressing through the ranks to become a fixture of the station as an announcer and newsreader.

    He later joined the ABC in Canberra presenting news on both radio and television prior to joining WIN.

    He was muched loved and respected by his peers, and as Andrew Gordon of WIN said in his tribute to Peter ''He was a great supporter of young people starting their careers in the media and generous when sharing his knowledge and expertise.

    Peter is survived by his wife Gwen, children Matthew, Nathan and Natasha and grandchildren.

    The D Star Play MPE system

    | 0 comments »

    The D Star Play MPE system is all about making life easier for those in the radio and music industry.

    The Player software is a software application, which has a web-browser interface that allows industry professionals to gain access to authorized MPE music and video files.

    Similarly, the Player is a simple and feature enhanced software, which provides the ability to create personal Playlists, quickly stream preview songs or music videos. [link=http://plaympe.com/v3/software/mpeplayer/what_is_mpe_player.php]See what others are saying about MPE[/link]
    Each Monday Radio News will publish the top ten most popular downloaded tracks for the previous 7 days. [link=http://radiorumours.com/page.php?18]here[/link]

    More Multiple Choices

    | 0 comments »

    Due to popular demand ABC Local Radio has commissioned columnist, author and social commentator Susan Maushart, to create a second series of her weekly podcast Multiple Choice. The first series, which explored the choices we make each day, has received thousands downloads.

    “It is very pleasing to see what a great success the Multiple Choice podcast has become,” said Michael Mason, Head ABC Local Radio.


    “Susan’s podcast has sparked a connection with listeners, dealing with the issues of choice in a funny and confronting way, with a keen interest in why people make the choices they do.”

    The second series continues to celebrate and interrogate the challenge of choice; from big-picture, life-changing choices to trivial, nit-picky ones. Choice is both empowering and exhausting; by listening to Multiple Choice listeners have an opportunity to hear how other people are managing their options.

    Episode 17, the first of series two, is now available online and explores work/love choices for busy people, including a fast look at speed dating and a day care centre that works a treat for dog owners.

    Dr. Susan Mauchart is a mother of three and the author of The Mask of Motherhood, Wifework: What Marriage Really Means for Women and What Women Want. Susan writes a weekly column in The Weekend Australian Magazine and can be heard regularly on ABC Radio.

    The second series of Multiple Choice is only available through ABC Local Radio websites and at abc.net.au/local/podcasts (http://abc.net.au/local/podcasts).

    The first series of Multiple Choice will now be heard on ABC Local Radio nationally from Saturday October 4 at 6.30pm.

    New role at AFTRS

    | 0 comments »

    Jane Smith has been appointed the inaugural head of the Australian Film, Television and Radio School's new Centre for Screenwriting. The Centre for Screenwriting has been developed with the Australian Writers Guild and will offer a one-year,part-time program that will collaborate with other streams and students at AFTRS.

    Radio continues growth in first half of 08

    Monday, September 22, 2008 | 0 comments »

    [img]{e_IMAGE}newspost_images/cra.bmp[/img]

    CRA: Commercial Economic Advisory Service of Australia (CEASA) figures, released, for the first half of the 2008 calendar year show radio continues to perform in attracting advertising revenue with an increase of 5.7 percent to a total of over $486 million.



    Chief executive officer of Commercial Radio Australia, Joan Warner, said CEASA’s Advertising Expenditure in Main Media report for the six months ended June 30, 2008 shows radio advertising continues to perform in a competitive market with the metropolitan market recording growth of around 3.3 percent to a total of nearly $311 million and regional markets growing by 9.8 percent to a total of just under $165 million.

    Ms Warner said, “An increase of 3.3 percent in metropolitan markets and 9.8 percent in regional markets for the January to June 08 period compared to January to June in 2007 is good news for the radio sector. However, we need to take a cautious approach to any growth forecasts over the rest of the year as we cannot yet predict the likely flow on effect of the current uncertainty in global financial markets.”

    Denis Walter gets 3AW afternoon gig

    Sunday, September 21, 2008 | 0 comments »

    [img]{e_IMAGE}newspost_images/zdenwalter.JPG[/img]

    3AW have announced Denis Walter will replace Ernie Sigley (retiring) on the afternoon program in November. Walter has been the regular fill in / holiday presenter on the 3AW afternoon program for quite some time now.
    For the last 15 years he has also read television news on the Win network, across regional Victoria. He will leave the Win news reading role in November.

    On-line for over 5 years

    | 5 comments »

    Radio News has now been on-line in one form or another for over 5 years now. This site is maintained by a small dedicated team all with a passion for radio. Feel free to contribute station movement, any form of industry press release and general radio industry happenings.

    Reclusive media moguls the quiet achievers

    | 0 comments »

    Mark Day has an article in The Australian today outlining those 'other' families that make up media ownership in Australia. Day writes
    "there are other media families that like to fly under the radar. They are the privateers; those that eschew the scrutiny of listed corporate structures, stay privately held, do it their way and -- genes and good fortune willing -- hope to pass on their empires to the next generation.' [link=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24381009-7582,00.html]Read the entire article here [/link]

    Sandilands high risk of a heart attack.

    Saturday, September 20, 2008 | 0 comments »

    [img]{e_IMAGE}newspost_images/healthyks.jpg[/img]

    Austereo's Today network presenter Kyle Sandilands is a walking time bomb with a high risk of suffering a heart attack if he does not change his lifestyle.
    Sandilands sucks in at least a packet of fags a day, downs countless cups of coffee and guzzles up to 8 litres of Coca Cola - all this with a very unhealthy diet as well.

    The 2DAY FM breakfast presenter recently said '"I should make big changes. I know that I'd rather be more healthy, but I just really like bad food and chocolate and cigarettes too much'. [link=http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,24377124-2902,00.html]Related article here[/link]

    Weekend Sport Preview

    | 0 comments »

    Helmes Media continues to expand and has recently launched a new program, "Weekend Sport Preview", hosted by Bruce Eva.

    “Weekend Sport Preview” will include information about all those great sporting events which take place over the warmer months such as cricket, tennis, golf, Bathurst and Sydney to Hobart etc.

    The segment will be completely free and will be delivered on Thursday nights for Friday air play. To find out more visit Helmes [link=http://www.helmes.com.au]here [/link]

    Brendan McGreal Magic 1278

    Friday, September 19, 2008 | 0 comments »

    [img]{e_IMAGE}newspost_images/zmagic.gif[/img]

    Brendan McGreal heard on Melbourne's Magic 1278 sitting in for Peter Van. Brendan, who is a breath of freah air, had a loyal following back when he was a regular on 1377 3MP.

    Vic Roads ad wins Round 2 of 2009 Siren Awards (19-Sep-08)

    | 0 comments »

    An ad for Vic Roads, which uses humor to promote custom made number plates, has won the overall and single categories for round two of the 2009 Siren Awards. Written by Neil Mallet from agency, Marmalade in Melbourne, the ad is called “6 Foot Blonde”.

    Judge and previous round winner, Thomas Duncan-Watt from agency Gorilla Communications, Sydney said the ad was funny: “In this age of Facebook, MySpace, customised ring tones and every kind of way to force your personality on other people, the idea that 'the real you' isn't always



    An ad for Vic Roads, which uses humor to promote custom made number plates, has won the overall and single categories for round two of the 2009 Siren Awards. Written by Neil Mallet from agency, Marmalade in Melbourne, the ad is called “6 Foot Blonde”.

    Judge and previous round winner, Thomas Duncan-Watt from agency Gorilla Communications, Sydney said the ad was funny: “In this age of Facebook, MySpace, customised ring tones and every kind of way to force your personality on other people, the idea that 'the real you' isn't always fit for public consumption was not only totally refreshing, but downright funny.”

    Mr Mallet said the ad was unique for its simplicity. “Remembering the environment in which the
    spot will be heard. It is a world of wall to wall sound - which is most important when creating an effective radio commercial.”

    There were two highly commended entries in the single category. They included another ad for Vic Roads by Neil Mallet called “Amun Ra” as well as an ad called “Drink and Dial” for Thirsty Camel, written by Matthew Ellis and Andrew Panozzo from agency, Twenty20 in Melbourne.

    Winner of the campaign category was “Never Leave” for Ford Falcon Ute. Writers were Carly Williams and James Orr from agency, JWT in Melbourne.

    Judge, Thomas Duncan-Watt from agency, Gorilla Communications said about the campaign winner: “In the campaign category, there were some excellent contenders, but Ford Ute stood out, not only because it contains a great new thought for a challenging brief, but each spot was as good as the next. The voices sound authentic and 'live', which is still a refreshing break from the over-produced sound of most radio voice-overs. Most importantly though, it’s bloody funny.”

    There were two highly commended ads in the campaign category. They were “UBD Traffic Chopper” for UBD Street Directory, written by Jim McKeown, from agency, DDB in Melbourne. And “Small Market/ Professor/ Small Market Support” for Commercial Radio Australia, written by Ralph van Dijk from agency, Eardrum in Sydney.

    Winner of the craft category was “Everything” for RAC Insurance, produced by sound engineer, Ross Batten from production studio, The Cutting Edge. Dale Simmonds and Craig Buchanan were the creative directors for the ad.

    There were two highly commended ads in the craft category. They included an ad for International Sports Clothing, called “My Conscious”. The ad was produced by sound engineer, Glen Styles from Radio Network Austereo in Sydney. Glen was also the creative director with Kade Robinson.
    The other highly commended ad in the craft category was an ad called “Paintball - Bring Out Your Wicked Side” for Paintball Games. It was produced by sound engineer, David Hinchley from DMG Radio Australia in Melbourne. Creative director was Paul Varrasso.

    The national Siren Awards are run by Commercial Radio Australia and are designed to recognise the best radio advertising in the country. The awards promote the importance of creativity as a way to make radio advertising more effective. Entries for round 3 for 2009 are now open and close on October 17. For more information visit the dedicated website www.sirenawards.com.au.

    Better Homes gets into the Mix

    Thursday, September 18, 2008 | 0 comments »

    TV's Better Homes and Gardens is to become a radio program to be heard on ARN Mix stations across the country. [link=http://www.thewest.com.au/aapstory.aspx?StoryName=515771]MORE[/link]

    Vale Malcolm Searle

    | 0 comments »

    Former 3AK Good Guy, Malcolm Searle, passed away on Monday the
    15th of September.
    Malcolm is remembered for his time spent on radio although he was also involved in television, hosting such quiz programs as Coles $6000 Question and The Marriage Game.

    Green Guide: 18 Sept 2008

    Wednesday, September 17, 2008 | 0 comments »

    There are those who hope they will wake up one morning to hear that TT FM has returned to the Melbourne airwaves and the Mix name has been dropped. Could they really pick up where they left off? The Green Guide looks at what is missing from Mix 101.1.

    In 1997, TTFM - now known as Mix - finally claimed Melbourne's No.1 FM spot from arch-rival Fox. But over the next 11 years, it somehow lost almost two-thirds of its market share. In the most recent survey, it attracted just 4.3% of listeners, putting it well behind Fox, Nova, Gold and TripleM - and just 0.4points ahead of Vega. [link=http://www.theage.com.au/news/entertainment/tv--radio/what-gives-with-mix/2008/09/17/1221330909114.html]MORE[/link]

    David Borean replacing Mandi Wicks

    | 0 comments »

    David Borean will replace Mandi Wicks as General Manager of Nova 969 and Vega 953, Sydney.

    Akmal f word storm

    Tuesday, September 16, 2008 | 1 comments »

    Akmal Saleh was more radio shock than jock yesterday after not just telling a teenage boy he was ugly, but calling an outraged listener a "f...head" during his afternoon show on Nova.

    The comedian, who has added an advice segment to his program, took a call from a self-proclaimed bad-looking 16-year-old named James, who wanted help on becoming more attractive to the opposite sex. [link=http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,24358003-5012980,00.html]Courier Mail [/link]

    Ernie to quit 3AW afternoons

    | 0 comments »

    3AW's Ernie Sigley will leave full-time radio in around six weeks. The 70 year old radio veteran who got his start on Melbourne's 3DB over 55 years ago told 3AW of his decision yesterday.
    Sigley's ratings took a 1.8 point slide in the most recent survey which gave him around 8.8 points of the market, something not seen on 3AW afternoons for quite some time.
    He initially came to 3AW in 1996 to fill in for Caroline Wilson who previously presented afternoons, it was while Caroline was on maternity leave Sigley was made full-time.
    At this stage it has been suggested he may return to do fill in shifts on 3AW in 2009.

    The Nigel Lythgoe and Imran Khan show!

    Sunday, September 14, 2008 | 0 comments »

    British television talent, well-known for his work in light entertainment, and judge on the American hit show, “So You Think You Can Dance”, Nigel Lythgoe, will headline this year’s Australian Radio Conference and Australian Commercial Radio Awards (ACRAs), along with Imran Khan, renowned Pakistani cricketer and politician. Both events will be held on the Gold Coast in October.


    Mr Lythgoe, currently the President of 19 Television, is well -known for producing “Pop Idol” from which “American Idol” was born. He was also responsible for bringing “American Gladiators” to the UK and was a producer and judge on the British version of “Popstars”, where he was nicknamed “Nasty Nigel”, for being tough on competitors


    He will talk about creating celebrities through television and radio shows.

    Formerly an employee of London Weekend Television, where he was Head of Entertainment and Comedy, Mr Lythgoe joined Simon Fuller’s 19 Entertainment in 2001 and developed the concept of “Idol” which became a huge hit around the world.

    The show on which he is resident judge, “So You Think You Can Dance”, recently picked up two Emmys for its choreography. Mr Lythgoe trained as a dancer, originally working as part of the song and dance group, Young Generation.

    He will be joined at the radio conference and Awards, by Pakistani cricketer and politician, Imran Khan, who will talk about the importance of radio in communities. Mr Khan played for the Pakistani cricket team from 1971 to 1992, and led them as captain to his country’s first and only World Cup victory in1992. He is known as one of the finest all-rounder’s in the history of the game.

    In 1996, Mr Khan founded the Movement for Justice political party in Pakistan. He served over five years as an elected politician and last year, spent time under house-arrest for speaking out against the then Pakistani Government of the day.

    This year’s Australian Radio Conference will be held at Conrad Jupiters on the Gold Coast on October 10. The annual conference is a highlight for the Australian radio industry and has featured legendary keynote speakers over the past few years including the voice of The Simpsons, Harry Shearer; the world’s funniest man, John Cleese; Sir Bob Geldof, Barry Humphries; astronaut, Buzz Aldrin, Clive James and director Bruce Beresford. More speakers for the conference will be announced shortly.

    The ACRAs will be held the following night on October 11, and will also feature Mr Lythgoe and Mr Khan.

    Get well Paul

    Saturday, September 13, 2008 | 0 comments »

    [center][img]{e_IMAGE}newspost_images/zpaulbkidd.jpg[/img][/center]

    2UE's Paul B Kidd has announced that he has cancer of the bladder. Paul who together with Geogre Moore co-hosts weekends, between 8am & 2pm, will be away from the program for at least the next 6 weeks.

    Fans of Paul, whether they be from radio or via his successful series of crime books, no doubt wish him a safe and speedy recovery.

    The field is wide, who will replace KG?

    | 1 comments »

    Speculation continues as to who will replace the soon to be retired Ken "KG" Cunningham on Fiveaa's drive slot. KG will be heard on air with co-host Graham Cornes until later this year.

    Names that have been thrown around include Andrew Jarman, Mark Bickley, Stephen Rowe and Ryan Fitzgerald. Related article

    Ian Craig clocks up 40 years with 2KY

    Friday, September 12, 2008 | 0 comments »

    [img]{e_IMAGE}newspost_images/ziancraig.jpg[/img]

    Ian Craig will celebrate 40 years of broadcasting with 2KY this Sunday, 14 September having joined the station in 1968. Ian has been 2KY's chief race caller since 1975 and called his 34th consecutive Golden Slipper, Doncaster Handicap, Sydney Cup and AJC Australian Derby this year.
    He actually started his radio career at 2KA, calling the Richmond greyhounds.

    Brian Carlton joins ABN Newswire

    | 1 comments »

    [img]{e_IMAGE}newspost_images/bcarlton.jpg[/img]

    Brian Carlton AKA known as Triple M's Spoonman has joined ABN Newswire to present online audio podcasts aimed at the corporate market. Carlton has spent more than 20 years at senior levels in metropolitan news / talk radio as a presenter, executive producer, writer, journalist and program director.

    Carlton also has experience at corporate media management and understands the importance of getting undiluted messages to the media, the market and shareholders.






    "I expect more and more CEO's of listed companies will come to see the bottom line benefits of communicating directly with their stakeholders utilising audio on modern media platforms, in their own voice," Carlton said. "The human voice is more intimate, personal and passionate than simple text. [link=http://www.abnnewswire.net/press/en/56881/Brian_Carlton_Joins_ABN_Newswire_as_Audio_Presenter.html]ABN press release [/link]

    Warwick Capper to be knocked about the ring.

    | 0 comments »

    [img]{e_IMAGE}newspost_images/zcaper.bmp[/img]

    Former AFL star Warwick Capper will do anything to stay in the limelight, even spending six weeks training with his former bodyguard Scott Sanders to prepare for an upcoming boxing bout.

    Warwick is set to come up against Gold Coast radio jock Anthony Toohey, best known as Beck from Sea FM's Ant and Beck's The Benchwarmers show. Beck is no stranger to the boxing capper, oops caper having ten bouts under his belt.

    The fight, promoted by the Variety Club and Conrad Jupiters, will be at the Nerang PCYC this afternoon.

    Ernie Dingo tells it as it is + audio

    Thursday, September 11, 2008 | 2 comments »

    [img]{e_IMAGE}newspost_images/zedingo.jpg[/img]

    Ernie Dingo has labelled breakfast radio host Kyle Sandilands a "commercial wanker" during a heated radio interview, which was cut short after Sandilands hung up on Dingo, telling him to "get out of here".

    Dingo was on the Kyle and Jackie O program on the Austereo network this morning to promote a new Channel 7 TV show he is hosting about saving native wildlife. [link=http://www.smh.com.au/news/tv--radio/dingo-blasts-kyle-sandilands-on-air/2008/09/12/1220857790433.html]SMH article[/link] Audio [link=http://austereo.castmetrix.net/download/180143985094841197/1/ErnieDingovKyle.mp3"]here[/link]

    Brad takes on a new direction

    | 0 comments »

    [img]{e_IMAGE}newspost_images/zbradmac.jpg[/img]

    Mix 106.5's Brad Mac is the newly appointed Australian Radio Network (Sydney) Digital Music Director and also Mix 106.5 Assistant Music Director. He will retain his on air role presenting the Friday Night Party Mix.

    Ronnie Stanton heads to Canada

    | 1 comments »

    [img]{e_IMAGE}newspost_images/zcravefm.JPG[/img]
    Prime Group Program Director Ronnie Stanton has resigned to join Astral Media's 95 Crave in Vancouver Canada as Program Director after 5 years on the Sunshine Coast. .

    Replacing him as GPD is Daniel 'Doc' O'Carroll and breakfast host Dave Warner from Sea FM Cairns. The new breakfast program 'The Sami Todd and Dave Show' starts Monday on Hot 91.

    We wish Ronnie all the best in his new venture.

    Digital Radio Reveals Logo & Marketing Plans

    Wednesday, September 10, 2008 | 0 comments »

    [img]{e_IMAGE}newspost_images/zdiradio.PNG[/img]

    Listen live to the digital radioplus player by clicking [link=http://digitalradioplus.cra.predelegation.com/player.cfm]here[/link]

    The Australian radio industry today revealed the digital radio logo and multi-million dollar on-air awareness campaign that will launch the switch-on of the Australian radio industry’s new technology platform.



    “Digital Radio – it’s radio as you know it…plus”, forms the basis of the campaign. A plus (+) feature acts as a constant memory aid in all – radio, online, point of sale and visual media and a distinctive audio sonic mnemonic will identify the brand on radio, television and online.

    Developed by the independent creative agency SMART in conjunction with Commercial Radio Australia and with the support of all the commercial stations, plus the ABC and SBS, the launch campaign for digital radio will illustrate that radio is about to undergo a multimedia technology transition.
    Chief executive officer of Commercial Radio Australia, Joan Warner showcased the new Digital Radio Plus brand, the consumer website and the unique sonic sound tag at a business briefing attended by key stakeholders from the radio, retail, car and receiver manufacturer industries.

    “The industry-wide Digital Radio Plus on-air awareness campaign, worth an estimated $10 million will be rolled out in three phases in the first quarter of 2009 in the digital radio launch markets of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide,” said Ms Warner .

    “The first phase in the campaign will be a tease tactic to commence in the first quarter of 2009 to introduce the brand and raise awareness. Phase two will outline the new capabilities and benefits of digital radio and generate excitement in preparation for a specific retail promotion to take place. Phase three will drive the usage of digital radio as the switch-on takes place and also promote a national listener focused “Launch Event” said Ms Warner.

    “We have worked closely with the radio industry, manufacturers and retailers to develop a logo and collateral that will work in all third party applications. The audio sonic mnemonic can be applied as a tag on retail advertising and the Digital Plus logo can be used on manufacturers packaging to distinguish it as Australian DAB+ product,” Ms Warner explained.





    DAB+ is the digital radio technical delivery system that will allow radio broadcasters to deliver a much more dynamic, multi-media experience to the listener.
    The additional spectrum in the DAB+ system will enable broadcasters to provide extra audio channels, a superior sound quality, a pause and rewind facility plus a new visual aspect to radio with the introduction of scrolling news, sport and weather text and the ability to transmit on a small screen a picture of a radio host or band, the cover of a CD or an animated logo.
    “Every execution in the campaign is designed to generate interest by illustrating that no matter what type of radio broadcast you listen to – music, talk, sport, news, lifestyle… digital radio will enhance the experience and make it that much better,” explained SMART Sydney Managing Director, Jamie Clift.
    The Digital Radio Plus sonic mnemonic feature of the campaign is a subtle 'plus' vocal using the voice of a child.

    “The sonic is the most important part of the brand,” said SMART Creative Director, John Mescall. “It‘s designed to serve as an audio shorthand for the brand like the iconic Intel sound or Windows start up sound.”

    All communication will direct listeners, readers and viewers to the new consumer website digitalradioplus.com.au

    The consumer website will become the digital radio information gateway where listeners, retailers and all key stakeholders can easily access information about digital radio. The site will incorporate training modules for retailers and the advertising industry about what digital radio can deliver

    Consumers will also be able to SMS their postcode to the mobile phone number 0409DRPLUS (0409 377 587) to find out if they can receive digital radio in their area.

    “Ideally, after the first phase of the on-air campaign begins, listeners will have seen and heard the digital radio awareness raising campaign, will go on to the consumer website to find out more about what digital radio will mean for them; undertake a postcode search to find out where the broadcasts will be available and which retailers will stock digital radios and then will purchase a new receiver ready for the launch,” Ms Warner said.

    Commercial Radio Australia is working together with retailers and receiver manufacturers to ensure a digital radio is on top of everyone’s must buy list in 2009, said Ms Warner.

    Free-to-air digital radio services will begin in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth on 1 May 2009.


    Visit the Digital Radio Plus website at digitalradioplus.com.au

    ACMA finding on 4DDB Toowoomba

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    [img]{e_IMAGE}newspost_images/zacma.gif[/img]

    ACMA: The Australian Communications and Media Authority has found that the licensee of community radio station 4DDB Toowoomba breached the conditions of its licence that prohibit the broadcasting of advertisements and the broadcasting of sponsorship announcements that run in excess of five minutes per hour. ACMA has also found that the licensee has operated the service as part of a profit-making enterprise.



    Under the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 (BSA), sponsorship announcements on community radio which do not include appropriate acknowledgements of financial support (‘tags’) are considered to be advertisements and so fall within the prohibition. The Authority found that the licensee failed to include tags in relation to numerous pre-recorded announcements for financial sponsors and two live cross-over chats.

    Where they are appropriately tagged, the BSA allocates a time limit of five minutes per hour for the broadcast of sponsorship announcements. The Authority found that on three occasions the licensee broadcast sponsorship announcements that ran in excess of this time limit.

    This is 4DDB’s second breach of these licence conditions this year.

    Community broadcasters must not operate their services for profit or as part of a profit-making enterprise. While ACMA is satisfied that 4DDB is not operating for profit, it has found that the terms of 4DDB’s commercial agreement with a third party are such that its service has been contributing to the generation of income for this organisation. In practice, this means that the service was an integral part of a profit-making enterprise operated by the third party. As such, 4DDB’s service has been operated ‘as part of’ a profit-making enterprise in breach of the licence condition.

    In light of these serious breaches of its licence conditions, ACMA will now move to pursue compliance measures addressing the potential for future breaches of the relevant licence conditions. ACMA will be writing to the licensee of 4DDB, Darling Downs Broadcasting Society Inc, shortly about the proposed compliance actions, details of which will be announced when finalised.

    ACMA’s investigation followed complaints that 4DDB was broadcasting advertisements and sponsorship announcements in excess of the five minute per hour limit and that the service was operating for profit. The complainants also alleged that the service was failing to represent its community interest in line with its licence conditions. However, ACMA’s investigation found that the licensee was meeting the requirements of the community interest licence condition.

    Darling Downs Broadcasting Society Inc holds a community broadcasting licence to provide a radio service in the Toowoomba RA1 licence area, which includes the local government areas of Toowoomba, Cambooya, Crows Nest, Gatton, Jondaryan, Pittsworth and Rosalie in Queensland.

    A copy of investigation report 1993 is available on the ACMA website.

    Media contact: Donald Robertson, ACMA Media Manager, on (02) 9334 7980.


    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Backgrounder
    ACMA conducts various types of investigations under the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 (the Act). Investigations under Part 11 of the Act are conducted in response to complaints received by ACMA relating to a possible breach by:

    a licensed broadcaster of the Act, the regulations, a licence condition, a class licence or a code of practice; or
    the ABC or SBS of a code of practice.
    If a person wishes to complain about something of concern they have seen or heard on a program broadcast by a radio or TV station, and the matter is covered by a code of practice, the person must, by law, first make a written complaint to the station.

    However, if a complaint relates to a matter covered by a licence condition, the person can complain directly to ACMA and need not complain to the station first.

    There is a different code of practice for each broadcasting sector, and each code of practice contains a section that explains the complaints process that applies to that sector.

    As some codes impose time limits for complaints, it is advisable that people who wish to make a complaint write to the radio or TV station as soon as possible. For instance, the code of practice that applies to commercial television broadcasters enables them to decide to not respond in writing to complaints that are made more than 30 days after the date of broadcast.

    When making a complaint to ACMA, people must provide a copy of their complaint to the station, a copy of the station’s reply if this has been received, and any other relevant correspondence with the station. ACMA takes all complaints seriously (except for those that are frivolous or vexatious or not made in good faith) and acknowledges all complaints in writing.

    For valid complaints, ACMA considers the information provided and offers the relevant station an opportunity to provide its perspectives. When all relevant information is available, ACMA assesses the complaint against the relevant licence condition or code of practice.

    When an investigation is completed, ACMA is required to notify a complainant of the results of an investigation under Part 11 of the Act. The form this notification is to take is not specified in the Act – it might be in the form of a letter or, alternatively, it could be in the form of a more formal investigation report, which is provided to both the complainant and the licensee concerned.

    Generally, personal or private information provided in a complaint, including name and address details, are not disclosed to the licensee concerned if it is a licence condition matter. However, as code complaints are first made to a licensee, code complaints are usually made available to the licensee concerned. ACMA’s usual practice is to not provide personal or private information in an investigation report.

    Under the Act, ACMA has a discretion whether or not to publish the report of an investigation conducted under Part 11 of the Act. ACMA’s usual practice is to publish such reports. However, ACMA is not required to publish an investigation report if publication would disclose matter of a confidential character or likely to prejudice the fair trial of a person. If ACMA intends to publish an investigation report that may adversely affect the interests of a person, ACMA must give the person an opportunity to make representations in relation to the matter.

    Blast from the past - the denim machine

    Tuesday, September 9, 2008 | 2 comments »

    [img]{e_IMAGE}newspost_images/zzz3xy.JPG[/img]
    Long ago when vans were cool, radio stations quite often offered suped up versions to be given away as prizes. These were normally part of a competition jointly sponsered by companies such as Coca Cola. The picture above is of The Denim Machine (what were they smoking at 3XY?) which for most of us has faded to a distant memory.
    Over at [link=http://www.flickr.com/photos/doctor_keats/2561022844/]Flickr 'Dr Keats' [/link]has a full size image of the pic above. He also lets us in on what has become of that long lost relic -the [link=http://www.flickr.com/photos/doctor_keats/2259336391/]3XY Bedford Freedom Machine. [/link]

    ABC Media Release: The ABC - 2012 and Beyond

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    [img]{e_IMAGE}newspost_images/abc_logo.png[/img]
    ABC Managing Director Mark Scott said it was the ABC’s priority to vastly increase the amount of content available to Australian audiences through digital television and radio, and high-speed broadband leading up to 2012 and beyond.

    In an address to the National Press Club today, Mr Scott said the ABC had a once in a generation opportunity to tap the potential and take up the opportunities offered by digital technology in a multi-platform, multi-channel media environment.

    ABC Managing Director Mark Scott said it was the ABC’s priority to vastly increase the amount of content available to Australian audiences through digital television and radio, and high-speed broadband leading up to 2012 and beyond.

    In an address to the National Press Club today, Mr Scott said the ABC had a once in a generation opportunity to tap the potential and take up the opportunities offered by digital technology in a multi-platform, multi-channel media environment.

    “The digital dividend that we’re starting to hear a lot about is not just the money that can be raised from selling excess spectrum, it is the additional services that digital technology makes possible and the enrichment it brings to all Australians,” Mr Scott said.

    “To obtain that dividend requires some additional investment in content, because content will drive the take-up of digital TV, radio and broadband - and new content is what audiences value.

    “The ABC is demonstrating the potential through the success of services such as ABC2, ABC iView, ABCNow and the successful podcasting and vodcasting offerings.

    “I believe the ABC’s continuing contribution to the nation will be best made through more Australian drama, more regional content, a dedicated children’s TV channel, public affairs broadcasting, and more online innovation in an Australia where fast broadband becomes an increasingly mainstream proposition.”

    As part of this suite of offerings, Mr Scott argued for a dedicated non-commercial children’s channel, with at least 50% Australian content.

    “Next year there are likely to be fifteen free-to-air digital channels in Australia as we move to analogue switch-off. One should be an ABC children’s channel, commercial free and brought to you by the most trusted and valued source of children’s television in Australia’s history,” Mr Scott said.

    “If we are concerned about the impact fast food advertising on television is having on our children, doesn’t it make sense to give parents the choice of a completely commercial free children’s channel, with high quality, Australian content. No pester power, no exposure to fast food advertising – just quality children’s content.”

    Building on the ABC’s extensive local, national and international news gathering resources, Mr Scott said the ABC could also develop a public affairs channel.

    “We want to be able to create a service – online and on television – that allows citizens to watch for themselves key democratic processes and public events: unmediated, unfiltered.

    “I include in that category Parliament from Canberra and the State chambers; press conferences and Parliamentary hearings; major fora like the annual ABARE conference; key annual general meetings; public addresses at places like the Lowy Institute, the Melbourne Press Club or the Centre for Independent Studies.

    “This is something that should be available free in every Australian home – access to our democracy in action.”

    Mr Scott said these services could add an immediate lift in the take-up of digital television as we move towards analogue switch-off and a significant opportunity for Government with the freeing up of the analog spectrum.

    “At the ABC, we are acutely aware that these new services cost real money to deliver. We are being rigorous in ensuring the money we currently spend is allocated wisely and spent efficiently.”

    Please click here to read the full address.

    Community broadcasters singled out in frequency fiasco

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    [img]{e_IMAGE}newspost_images/cbaa.png[/img]

    The Community Broadcasting Association of Australia (CBAA) is furious about the proposal to move several community radio stations to lower powered frequencies.

    The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) plans to make channels available for ABC NewsRadio in four regional areas and community radio stations are being told they have to move frequency and broadcast at lower power. Read the [link=http://www.cbaa.org.au/content.php/236.html?newsid=1369]full item here[/link]

    Gold changes

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    [img]{e_IMAGE}newspost_images/zzgold.JPG[/img]
    At GOLD 1242 Len Johns is now presenting the afternoon shift, replacing Greg Allen who has moved to the newsroom.

    Digital Radio Switch-On Set for May 2009

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    [img]{e_IMAGE}newspost_images/cra.bmp[/img]
    CRA release: The radio industry announced today that the national switch-on for digital radio will take place on 1 May 2009 following resolution of infrastructure issues relating to the rollout of transmission equipment.

    Commercial Radio Australia and ABC Radio have consistently taken the position that the successful introduction of digital radio in Australia is dependent on an integrated national industry rollout with both public and commercial broadcasters switching on simultaneously in the 5 mainland capital cities.

    The radio industry announced today that the national switch-on for digital radio will take place on 1 May 2009 following resolution of infrastructure issues relating to the rollout of transmission equipment.

    Commercial Radio Australia and ABC Radio have consistently taken the position that the successful introduction of digital radio in Australia is dependent on an integrated national industry rollout with both public and commercial broadcasters switching on simultaneously in the 5 mainland capital cities.

    “We have maintained from the outset that the digital radio rollout in Australia would be on a national basis, with the first five markets in the mainland capital cities of Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth to be launched simultaneously,” Joan Warner, CEO of Commercial Radio Australia said.

    “Given we have timeline infrastructure issues in a number of the launch cities and after consultation with the commercial sector, the industry has made a united decision to officially launch digital radio to listeners on 1 May 2009 in all markets,” said Sue Howard, Director of ABC Radio

    Ms Warner said the timeline issues had arisen as a result of intensive and collaborative work being done on a second draft of the Digital Radio Channel Plans (DRCPs) developed by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA). These will now not be finalised until December 2008.

    “It’s from these technical specifications that the antenna design is developed and the final specifications of broadcast system can be finalised. After close collaboration between ACMA and the industry, we are looking forward to a set of specifications which will allow much improved coverage to that offered by the earlier DRCPs released late in 2007.The infrastructure build of an entirely new broadcast technology is a complex one. We are committed to ensuring that we get it right from day one. Transmission networks last a very long time,” Ms Warner said.

    Des DeCean Austereo Director of Technologies and Chair of the Commercial Radio Australia Digital Technical Advisory Committee said, “All of our transmission equipment has been ordered and is in production. The finalisation of the antenna design and installation will allow us to move forward to complete the infrastructure build.”

    “In addition, the radio industry is briefing all stakeholders on the new brand and logo for digital radio on Thursday 11 September in Sydney and on Friday 12 September in Melbourne. This unavoidable extension of the launch date allows all those involved – radio networks, retailers, manufacturers and advertisers - more time to collaborate on the launch and to deliver a fantastic product to the marketplace,” Ms Warner said.

    Free to air digital radio will allow radio broadcasters to provide additional audio channels, a superior quality sound, a pause and rewind facility, plus a new visual aspect to radio with the introduction of scrolling news, sport and weather text and the ability to transmit a picture of a radio host or band, the cover of a CD or an animated logo on screen.

    Nielsen radio ratings survey 6

    Monday, September 8, 2008 | 0 comments »

    [img]{e_IMAGE}newspost_images/ratanimation.gif[/img]

    The big news item is FOX FM have knocked 3AW from the top of the ratings tree. State by state : Melb FOX, Sydney 2GB, Adelaide Fiveaa, Perth Mix 94.5 and Brisbane Nova 1069. Survey 6 of the Nielsen radio ratings are available on each of the limks below.
  • Adelaide
  • Brisbane
  • Perth
  • Melbourne
  • Sydney
  • SEN Olympic hope still high

    | 0 comments »

    [img]{e_IMAGE}newspost_images/sen.jpg[/img]

    RADIO executives are known to obsess over the release of the periodic ratings results but this morning's release will take on added significance for SEN boss Barrie Quick, as it will reveal whether the sports station's Olympics gamble has paid off.

    The Richmond-based broadcaster, which fought off receivership in 2005, paid a "substantial" but undisclosed fee to secure the Melbourne commercial broadcast rights for the Games, ahead of its bigger rival 3AW. [link=http://business.theage.com.au/business/sen-olympic-hope-still-high-20080908-4cap.html]Full story The Age[/link]

    Radio ratings

    Sunday, September 7, 2008 | 0 comments »

    We will have all the latest radio ratings here from around 10.20am. (Tuesday)

    Helmes Media Solutions segments go interactive

    | 0 comments »

    Listeners to Helmes Media Solutions segments will now be able to contribute to their content with a national feedback line now in operation.

    Helmes Media Solutions General Manager Joel Helmes says its one thing to listen to interesting radio but now listeners can also have their say as well.


    “For example on Behind the Wheel someone might have a technical question to put to us, we will incorporate that question into the segment, hearing from the actual listener”.

    “I don’t think that’s ever been done before in this format”.


    Mr. Helmes says the 1300 number (1300 784 212) and feedback line will enable Helmes Media Solutions to help grow the interest not only in the segments, but in the radio stations they are heard on.

    ‘People love feeling like their part of their favorite radio stations, we think this can only help”.

    The feedback line is free for your listeners to use and will be promoted in Behind the Wheel, In the Garden and New Horizons.

    Waking up is hard to do

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    [img]{e_IMAGE}newspost_images/alarm1.bmp[/img]
    Get a few breakfast announcers together in a room and it is really dull, says Vega's Mikey Robins. "We just talk about sleep. It's like junkies trying to score. 'Do you nap? What time do you go to bed?"' Most breakfast presenters rely on two alarms, a clock and mobile phone, and they make sure at least one is out of arm's reach so they can't hit the snooze button. Even so, nearly everyone has a disaster story.
    [link=http://www.smh.com.au/news/tv--radio/waking-up-is-hard-to-do/2008/09/06/1220121584405.html]Full story SMH [/link]

    Vale Ted Curé

    | 0 comments »

    Former regional Victorian radio newsreader Ted Curé has passed away after a battle with cancer. Ted is the brother of former 7HT and ABC Tasmania announcer Bob Curé.

    Mark Parton back on air

    Thursday, September 4, 2008 | 1 comments »

    Mark Parton has returned to the Canberra airwaves this week albeit for 2 days. The former Mix 106.3 breakfast presenter is filling in for 2CC's drive presenter Mike Welsh. Parton was in the chair yesterday (Thursday) and will return again today between 3.00pm and 6.00pm.

    APD's times two at Nova 106.9

    | 1 comments »

    Nova 106.9 has two new APD’s by way of Tim Lordan, after almost a decade at SEA FM Gold Coast and Kate Casey who has been at 106.9 for just over three years. Kate's role will also take in those of Music Director. Well dome Guys1

    Nine finalists in radio’s premier music competition

    Wednesday, September 3, 2008 | 0 comments »

    A nation-wide hunt for Australia’s best unsigned musical acts for commercial radio is underway with the announcement today of nine finalists – three in each of the nominated genres: adult contemporary, pop and rock - to feature in the New Artist 2 Radio Showcase (NA2R).

    Chief executive officer of Commercial Radio Australia, Joan Warner, said the nine finalists had been chosen from around 200 artists - a record number of entries for the NA2R.



    “These finalists will now compete for the chance to share in a $150,000 advertising prize across the four major radio networks down the east coast of Australia, together with the opportunity to be added to the playlists of selected radio stations,” Ms Warner said.

    The finalists are:
    Rock: Boston Shaker, Stone Parade, The Dirty Secrets
    Pop: Ashleigh Mannix, Emma Dean; Julie Kember
    Adult Contemporary: BoomLa, Emma-Louise, Mark Wilkinson

    The finalists will be judged by a panel including top commercial radio network program and music directors and a representative of VGM Media and Marketing, MGM Distribution and MySpace. The decision will be made based on each act’s commercial radio potential, with a winner in each section announced later this month.

    The winning act in each genre will perform at East on the Gold Coast on October 10, before radio industry leaders and heavyweights, with host for the night, Sea FM’s Big K, well-known for his popular afternoon music show, Hit Music Factory. One artist will then be chosen to perform the following night at the Australian Commercial Radio Awards (ACRAs).

    The commercial radio industry initiative aims to discover the next big music star to be played on commercial radio throughout the country and is now in its seventh year. The event is open to unsigned Australian artists who have not charted in the top 100 Australian National airplay chart.

    Ms Warner said the initiative was one of the main ways in which the commercial radio sector helped nurture and support new Australian musical talent. “This is an industry-wide initiative which has helped launched some very successful music careers since its inception including artists like Delta Goodrem, Kid Courageous, Sarah Blasko, Thirsty Merc, Jade Macrae and The Sunpilots.”

    All the finalists also attend a workshop by leading radio program directors and music marketing experts about how to maximize radio airplay and exposure – a popular feature of the event aimed at helping artists.

    The three winners of the event will share in $150,000 worth of advertising airtime on four of the major commercial radio networks: Australian Radio Network, Austereo, DMG Radio Australia and Macquarie Southern Cross Media. In addition, the four networks will choose a genre winner to add to their network play list for early 2009.

    “Unearthing new Australian music talent has always been one of the key roles played by commercial radio and the additional benefits provided to NA2R winners this year will help increase their chance of success and exposure – all very positive outcomes,” Ms Warner said.

    Media contact: Jenny Stevenson Ph: (0402) 214 039. Finalists’ bios attached. Pics are available.

    ADULT CONTEMPORARY
    BoomLa
    Melbourne-based, Ben Brazil and Syrene, have merged their musical talents, described as “funk, soul and groove”, along with a 12 piece band made up of some of the finest young musicians in the country. BoomLa’s debut album, called “From Brasil to Cyrene” is available in early October.

    Emma-Louise
    Emma-Louise is a 17 year old school student from Cairns in far north Queensland. She started playing guitar at the age of twelve and has been in love with writing and performing her own material ever since. Emma has just finished recording her new EP titled “autumn tongues”, which is scheduled for release in September.

    Mark Wilkinson
    Based in Sydney, Mark Wilkinson launched himself into the original music scene in 2005. He performs regularly at The Basement, Will & Toby’s and Luna Park in Sydney and has supported Diesel, Sarah McLeod, Marcia Hines and Damien Leith. His debut album and national tour are scheduled for next February.

    POP
    Ashleigh Mannix
    Hailing from the ACT, Ashleigh picked up her first guitar at the age of 11, a few years later adding to this musical experience with her own voice. She is currently exploring new music with guitarist and writing partner, Richie Harris and is looking forward to recording her debut album later this year.

    Emma Dean
    This Brisbane-based performer has released her debut album, “Real Life Computer Game”. Emma’s music is described as “like pop music but it’s also music theatre” She has been performing solo since a three-year stint with Brisbane duo, Bittersuite.

    Julie Kember
    From outback Western Australia to busking in the streets of London, and now based in Sydney, Julie’s music is described as “acoustic rock with a bit of pop.” She has recorded her debut album. “Sugar & Stone”, due for release in October. Julie also made it to the final 15 for the reality TV show, “Pop Stars.”

    ROCK
    Boston Shaker
    Sydney band, Boston Shaker is described as “high energy rock and roll.” The four-member band, started by two brothers, plays local venues around Sydney like the Sando, The Annadale and Manly Fishos. The band has been described by one reviewer as “what happens nine months after hard rock and indie pop crawl drunkenly into bed together”.

    Stone Parade
    Stone Parade’s blend of melody driven rock and compelling lyrics reveals a band with an interest in the world around them. The band has toured throughout Australia, supporting artists like Maroon 5, Hoobastank , INXS and 3 Doors Down. Their debut album, “Chase the setting sun” will be released later this year.

    The Dirty Secrets
    This rock band includes Jarrah McCleary (keyboards/vocals), Woody Taylor (drums), Warren Page (bass/vocals) and Mike Sanders (guitars) and their self-titled debut album was released earlier this year. The band has played extensively in Australia and overseas.

    Mac radio says web strategy is reaching more people

    | 0 comments »

    MACQUARIE Radio Network says its digital strategy is paying off as it prepares to launch a suite of community-based news websites that will broaden its digital reach around the nation.

    The listed owner of leading Sydney talkback station 2GB says its year-old national breaking news website, LiveNews.com.au, is delivering a wider reach to advertisers and is attracting 483,925 visitors a month. Its entire portfolio of digital sites - WhatCareer, RugbyLeagueLive, and AmazingAustralians - registered 633,030 visitors a month in July. [link=http://business.smh.com.au/business/mac-radio-says-web-strategy-is-reaching-more-people-20080903-48x1.html]Full story SMH[/link]

    ACMA finding on Bendigo's Fresh 89.5 FM

    Tuesday, September 2, 2008 | 0 comments »

    The Australian Communications and Media Authority has found that the licensee of Fresh 89.5 FM, Goldfields Community Radio Cooperative Limited, breached conditions of its licence by failing to continue to represent the Bendigo community and by not encouraging members of that community to participate in the operations of the service.


    Goldfields Community Radio holds a temporary community broadcasting licence to provide a service for Bendigo. It has been broadcasting to the Bendigo area since 1983.

    Goldfields Community Radio had not held annual general meetings of its members for the years 2001 to 2006. Annual general meetings are a key part of the operations of community broadcasting services as they deal with accountability issues of the first order including reporting obligations and important governance decisions, including the election of the board of directors. Failure to hold such meetings means that a licensee is excluding members from its most important decision-making forum and that it is operating with a board that has not been elected by its members.

    In those circumstances, ACMA found that Fresh 89.5 FM could not claim to be representative of the Bendigo community or to have encouraged members of that community to be involved in all aspects of its operations.

    ACMA’s view is that compliance with these licence conditions is a key obligation of a community broadcasting service and that non-compliance with these conditions is a serious matter.

    Fresh 89.5 FM has now held its AGM and is now being managed by a board elected by its members at that meeting. In light of these circumstances, ACMA will not take any further compliance or any formal enforcement action at this stage. In any event, ACMA will also scrutinise compliance with these, and other key licence conditions, in any allocation process for a long-term community broadcasting licence for Bendigo.

    ACMA investigated this issue following a complaint alleging that Fresh 89.5 FM did not encourage members of the community to participate in the operations of the service, that it did not continue to represent the community interest and that it had breached the prohibition on broadcasting advertisements. ACMA found that Fresh 89.5 FM had not broadcast advertisements.

    Investigation Report No. 1833 is available on the ACMA website.

    Media contact: Blake Murdoch, ACMA Media, on (02) 9334 7817.


    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Backgrounder
    ACMA conducts various types of investigations under the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 (the Act). Investigations under Part 11 of the Act are conducted in response to complaints received by ACMA relating to a possible breach by:

    a licensed broadcaster of the Act, the regulations, a licence condition, a class licence or a code of practice; or
    the ABC or SBS of a code of practice.
    If a person wishes to complain about something of concern they have seen or heard on a program broadcast by a radio or TV station, and the matter is covered by a code of practice, the person must, by law, first make a written complaint to the station.

    However, if a complaint relates to a matter covered by a licence condition, the person can complain directly to ACMA and need not complain to the station first.

    There is a different code of practice for each broadcasting sector, and each code of practice contains a section that explains the complaints process that applies to that sector.

    As some codes impose time limits for complaints, it is advisable that people who wish to make a complaint write to the radio or TV station as soon as possible. For instance, the code of practice that applies to commercial television broadcasters enables them to decide to not respond in writing to complaints that are made more than 30 days after the date of broadcast.

    When making a complaint to ACMA, people must provide a copy of their complaint to the station, a copy of the station’s reply if this has been received, and any other relevant correspondence with the station. ACMA takes all complaints seriously (except for those that are frivolous or vexatious or not made in good faith) and acknowledges all complaints in writing.

    For valid complaints, ACMA considers the information provided and offers the relevant station an opportunity to provide its perspectives. When all relevant information is available, ACMA assesses the complaint against the relevant licence condition or code of practice.

    When an investigation is completed, ACMA is required to notify a complainant of the results of an investigation under Part 11 of the Act. The form this notification is to take is not specified in the Act – it might be in the form of a letter or, alternatively, it could be in the form of a more formal investigation report, which is provided to both the complainant and the licensee concerned.

    Generally, personal or private information provided in a complaint, including name and address details, are not disclosed to the licensee concerned if it is a licence condition matter. However, as code complaints are first made to a licensee, code complaints are usually made available to the licensee concerned. ACMA’s usual practice is to not provide personal or private information in an investigation report.

    Under the Act, ACMA has discretion whether or not to publish the report of an investigation conducted under Part 11 of the Act. ACMA’s usual practice is to publish such reports. However, ACMA is not required to publish an investigation report if publication would disclose matter of a confidential character or likely to prejudice the fair trial of a person. If ACMA intends to publish an investigation report that may adversely affect the interests of a person, ACMA must give the person an opportunity to make representations in relation to the matter.

    Tambie in for POC

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    Jess of Mornington emailed us to say she has enjoyed John Tamb on 3MP over the last few mornings, and wants to hear more of him during the day. John has been sitting in for the fabulous Peter O'Callaghan.

    Benno's Big Breakfast

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    Ben Sorensen is now flying solo on Classic Hits 4GY breakfast. Ben joined Classic Hits 4GY back in May to co-host breakfast with Jay Dixon who has recently left the station. Benno's Big Breakfast can be heard between 6am - 9am

    Hinch regrets his decades of drinking

    Monday, September 1, 2008 | 0 comments »

    Derryn Hinch says he will not drink again because decades of alcohol abuse nearly cost him his life.

    The 64-year-old 3AW drive host nearly died from blood poisoning in 2006 and last year revealed he also had advanced cirrhosis brought on by a lifetime of boozing.

    Reflecting on his past as a "professional drunk", Hinch - who underwent surgery last year to remove a liver tumour - said binge drinking was one of society's worst problems. [link=http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=624453]Nine MSN has more[/link]

    Kevin Heinze 'Cheerio'

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    [img]{e_IMAGE}newspost_images/cheeriokev.jpg[/img]
    Gardening legend Kevin Heinze passed away in Melbourne yesterday at the age of 81. Kevin suffered a heart attack at the weekend.
    He hosted a weekly gardening talkback segment on Melbourne's ABC Radio for 37 years until sadly he was asked to leave the station at the end of 2004. ([link=http://www.theage.com.au/news/TV--Radio/Kevin-bids-his-last-cheerio/2004/12/18/1103312783710.html]article[/link])

    To many he will be best remembered for the ABC gardening television show Sow What from 1967 to 1988, with his signiture sign off of ''Cheerio for now'. Sow What was mainly broadcast from his own property in Montrose, in Melbourne's outer-east.

    Virgin Radio is Absolute Radio

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    From October 2008 the new name for the UK's Virgin radio will be Absolute Radio. Virgin Radio, but not the name, was sold to the Times of India Group and Absolute in June. [link=http://www.virginradio.co.uk/about/index.html]More info[/link]

    Wil and Lehmo, for breakfast?

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    At this stage Triple M have not locked in their breakfast line-up to for 2009 to replace The Shebang yet plenty of names have been thrown around.

    The SMH has touched on the subject this week, pinpointing current networked drive team Wil and Lehmo. The article mentioned:
    'Their contracts are up at the end of the year. There's no doubt they will be offered another deal considering the Wil And Lehmo Show rates much higher than any other shift on the low-rating station.

    The question is whether they'll be asked to take on the critical breakfast slot following the axing of The Shebang. Triple M executives need a strong breakfast show if the station is to reclaim a solid foothold in the market and keep Vega at bay.' [link=http://www.smh.com.au/news/tv--radio/national-laugh-grid/2008/08/30/1219516773751.html]Full story[/link]

    2LM'S Neil Marks political ambitions

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    2LM's breakfast presenter Neil Marks who is at the centre of an item that appeared on Monday nights ABC Media Watch has now gone on leave from the station. Marks is currently standing for position on the Lismore City Council and has also nominated for for the Mayoral position. Being Mayor and breakfast announcer would no doubt be a huge conflict of interest.
    Neil Marks has full intentions to combine the Council role with his current radio gig however a statement on behalf of 2LM's owner, Bill Caralis, stated 'Mr Marks will not be returning to his on air shift until after the Council Elections and should Mr Marks be elected to Council his future tenure at the station will be reviewed by 2LM management'

    Michael Pate remembered

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    Australian actor, writer and director Michael Pate has died in Sydney at the age of 88. Like so many of his era Pate cut his teeth in the early days of radio prior to heading to Hollywood.

    Much will be witten about his screen triumphs however it all began with his radio career in 1938, with the ABC. In those early days he also wrote theatre reviews for newspapers and magazines. Pate appeared in many radio serials, across numerous Australian stations, including 'Escape Me Never' and 'Johnny October'.

    Born in Sydney in 1920, his is experiences with an Entertainment Unit in the Pacific during WW2 formed the basis of his book An Entertaining War (1986). After the war, his performance in a Sydney production of the play Bonaventure led to a role in Hollywood 's film version, Thunder on the Hill (1951).

    He went on to appear in around 50 films, including Julius Caesar (1953) with Marlon Brando, Hondo (1953) with John Wayne, PT 109 (1963), Major Dundee (1965), and The Singing Nun (1966).

    He also received screenwriting credits for Escape from Fort Bravo (1953) and The Most Dangerous Man Alive (1961). After returning to Australia in 1968 Pate appeared in TV's Matlock Police , wrote and produced The Mango Tree (1977) and directed Mel Gibson in Tim.

    Through the 1970's and 1980's Pates distinctive tones were in how demand for voice over work across all mediums

    In 1997 he performed in two short plays at Sydney's Belvoir Street Theatre with Margaret Christensen. The one night only performance recreated the atmosphere of a radio recording studio of those bygone days, theatre of the mind no doubt. The plays were a fundraiser for Print Handicap Radio station 2RPH.

    Later in life Pate often spoke of the expierence radio had given him in those early days and was the motivation to keep on writing, something he was still doing write up until his death.