On The Dial: Guy Dobson defends 2DayFM’s low ratings, Casey Kasem family bickering continues
Guy Dobson says “we’re on track with 2Day”
SCA’s Chief Content Officer Guy Dobson has come out in defence of the 2Day FM strategy, which has been the subject of much discussion this year.
Speaking in The Australian, Dobson has said the three-year game plan for the network was on track “going exactly to plan, we’ve always said it was going to be tough. Everything we’re putting in place is coming to fruition.”
Nova’s Paul Jackson came out saying; “They (2Day) should start again… They’ve lost the hit music station positioning. Nova is taking that audience and we’re not giving it back.”
Dobson was dismissive of Jackson’s comments suggesting he look at his own backyard, commenting on the ratings of Nova’s ’Fitzy & Wippa’ Breakfast show, saying; “It (Fitzy & Wippa) should have been No 1 this year but it’s being pummelled by Triple M.”
Nova 96.9’s Breakfast show is on its lowest ratings in a year, and down 1.6% from the start of 2014. In the meantime, whilst 2Day are setting new lows, with SCA hoping the station has bottomed out, and Nova has been shedding Breakfast listeners, with a new marketing campaign launched to address that; the new kid on the block KIIS, whilst softening, sits on top of the CHR/Hot AC tree on 8.2%.
2Day needs to change now
Notwithstanding Guy Dobson’s confidence, Radio Today’s Brad March has written that SCA need to change the 2Day strategy sooner rather than later.
He writes that the problem at 2Day is not execution, but is the core strategy and believes that the board will not be prepared to wait for improvement.
Great local content from Hot Tomato Gold Coast
In an excellent example of great local content, Hot Tomato’s Flan and Emily Jade have created a fantastic result from a compelling story arc this week.
On Tuesday last week, they noticed a man standing on a main intersection in Southport, near Hot Tomato, holding a sign up saying he was unemployed and looking for any work he could.
Emily Jade spoke to him; his name was Shaun and he’s a father of three kids, to find out more about who he is and what he is looking for.
Overnight on Tuesday, Shaun had a number of job offers following the interview on Hot Tomato, and obtained some casual work on Wednesday, and next week with a full-time role appearing close.
K-Rock Geelong announce new Brekky Show
K-Rock in Geelong has announced their new Breakfast Show, which commenced on-air today (14 July). Leroy Brown, the long-term anchor of the show, will co-host with the highly experienced Hunter McLeod, who joined K-Rock in the last couple of months as Mornings Presenter.
K-Rock Program Director Leigh Kuhlman commented; “I’m so excited about the announcement, Hunter with her breadth of experience and talent, and Leroy Brown who’s already established in the market place, K-ROCK will lock in its position as Geelong’s leading broadcaster.”
Casey Kasem family bickering continues after his death
Mike Kasem, son of American radio legend Casey Kasem, says his father’s body is yet to be buried three weeks after his death, in an interview with the Today newspaper in Singapore.
Casey Kasem, famous for hosting ‘American Top 40’ countdown, was 82 when he died in Washington on June 15 from complications related to Alzheimers disease.
Mike Kasem along with his siblings Kerri and Julie, has been embroiled in a bitter public family feud with their stepmother Jean Kasem, fighting over the care of their father in his final days.
Mike said his father wanted to be buried in Forest Lawn cemetery in Los Angeles, but his stepmother has the rights to his body and won’t take him out of the morgue.
Speaking to Today newspaper, Mike said: “There’s only one possible reason for her to leave him in the morgue and that’s just to hurt us.”
– SCA are looking for a Journalist/Newsreader in Adelaide at SAFM & MMM. Details.
– Crocmedia is looking for a Commercial Director. Details.
– Smooth FM is looking for casual announcers in Sydney & Melbourne. Details.
– Sonshine FM in Perth has a role available for a Content Director. Details.
– Grant Broadcasters has a vacancy for an Account Manager in Gladstone. Details.
– Grant Broadcasters has a vacancy for a General Manager for Riverland Radio South Australia. Details.
– 2GB is looking for a Senior Network Support Engineer. Details
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– SCA has a vacancy for an Announcer based on the Gold Coast. Details
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