On The Dial: ACRA finalists announced; SEN drive growth for Pacific Star; Nova’s Matt Saraceni departs
90.3 AMP Radio in Calgary drops new format
Just 3 short weeks ago, a Canadian station launched a new CHR format called QuickHitz. A format that delivered super-low commercial inventory and 24 songs an hour – simple, the music was sliced in half.
90.3 AMP Radio in Calgary was the first station in the vast Newscap Group in Canada to launch the format. It wasn’t long before the station copped a spray from Canadian Artists and musicians for chopping their works in half. The most vocal being Jann Arden.
90.3 AMP Radio dropped the format Tuesday and has gone back to its original format – and full songs.
QuickHitz is a turnkey format product from Sparknet, the same guys from Canada who delivered the Jack– playing what they want – format. Word is they have secured an Australian re-seller of the format.
Finalists for radio’s night of nights announced
The finalists for the 26th annual Australian Commercial Radio Awards have been announced.
The ACRAs will recognise radio’s brightest stars from around the country.
The many awards up for grabs include the competitive Metropolitan Best On-Air Team FM.
Last year’s winners Kyle and Jackie O are up against ARN stablemates Jonesy and Amanda, and drive team Tim Ross & Matthew Baseley, along with Nova Entertainment’s Fitzy and Wippa; Kate Ritchie, Tim Blackwell & Marty Sheargold; and SCA’s Triple M Melbourne’s Hot Breakfast team of Eddie McGuire, Luke Darcy & Mick Molloy.
The National Radio Conference is being held on Friday the 17th of October in Melbourne with ACRAs presented on Saturday the 18th of October.
SEN drives growth for Pacific Star
The Pacific Star Network, who operate SEN and MyMP in Melbourne, has released their full year financial results to the market today, with the company seeing strong earnings growth.
Revenue is up 1.1% to $15.2m, however EBITDA improved 18.6% to $1.87m. For those who might hold shares in PNW, the final dividend is 0.9c per share, with no franking.
The figures were at the higher end of the earnings guidance, and will be likely to be received warmly by the market, although Pacific Star is generally very thinly traded.
Vale Phebe Irwin
Phebe Irwin has passed away.
Phebe was part of the Wollongong breakfast radio landscape for years. She arrived in the Illawarra in 1996 for a holiday and stayed for 12 years.
She worked for eight years, teamed up with Dave Gorr at Wave FM as The Big Breakfast with Phebe and Dave. Phebe also spent a number of years with i98, and also worked with Zinc Radio and with B104.9 in Albury. Phebe also won a number of Australian commercial radio awards and nominations during her long career.
Matt Saraceni’s new gig
After an eight-year stint with Nova Entertainment as Mornings Producer, Matt Saraceni is leaving.
Matt is set to become Head of Content at Omny.
Omny, is the platform that allows users to choose talent show segments, featuring a library of shows from Southern Cross Austereo and also podcasts from the web and a select catalogue from around the world.
JOBS
The Barefoot Investor has a vacancy for a Head of Content based in Melbourne. Details
The Capital Radio Network has a vacancy for a News Director based in Canberra.
Grant Broadcasters are looking for a Sales Manager for Hot 100 & Mix 104.9 in Darwin. Details
96.5 Wave FM has a vacancy for an On-Air Personality/Image Producer in Wollongong. Details
SCA has a vacancy for an Announcer in Mt Gambier. Details
4 People Media has a vacancy for a National Sales Account Executive based in Melbourne. Details
Jobs
