On The Dial: Botica exits Mix after 21 years; Today launch MasterChef radio show; Mix poach Hot 91 show
Fred Botica exits Mix 94.5 after 21 years
Last month, Mix 94.5’s Fred Botica announced that he would be leaving after 21 years with the Perth station. He was on breakfast for most of that time, and recently came back from long service leave to present drive with Lisa Shaw.
On his last show on Friday, Fred chose all the songs played on the drive show. See the playlist along with lots of farewell comments from his listeners, and hear his final break on Mix 94.5.
Today join with MasterChef for radio show
The Today Network are launching a new Sunday night radio show called The Dish, sponsored by Network Ten’s MasterChef Australia.
Hosted by Fox morning jock and Weekend Breakfast host Byron Cooke, the show will air from 6pm – 7pm across Australia for eight weeks.
Content on the show will take a look at what will be on the TV show that night along with cooking tips and interviews with celebrity chefs. MasterChef judge Matt Preston will reveal his favourite foods in Preston’s Picks and there’ll be a Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner cash contest.
Network Ten Chief Programming Officer, Beverley McGarvey, said: “MasterChef Australia is an iconic, much-loved television series and we are delighted to bring it to radio with The Today Network.”
Resonate sell 3GG to Watermark Media
Resonate Broadcasting has sold Radio 3GG in Gippsland to a new radio company, Watermark Media.
Melbourne-based Watermark Media is owned by Dan Bradley.
Radio 3GG is the first acquisition by the company, which has said that it has a “growth strategy focused on further radio acquisitions, as and when suitable opportunities arise”.
In a statement, Resonate Broadcasting has said that the sale is the first step in a realignment of their strategy, and that the company will now look at a number of potential growth opportunities.
Watermark Media Director Dan Bradley commented: “We are excited to acquire 3GG, it is an extremely strong and well respected radio station, in a growing area, with a great team, and we look forward to working with them”.
Mix poach breakfast show from Hot 91
In a major coup for Sunshine Coast Broadcasters (EON) on the Sunshine Coast, it has been confirmed they have poached the Hot 91.1 breakfast show from Grant Broadcasters.
Todd & Sami will be moving to 92.7 Mix FM to present a drive show.
Sunshine Coast Broadcasters Content Director Ryan Khay says: “This is a great moment for 92.7 Mix FM. To have a very strong breakfast team with Mark & Caroline, and now to add the very well established duo Todd and Sami to our line-up is a huge coup for our local listeners.”
Fairfax create new Content Solutions role
Fairfax Radio Network have created a new role in the company that will be designed to “initiate and champion advertiser content opportunities that also extend beyond radio.”
The National Content Solutions Director role has been filled by Andrew Sidwell.
Sidwell comes from Mediabrands’ creative agency Airborne where he was Creative Strategy and Ideas Director. Prior to that he was National Creative Solutions and Ideas Director at Southern Cross Austereo and was responsible for establishing the Austereo Innovation Group.
Lazing on a Sonny afternoon
Hamish Blake and his wife Zoe Foster have announced via social media that their first child was born on Saturday.
Announcing the arrival of Sonny, Blake has commented on Twitter saying: “I met a young man called Sonny yesterday who I am particularly fond of, I just told him that @zotheysay is the best mum in the world, and as fate would have it, she’s also his mum. He nodded, closed his eyes and said ’so that makes you my father’. I was very proud of his vocab for a 20-hour-old. Today’s a Mother’s Day I don’t think I’ll forget in a hurry. There’s not a happier man on earth. It’s pure love (even if he wasn’t in a novelty beanie).”
MOVES
6PR are moving their mid dawn presenter, Chris Ilsley, into nights to present Nightline. He replaces the retiring Graham Mabury.
Taylor Weldon, a graduate from Perth’s Central Institute of Technology, has scored her first gig as Promotions Manager at Star FM in Dubbo.
Leanne ’Stampsy’ Stamps is leaving Sea FM Hobart on May 23 and is heading home to Melbourne.
2013 AFTRS graduate Gabriella Fitzgerald is the new afternoon announcer / MD at Sea FM in Hobart.
Lachlan Kitchen is the new PD of i98 Wollongong. He was previously APD for WIN Radio (i98 & C91.3).
Tim Mountford has been appointed to the role of Audio Producer for Nova 100’s Meshel & Tommy.
Gemma O’Neill, Kyle & Jackie O’s former EP at 2Day FM, has landed a gig at TRN in New Zealand as their Network Content Development Manager.
Ryan Jon has moved from Hot FM Queensland and has joined Rosie Panetta on Hot FM WA breakfast.
JOBS
ARN has a vacancy for a Senior Broadcast Engineer based in Sydney
ARN has a vacancy for Casual Street Crew in Sydney looking after KIIS1065, WSFM and The Edge
K-Rock has a vacancy for a Morning Personality in Geelong
Triple M Melbourne has a vacancy for a Tactics Manager
Grant Broadcasters has a vacancy for a Program & Content Director in Darwin
Snow FM and 2XL in the Snowy Mountains are looking for a News Presenter
River 94.9 in Ipswich has a vacancy for an Account Manager
96FM in Perth has a vacancy for a Promotions and Marketing Manager
EON Broadcasting in Maroochydore has a vacancy for a Promotions Manager
Capital Radio Network in Canberra has a vacancy for a News Director
C91.3 has a vacancy for a Commercial Producer