News October 27, 2015

On The Dial: Macquarie Radio MD exits; entries open for ACRAs; 2Day win royal prank appeal

Loewenthal exits Macquarie Radio

The Macquarie Radio Network, who operate 2GB and 2CH in Sydney, along with the former Smart Radio Network in Queensland, has today announced the resignation of Managing Director Rob Loewenthal.

Loewenthal will finish as Managing Director on 28 March, and at that time resign as a member of the board.

Executive Chairman Russell Tate said that Loewenthal’s role would not be replaced and that he would resume the joint role of Chairman and CEO.

Entries open for ACRAs

Entries are now open for the 2014 Australian Commercial Radio Awards. This year they will be held on October 18th in Melbourne.

In the last two years, the Best FM On Air Team awards went to Kyle & Jackie O (2013) and WSFM’s Jonesy & Amanda (2012) while last year 3AW’s Ross & John took home the Best AM On Air Team ACRA.

CRA CEO Joan Warner said: “2014 is set to be an exciting ACRAs year with many changes in on-air team combinations and timeslots. We’re hoping we’ll have more entries than ever before.”

Entries close on May 23.

Rinehart hopes Singo will reconsider merge

Gina Rinehart, the largest shareholder in Fairfax Media, has written to John Singleton about him cutting all ties with Fairfax. In correspondence sourced by The Australian Rinehart says: “I’m sad on several fronts. That Fairfax is losing you as a shareholder, that my friend has been so badly messed around and misrepresented by some at Fairfax and that Fairfax has lost a valuable opportunity to combine its radio and make revenue, combining with someone with your record of being able to run radio stations well […] John, I hope when Roger [Corbett – Chairman] goes, you will reconsider, and this can be turned into many wins.”

A Fairfax Media spokesperson said: “We have nothing to say about unseen private emails between individuals.”

2Day FM win appeal against the ACMA

2Day FM has won its appeal to suppress a report prepared by the ACMA over the Royal Prank call incident from late 2012.

On November 7, Justice Richard Edmonds upheld the ACMA’s argument, dismissing 2Day FM’s application. The station appealed and last week argued that the ACMA was acting ”as both the accuser and the fact finder” and was going beyond its statutory powers.

On Friday the full bench of the Federal Court overturned the decision made in November, setting aside the ACMA’s finding that 2Day FM breached its licensing condition, and ordered the watchdog to pay the station’s legal costs.

This puts an end to any possibility that the station might receive tough penalties such as a total broadcast ban.

The court ordered that the ACMA’s preliminary report was not to be made public.

RADIO TODAY – MOVES

RN Breakfast host Fran Kelly will take leave from the show for a few months to host Insiders on the ABC, from April 27 to August 3.

Tom Bell from the breakfast show on Hot FM WA is moving home to Melbourne to be with family and friends.

6PR Nightline host Graham Mabury is set to retire after 33 years hosting the show.

JOBS

Chilli FM 90.1 in Launceston has a vacancy for an Afternoon Personality / Music Director

4KQ in Brisbane has a vacancy for a Breakfast Producer

2CC in Canberra has a vacancy for a Program Producer

ARN Melbourne has a vacancy for a Sales Manager

MIX 101.1 has a role available for an Account Manager based in Melbourne