Radio Wrap: Nova Network’s new music format, Ben & Liam talk ABC privatisation

NOVA Entertainment launches ‘Greatest Hits Workday’

The Nova Network revealed a new workday music strategy, adding hits from the 90s and naughties to its CHR programming on weekdays.

“The greatest hits have always been the core of Nova and we will continue to play the biggest hits and champion the latest songs across the work day,”  NOVA Entertainment’s group program director Paul Jackson told Radio Today.

The move comes off the back of 2DayFM’s music strategy change from ‘Hits and Old School’ to ‘More Music, More Variety’ at the start of the year.

Zipper & The Shitstick are Back

triple j’s Ben and Liam have pulled out their commercial alter-egos ‘Zipper and The Shitstick’ once again, this time to give listeners a taste of what a privatised ABC radio might sound like.

They also added another character to vouch for the station’s commitment to diversity, with newsreader Brooke Boney taking on the role of ‘Token Woman’.

The send-up follows on from the alarming news that a majority of sitting Liberal members voted in favour of selling off the ABC at a recent party meeting, which has thrown open the floodgates for a number of think pieces for and against the national broadcaster.

Keeping Up With The Sandilands?

Kyle Sandilands indulged his ego this week on KIIS FM Breakfast, casually mentioning that he’s in talks with MTV to star in his own reality TV show.

Responding to a fan’s request for him to branch out into the reality television sector, the radio shock jock revealed that a show centred on himself and girlfriend Imogen Anthony could be in the works.

“I’ve gotta say something, I probably shouldn’t, but the MTV have come to us and said ‘hey’… and MTV make pretty good reality shows,” Sandilands said.

BBC to focus on battle with Spotify and podcasting

BBC‘s director of radio James Purnell has declared that the network has given up competing with commercial radio stations, and will instead prioritise its ongoing battle for listeners with podcasting and streaming services like Spotify.

Rather, he believes the BBC needs to shift away from traditional broadcast programming to serve younger audiences.

Purnell says investing in technology and the battle against Spotify is more important as a means of continuing the BBC’s mission.

Top Ten most-advertised brands on radio revealed

The top advertising brands in Queensland and New South Wales radio have been unveiled by AirCheck with lifestyle company Harvey Norman landing in the top positions for both states.

The lifestyle company along with its sister company Domain took out the two top spots in NSW with over 8,000 plays in the last four weeks, with the most of the ads being broadcast on Newcastle’s NewFM, collecting a total of 1,951 spots.

They were beaten by National Tiles for the number one spot in QLD which garnered just under 3,500 plays over the month, with most occurring on the Gold Coast’s Gold 92.5; Brisbane’s 4KQ being only two spots behind.

Want more Australian radio news? Head over to TMN‘s sister site Radio Today for all the latest.