Macquarie Regional RadioWorks

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Macquarie Regional RadioWorks is an Australian company, owned by Macquarie Bank. The company owns several regional radio stations, as a result of takeovers of stations fomerly owned by DMG Radio Australia and RG Capital Radio Network.

Contents

[edit] Brands

The format of each station is defined by one of two common formats:

  • Hit Music Network - a popular music format targeted at 18-39 year olds, using the Star FM, Hot FM and Sea FM brands.
  • Local Works - talkback and adult contemporary music format target at over 35s, mainly on the AM and hertiage FM stations, as well as Gold FM and Mix FM.

Agreements were reached with Macquarie, DMG and Prime Television to ensure that existing brand names owned by DMG Radio could continue to be used by both Macquarie and Prime.

[edit] Programming

Macquarie Regional RadioWorks produces its own networked programming across both brands, which include:

  • Charles Wooley Across Australia, a talk show dedicated to issues in regional Australia, presented by 60 Minutes reporter Charles Wooley.
  • The Big K's Work Day, afternoon program
  • The Benchwarmers, afternoon comedy program
  • The List with Age and Renee, a Top 30 program
  • Red Eye Radio, overnight program
  • The Night Mix, nighttime programming
  • Nelly at Night, overnight programming
  • Health Matters with Dr. John D'Arcy, health issues with Dr. John D'Arcy
  • Money Matters, personal finance issues
  • Sunday Groovies, Seventies and Eighties music and trivia with Kym Ferguson
  • Truck Radio, overnight program

Some of its stations picked up the Continuous Call Team when Broadcast Operations Group could not resolve broadcast rights issues with 2GB and the National Rugby League. The most notable was KOFM in Newcastle, who also picked up rights to cover games of the Newcastle Knights.

[edit] Criticisms

One major criticism of stations owned by Macquarie is its reliance on networking programs outside of breakfast (and the culling of hundreds of local jobs) from one of four networking centres:

Often the same song can be heard on two different stations owned by MRR at the same time, with the only difference being pre-recorded local identification tracks.

While this criticism can also be leveled at other networks, this practice has long been in effect on the former DMG-owned stations.

It also received some criticism when it replaced the John Laws morning program from 2UE with its own Charles Wooley Across Australia program, including a rival of John Laws, 2GB's Ray Hadley.

[edit] Stations owned by Macquarie Regional RadioWorks

[edit] Queensland

[edit] New South Wales

¹ = Owned by a 50-50 joint venture between Austereo and Macquarie Regional RadioWorks. NXFM is considered an Today Network station, while KOFM is programmed in accordance with MRR practice.

[edit] Victoria

[edit] Tasmania

[edit] South Australia

  • Mount Gambier
    • Star FM 96.1
    • 5SE AM 963

[edit] Western Australia

[edit] Former Owned and Operated Stations

Due to conditions placed upon the takeover, Macquarie had to sell these stations to other parties during 2005.

These stations were sold to Prime Television:

  • 4CA, Cairns
  • SeaFM and MixFM, Townsville
  • 4MK, Mackay
  • 4RO, Rockhampton
  • 4CC, Rockhampton/Gladstone

These stations were sold to Ace Radio:

  • 2AY, Albury-Wodonga

[edit] See also

[edit] External links


Macquarie Bank
Infrastructure/Diversified: Macquarie Airports • Macquarie Communications Infrastructure Group • Macquarie Infrastructure Group • Macquarie Infrastructure Company • Macquarie Media Group • Macquarie Regional RadioWorks
Property: Macquarie Countrywide Trust • Macquarie DDR Trust • Macquarie Direct Property • Macquarie Goodman Group • Macquarie Leisure Trust • Macquarie Office Trust • Macquarie Pacific Star • Macquarie Prologis Trust
Notable Current & Former Employees: Ross Cameron • Bob Carr • Simon Hannes • John Hewson • Allan Moss • Graeme Samuel

Corporate Directors: David Clarke (Chairman) • Mark R.G. Johnson • Allan Moss (CEO) • John Allpass • Laurence Cox • Peter Kirby • Catherine Livingtone • Barrie Marton • Kevin McCann • John Niland • Helen Nugent

Annual Revenue: $4.393 billion AUD ( 17% FY 2006) | Employees: 9,548 | Stock Symbol: ASX: MBL | Website: www.macquarie.com.au
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