Fred Botica

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Fred Botica (born 17 March 1947)[1] is a radio announcer in Perth, Australia on Mix 94.5.

Botica was born in New Zealand, and began his radio career in December 1969 on Radio Hauraki,[2] to which he returned in 1973 after a couple of years working at Radio 1XX in Whakatane.[2] In 1976, he again left Radio Hauraki to work at Melbourne's 3KZ, a stint that lasted only 6 months.[2] Botica returning once again to Radio Hauraki as breakfast presenter and program director, where he remained (apart from a short sojourn at 1ZM) until late 1982.[2] At this time, he started work at 89FM, the first commercial FM radio station in Auckland.[2]

Botica immigrated to Perth from New Zealand in 1986,[2][3] and started work with Channel 7 Perth as their voiceover artist,[2] and with 96fm as a breakfast radio announcer. During his time at 96fm, he performed the Australia Day skyshow voiceovers. In 1993, 96fm was bought by Village Roadshow and was renamed "Triple M". Staff at the station opposed the changes which were to occur with this purchase; as a consequence, Botica along with his sidekick Captain Paul shifted to 94.5 during 1992.[2][4]

Since then Botica led Mix 94.5's breakfast team to the highest rating in Perth with Botica's Bunch,[4] although in recent years the breakfast slot has been beaten on a few occasions by ABC 720's Eoin Cameron. Botica is reputed to command an annual salary of $250,000.[4]

Botica is notoriously camera-shy, and in all publicity and advertising for his radio show, his face is always obscured.[1][4]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Morfesse, Luke. "Face up to it, Fred, your hair's blown", The West Australian, West Australian Newspapers Ltd, 16 March 2007, p. 2. Retrieved on 2008-03-25. 
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Mix 94.5 - Fred Botica. Austereo. Retrieved on 2008-03-25.
  3. ^ Collins, Simon. "From dot, dot, dot to dot com", The West Australian, West Australian Newspapers Ltd, 12 December 2001. Retrieved on 2008-03-25. "Perth's No. 1 breakfast DJ Fred Botica of 94.5FM moved here from New Zealand in 1986." 
  4. ^ a b c d Casellas, Pam. "Don't mention the ratings war: How Botica got his bunch", The West Australian, West Australian Newspapers Ltd, 11 March 2006, p. 12. Retrieved on 2008-03-25. 
 This Australian biography article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.