Macquarie Radio Network

Not to be confused with the unrelated Macquarie Regional RadioWorks; see Southern Cross Media.
Macquarie Radio Network
Abbreviation MRN
Formation 1938
Merger of Fairfax Radio Network
Macquarie Radio Network
Type Broadcast
Headquarters Pyrmont, New South Wales
Location
  • Australia
Key people
 John Singleton
Website mrn.com.au

Macquarie Radio Network (ASX: MRN) is an Australian media company, operating radio stations in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and regional Queensland, based in the Sydney suburb of Pyrmont. It is a publicly listed company, majority owned by John Singleton. It also operated news service Macquarie National News.

History

Historically, Macquarie began broadcasting when 2GB first went on the air in 1926; official, the network itself was formed in 1938.[1] By the late 1980s it was Australia's only national commercial radio network encompassing 2GB Sydney, 3AW Melbourne, 4BH Brisbane, 5DN Adelaide, 6PR Perth, 2CA Canberra and 2WL Wollongong. However, during the 1930s, 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s, there were a number of other such networks, the major one being the Major Network[2][3] During the last three decades, a number of new networks have arisen, including the Macquarie Regional RadioWorks, unrelated to the Macquarie Radio Network. In 2007, 13 networks owned or controlled 80 per cent of the 26 Australian commercial radio stations[4]

In 2010, Macquarie joined forces with Pacific Star Network to launch Melbourne's revamped 3MP as MTR 1377. On 2 March 2012, MTR ceased operations when Pacific Star was unable to pay any monies owed to Macquarie.[5]

On 31 August 2011, Macquarie acquired the Smart Radio Network which encompasses 4VL, Triple CCC FM, 4HI, 4ZR, 4LM, 4SB and Hot Country network at a cost of $6 million. These stations are part of Macquarie Regional Radio, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Macquarie Radio Network.

Merger with Fairfax Radio Network

In December 2014, Macquarie announced that it had agreed to a merger with Fairfax Media. Under the deal, Fairfax will gain a 55% share in the Macquarie Radio Network, with Macquarie's existing shareholders holding the remaining 45%.[6] To comply with legislation only allowing two radio licences to be held by one party in each market, stations 2CH and 4LM will be sold.[7] The merger was completed in March 2015.[8][9][10][11]

In April 2015, a number of programming changes occurred at Macquarie's stations. At 4BC Brisbane, Breakfast presenters Ian Skippen and Loretta Ryan, Mornings host Patrick Condren, Nights host Walter Williams and Weekend Breakfast presenter Murray Shoring were axed, as well as sister Magic 882 Nights presenter Jo Henderson. In total, 18 positions were cut, and programming replaced by networked shows from 2GB and 2UE.[12][13][14] In Sydney, 2UE afternoons announcer Angela Catterns was axed, as was the entire newsroom - replaced with Macquarie's national news service[15] - while in Melbourne the entire of Magic 1278's lineup and most of the production team was cut.[16]

Assets

Metropolitan

Regional

To be divested

Former

References

  1. ↑ "The Magic Spark", R.R. Walker, 1973, The Hawthorn Press.
  2. ↑ The Major Network was formed in 1938 by Mr Dave Worrall, manager of 3DB, Melbourne. It lasted until the late 1970s, and included stations in most capital cities, ie 2UE, 3DB, 4BK, 5AD, 6PR, 7HT.
  3. ↑ Other former radio networks include: Federal Network; Associated Broadcasters of Australia; AWA Broadcasting. There were also a number of State-based networks.
  4. ↑ Changing Stations: The Story of Australian Commercial Radio, Bridget Griffen-Foley, UNSW Press, 2009; referenced as Commercial Radio: A Snapshot, CRA, Sydney, 2007
  5. ↑ Butler, Ben; Battersby, Lucy (2 March 2012). "'No worries' as MTR goes off the air". The Age (First ed.) (Fairfax Media). p. 6. Retrieved 5 March 2012.
  6. ↑ Janda, Michael (22 December 2014). "Fairfax and Macquarie to merge radio network". ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). Retrieved 9 April 2015.
  7. ↑ "Macquarie Radio Network to sell two radio stations". Radioinfo.com.au. 2 April 2015. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
  8. ↑ "And the deal is done...finally!". Radio Today. 31 March 2015. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
  9. ↑ "MRN Fairfax merger complete". Radioinfo.com.au. 1 April 2015. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
  10. ↑ Sinclair, Lara (9 April 2015). "2UE News to go off air as newsroom merges with 2GB". The Australian (News Limited). AAP. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
  11. ↑ "COMPLETION OF FAIRFAX RADIO NETWORK MERGER WITH MACQUARIE RADIO NETWORK" (Press release). Fairfax Media. 31 March 2015. Retrieved 11 April 2015. Fairfax Media Limited ... today announced the completion of the merger of its Fairfax Radio Network ... with Macquarie Radio Network ...
  12. ↑ "Media Statement from 4BC". 4BC. Fairfax Media. 10 April 2015. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
  13. ↑ "Axe falls at 4BC and Magic 882". Radio Today. 10 April 2015. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
  14. ↑ Cooper, Nathanael (14 April 2015). "Plug pulled on 4BC Brisbane boss". The Courier-Mail (Fairfax Media). Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  15. ↑ Christensen, Nic (11 April 2015). "Macquarie/Fairfax Radio merger described as ‘hostile takeover’ as 2UE axes Angela Catterns". mUmBRELLA. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
  16. ↑ "Magic gone from Magic! Entire on air line-up sacked". Radioinfo.com.au. 13 April 2015. Retrieved 13 April 2015.

External links