Southern Cross Austereo
Subsidiary | |
Industry | Broadcast radio and television network |
Founded | July 2011 |
Headquarters | Melbourne, Australia |
Key people | Peter Bush (Chairman)[1] |
Owner |
Macquarie Bank Others |
Parent | Southern Cross Media Group |
Website |
southerncrossaustereo |
Southern Cross Austereo (SCA) is an Australian group of companies formed in July 2011 by the merger of Southern Cross Media Group and Austereo Group. The Group's parent company, Southern Cross Media Group Limited, is listed on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX: SXL).
Southern Cross Media was previously known as Macquarie Regional RadioWorks, prior to the absorption of the remaining assets of Southern Cross Broadcasting that were purchased by Macquarie Media Group in 2007.
Previously known as Macquarie Media Group (ASX code MMG), Southern Cross Media began its life after Macquarie Media internalised its management and recapitalised in late 2009. It owns a collection of regional radio and television stations.[2]
SCA's head office is in South Melbourne, where the headquarters of Fox FM and Triple M (Melbourne) are located.
History
Southern Cross Media
The company owned several regional radio stations, as a result of takeovers of stations formerly owned by DMG Radio Australia and RG Capital Radio Network.[3] The company also owned the stations forming the Southern Cross Television and Southern Cross Ten networks around regional Australia and Tasmania, which hold varying affiliations with the Seven Network and Network Ten.[4]
In December 2009, MMG security holders voted in favour of a conversion from a triple-stapled structure to a single ASX-listed company. MMG was renamed Southern Cross Media Group with former RG Capital Radio CEO Rhys Holleran as the Chief Executive Officer.[5]
Austereo
The company was founded by Paul Thompson, and when commercial FM broadcasting was introduced into Australia it acquired the licence for metropolitan Adelaide, South Australia; SAFM commenced transmission in late 1980. The next station to join the network was FOX FM in Melbourne, Victoria in 1986, eventually to be followed by 2Day FM in Sydney, New South Wales and 4BK in Brisbane, Queensland for which the company was successful in converting to the FM band in 1990. Austereo also purchased AM radio station 6IX in Perth, Western Australia with the intention of converting the station to FM. 6IX, which had been re-launched by Austereo as The Eagle 1080 AM, was consequently sold off after being outbid for either of the two new FM licences by rivals 6KY and 6PM, which Austereo now own.
The mid-1990s saw a monopolistic arrangement take place whereby Village Roadshow purchased the Hoyts owned Triple M network, and Triple M in turn merged with Austereo to form a single umbrella company. [6][7][8] The merger was part of a single deal that was unpopular due to the fierce rivalry between the two radio networks, and the fact that Village Roadshow and Hoyts were also direct competitors in the film industry.[9]
Merger
In March 2011, Southern Cross Media launched a A$714 million takeover bid of national radio broadcaster, the Austereo Group.[10] On 6 April 2011 shareholders of the Austereo Group accepted the takeover bid, giving SCM a more than 90% share in the company.[11] Southern Cross Media and Austereo merged in July 2011 to form Southern Cross Austereo.[12]
On 23 August 2012, Guy Dobson (director of metro radio) was announced as Chief Officer of Content for the Southern Cross Austereo network, working across radio and television.[13]
Brands
Television
- Southern Cross Television, sole affiliates of the Seven Network, with the exception of GTS/BKN. These stations primarily brand themselves as Southern Cross, but occasionally feature generic Seven Network branding.
- Southern Cross Nine, sole affiliates of Nine Network. These stations brand themselves only as Channel Nine, following the Nine Network's generic branding.
Radio
The format of each station is defined by one of two common formats:
- Hit Network – a No. 1 Hit Singles and Top 40 format targeted at 18- to 39-year-olds, using various Hit Network brands in metropolitan areas along with the Sea FM brand in some regional areas.[14]
- Triple M LocalWorks – talkback and rock music format targeted at men over 49, mainly on the AM and heritage FM stations, as well as Triple M, Gold FM, Mix FM and RadioWest in Western Australia.
Agreements were reached between Southern Cross Austereo, DMG and Prime Television to ensure that existing brand names owned by DMG Radio in regional markets could continue to be used by both Southern Cross Austereo and Prime.
Programming
Radio
Southern Cross Austereo produces its own networked programming across both brands, which include:
Network | Show Name | Announcer/s | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Hit | Carrie & Tommy | Carrie Bickmore & Tommy Little | Afternoon program |
Hit | Hamish and Andy | Hamish Blake & Andy Lee | Drive program |
Hit | Ash London Live | Ash London | Night program |
Triple M | Tom & Olly | Tom Bainbridge & Oliver Morris | Night program |
Triple M | Night Shift with Luke Bona | Luke Bona | Late Night talkback 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.
Television news
SCA provides regional television news on the Seven Network affiliated stations owned by the company. TNT in Tasmania have their daily bulletins produced from the station's Launceston studios, with GTS/BKN in Spencer Gulf and Broken Hill also producing their own daily bulletins. Short local news updates are broadcast on QQQ Central and TND Darwin.
SCA's Nine-affiliated stations CTC (TV station) southern New South Wales & ACT and GLV/BCV Victoria have daily Nine News bulletins produced by the Nine Network, with TNQ Queensland set to receive the same in late 2017.
Former presenters
- Kathryn Robinson (former presenter, Meet The Press)
- Amber Sherlock (presenter, Nine News)
- Sarah Cumming (presenter, Seven News)
- Lachlan Kennedy (presenter, Ten News)
Criticisms
2Day FM hoax call recipient's suspected suicide
As part of a hoax call to the King Edward VII's Hospital Sister Agnes treating the wife of Prince William for acute morning sickness in the critical first trimester of pregnancy, 2Day DJs – Mike Christian and Mel Greig – purported to be the Queen and the Prince of Wales. An experienced 46-year-old nurse, Jacintha Saldanha, took the call. During the call, she and colleagues were conned into revealing sensitive details regarding the patient's condition.[15]
The nurse was found dead the following morning in a suspected suicide at the hospital where she worked.[16]
There is some disagreement over the legality of the incident, with the hospital expressing concern that the incident may have broken the law and Rhys Holleran, the chief executive of 2Day FM's parent company Southern Cross Austereo, stating he was confident that was not the case.[17]
At a Federal Court hearing it became known that Australian media watchdog Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) had prepared a confidential, preliminary report saying that the Radio Royal hoax 'broke law'. 2Day FM acted illegally by airing the phone call without consent.[18]
2Day FM handling of child rape victim
In 2009, 2Day FM were ordered to provide increased protection for children after a 14-year-old girl was attached to a lie detector on the Kyle and Jackie O Show and pressured into discussing her sex life live on air. The radio show host, Kyle Sandilands, encouraged both the girl and her mother to discuss whether she was sexually active, to which the girl responded: "I've already told you the story of this and don't look at me and smile because it's not funny. Oh, okay. I got raped when I was 12 years old." To which Kyle replied: "Right. And is that, is that the only experience you've had?"[19][20]
Syndicated news and programming
One major criticism of the regional stations owned by Southern Cross Austereo is its reliance on networking news and also programs outside of breakfast from one of four networking centres:[21][22]
- Gold Coast (national and regional centre)
- Townsville (regional centre)
- Albury (regional centre)
- Bunbury (regional centre)
Assets
Radio stations
Queensland
Licence area | Stations that are part of the Hit Network | Stations that are part of Triple M Local Works |
---|---|---|
Atherton | 4AMM "Hot FM" (97.9 MHz FM) | |
Brisbane | 4BBB "HIT 105" (105.3 MHz FM) | 4MMM "Triple M" (104.5 MHz FM) |
Bundaberg | 4RGB "Sea FM" (93.1 MHz FM) | |
Cairns | 4HOT "Hit103.5" (103.5 MHz FM) | 4RGC "Sea FM" (99.5 MHz FM) |
Charters Towers1 | 4CHT "Hit95.9" (95.9 MHz FM) | 4GC (828 kHz AM) |
Emerald | 4HIT "Hit94.7" (94.7 MHz FM) | |
Gold Coast | 4SEA "Sea FM" (90.9 MHz FM) | 4GLD "Gold FM" (92.5 MHz FM) |
Kingaroy | 4KRY "Hit89.1" (89.1 MHz FM) | |
Mackay | 4MKY "Hit100.3" (100.3 MHz FM) | 4RGM "Sea FM" (98.7 MHz FM) |
Maryborough | 4CEE "Hit101.9" (101.9 MHz FM) | 4MBB "Mix FM" (103.5 MHz FM) |
Mount Isa | 4MIC "Hit102.5" (102.5 MHz FM) | |
Rockhampton | 4ROK "Hit107.9" (107.9 MHz FM) | 4RGK "Sea FM" (101.5 MHz FM) |
Roma | 4ROM "Hit95.1" (95.1 MHz FM) | |
Toowoomba/Warwick (Darling Downs) | 4RGD "Hit100.7" (100.7 MHz FM) | 4GR (864 kHz AM) |
Townsville | 4RAM "Hit103.1" (103.1 MHz FM) | 4TOO "4TO FM" (102.3 MHz FM) |
1. 4GC has a translator on 765 kHz in Hughenden
New South Wales
Licence area | Stations that are part of the Hit Network | Stations that are part of Triple M Local Works |
---|---|---|
Albury1 | 2AAY "Hit104.9" (104.9 MHz FM) | 2BDR "Triple M" (105.7 MHz FM) |
Coffs Harbour | 2CSF "Hit105.5" (105.5 MHz FM) | 2CFS "2CS" (106.3 MHz FM) |
Dubbo | 2DBO "Hit93.5" (93.5 MHz FM) | |
Gosford (Central Coast) | 2CFM "Hit101.3 Sea FM" (101.3 MHz FM) | 2GGO "2GO" (107.7 MHz FM) |
Griffith | 2RGF "Hit99.7" (99.7 MHz FM) | 2RG (963 kHz AM) |
Kempsey2 | 2ROX "Hit105.1" (105.1 MHz FM) | 2PQQ "2MC FM" (106.7 MHz FM) |
Newcastle | 2XXX "Hit106.9" (106.9 MHz FM) | 2KKO "KOFM" (102.9 MHz FM) |
Orange | 2GZF "Hit105.9" (105.9 MHz FM) | 2OAG "2GZ" (105.1 MHz FM) |
Sydney | 2DAY "2Day FM" (104.1 MHz FM) | 2MMM "Triple M" (104.9 MHz FM) |
Wagga Wagga | 2WZD "Hit93.1" (93.1 MHz FM) | 2WG (1152 kHz AM) |
1. Translators for The River on 90.1 MHz in Omeo and 96.5 MHz in Corryong. There is also a translator for Star FM in Corryong on 95.7 MHz.
2. Translators on 100.7 MHz (2PQQ) and 102.3 MHz (2ROX) in Port Macquarie.
Australian Capital Territory
Licence area | Stations that are part of the Hit Network | Stations that are part of Triple M Local Works |
---|---|---|
Canberra 1 | 2ROC "Hit 104.7" (104.7 MHz FM) | 1CBR "Mix 106.3" (106.3 MHz FM) |
1. A joint venture of 50/50 ownership exists in Canberra with the Australian Radio Network where Southern Cross Austereo programmes 104.7 and ARN programmes Mix 106.3 and manages administration for both stations. Despite being part of ARN's KIIS Network, Southern Cross Austereo considers Mix 106.3 to be part of the Triple M LocalWorks network.
Victoria
Licence area | Stations that are part of the Hit Network | Stations that are part of Triple M Local Works |
---|---|---|
Bendigo | 3BDG "Hit91.9" (91.9 MHz FM) | 3BBO "3BO" (93.5 MHz FM) |
Melbourne | 3FOX "Fox FM" (101.9 MHz FM) | 3MMM "Triple M" (105.1 MHz FM) |
Mildura | 3MDA "Hit99.5" (99.5 MHz FM) | 3RMR "Triple M" (97.9 MHz FM) |
Shepparton | 3SUN "Hit96.9" (96.9 MHz FM) | 3SRR "95 3SR FM"2 (95.3 MHz FM) |
Warragul (Gippsland) | 3SEA "Hit94.3" (94.3 MHz FM1) | |
1. Re-transmitter at 97.9 MHz FM in Traralgon.
2. The actual 3SR call sign and frequency (1260 kHz AM) is now owned by, and is a full-time simulcast of, horse and greyhound racing station 3UZ "Sport 927" from Melbourne.
Tasmania
Licence area | Stations that are part of the Hit Network | Stations that are part of Triple M Local Works |
---|---|---|
Hobart | 7TTT "Hit 100.9" (100.9 MHz FM) | 7XXX "Triple M Hobart" (107.3 MHz FM) |
South Australia
Licence area | Stations that are part of the Hit Network | Stations that are part of Triple M Local Works |
---|---|---|
Adelaide | 5SSA "HIT 107" (107.1 MHz FM) | 5MMM "Triple M" (104.7 MHz FM) |
Mount Gambier | 5SEF "Hit96.1" (96.1 MHz FM) | 5SE (963 kHz AM) |
Western Australia
Licence area | Stations that are part of the Hit Network | Stations that are part of Triple M Local Works |
---|---|---|
Albany | 6AAY "Hit106.5" (106.5 MHz FM) | 6VA "Triple M" (783 kHz AM) |
Bridgetown | 6BET "Hit100.5" (100.5 MHz FM) | 6BY "Triple M" (900 kHz AM) |
Bunbury | 6BUN "Hit95.7" (95.7 MHz FM) | 6TZ "Triple M" (963 kHz AM)1 |
Esperance | 6SEA "Hit102.3" (102.3 MHz FM) | 6SE "Triple M" (747 kHz AM) |
Kalgoorlie | 6KAR "Hit97.9" (97.9 MHz FM) | 6KG "Triple M" (981 kHz AM) |
Katanning | 6KAN "Hit94.9" (94.9 MHz FM) | 6WB "Triple M" (1071 kHz AM) |
Merredin | 6MER "Hit105.1" (105.1 MHz FM) | 6MD "Triple M" (1098 kHz AM) |
Narrogin | 6NAN "Hit100.5" (100.5 MHz FM) | 6NA "Triple M" (918 kHz AM) |
Northam | 6NAM "Hit96.5" (96.5 MHz FM) | 6AM "Triple M" (864 kHz AM) |
Perth | 6PPM "Hit92.9" (92.9 MHz FM) | 6MIX "Mix 94.5" (94.5 MHz FM) |
1. 6TZ also re-transmitted via 1134 kHz AM in Collie (6CI, now listed by ACMA under 6TZ),[23] and 756 kHz AM in Busselton and the Margaret River region.
Television assets
New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory
- BDN – Nine Network affiliate, Broken Hill¹
- BKN – Southern Cross Television, Broken Hill¹
- CTC – Southern Cross Nine Southern New South Wales/ACT
- SCN – Southern Cross Ten Broken Hill¹
Northern Territory and Remote Areas of Eastern Australia
- Central Digital Television (CDT) – Ten Central (jointly owned with Imparja Television Pty Ltd)²
- DTD – Ten Darwin (jointly owner with the Nine Network)²
- QQQ – Southern Cross Television Central Australia
- TND – Southern Cross Television Darwin
Queensland
- IDQ – Ten Central Mount Isa (jointly owned with Imparja Television Pty Ltd)²
- ITQ – Southern Cross Television Mount Isa
- TNQ – Southern Cross Ten Queensland
South Australia
- GDS – Nine Network affiliate, Spencer Gulf¹
- GTS – Southern Cross Television, Spencer Gulf¹
- SGS – Southern Cross Ten, Spencer Gulf¹
Victoria
- GLV/BCV – Southern Cross Nine Victoria
Tasmania
- TDT – Tasmanian Digital Television (jointly owned with WIN Television)²
- TNT – Southern Cross Television Tasmania
1. Southern Cross has a monopoly on commercial television in this market. The services other than GTS and BKN are retransmissions from Adelaide with local advertising.
2. This station was launched as a digital-only service, co-owned by the two existing commercial broadcasters in the market.
Digital Radio
Southern Cross Austereo broadcasts a number of digital only radio stations, including:
- Buddha Hits, The very best music that sooths your mind and feeds your soul. Buddha Hits lets listeners chill out with pop, electronica and acoustic vibes with a café music feel.
- Oldskool Hits, Oldskool Hits is pure pop nostalgia. Focused around the 90s and 00s, it’s all about flashback favourites.
- Easy Hits, An up-tempo, feel good, sing-along format of mainstream faves. Easy Hits is perfect for at-work and at-home listening.
- Triple M Greatest Hits, Real variety, Triple M Greatest Hits Digital gives listeners the best of mainstream rock from the 70s and 80s.
- Triple M Classic Rock Digital, From the late 60s and 70s, Triple M Classic Rock Digital delivers the absolute best album tunes from rock’s golden age.
- Triple M Modern Digital, Modern rock and pop with an alt twist, Triple M Modern Digital delivers the best alternative music from the 2000s to now, as well as 90s flashbacks.
Former:
- The Range, Country music
- MyOMG Radio, Eclectic Adult music
- Stardust Radio, Oldies/Jazz, replaced by Easy
- More Digital, 1980s & 1990s hits, rebranded as OldSkool
- Loveland, Love Songs, replaced by More Digital
- The Main Stage, Touring Artists Music
- Radar, Electronic Music
- Barry, Comedy
- U20, Under 20s Audience Generated Content Station
- Caravan Radio, Hamish & Andy's Caravan Of Courage
- I See Red, Salvation Army Red Shield Appeal
- Radio Gaga, All Lady Gaga, promoting her Australian Tour
- Choose The Hits, Real Time Requests
- High Voltage Radio, All AC/DC, promoting their Australian Tour
Former owned and operated stations
Due to conditions placed upon the takeover of DMG Radio's regional stations in 2005, Maqcuarie Southern Cross Media had to sell these stations to other parties:
- To Prime Media Group (with most stations being rebranded as "Zinc"):
- To Ace Radio:
- 2AY, Albury-Wodonga
Further, due to conditions triggered by the purchase of the assets of Southern Cross Broadcasting,[24] Macquarie Media Group was required to sell further stations to meet further diversity requirements at the time; the transactions to satisfy this being completed on 2008-03-14:[25]
- To Grant Broadcasters:
- Launceston, Tasmania: 7LA (1098 kHz AM)
- Burnie, Tasmania: 7BU "Heart 558" (558 kHz AM), 7SEA "Sea FM" (101.7 MHz FM)
- Scottsdale, Tasmania: 7SD "Heart 540" (540 kHz AM), 7RGS "Sea FM" (99.7 MHz FM)
- Devonport, Tasmania: 7AD "Heart 900" (900 kHz AM), 7DDD "Sea FM" (107.7 MHz FM)
- Queenstown, Tasmania: 7XS "West Coast 7XS" (837 kHz AM), 7AUS "Aus FM" (92.1 MHz FM)
- To Resonate Broadcasting:
- Warragul, Victoria: 3GG (531 kHz AM)
- Charters Towers, Queensland: 4GC (828 kHz AM), 4CHT "Hot FM" (95.9 MHz FM)
- To Smart Radio/Pinecam Pty Ltd (owners of the 4VL licence in Charleville, Queensland):
- Emerald, Queensland: 4HI (1143 kHz AM)
- Kingaroy, Queensland: 4SB "Heart 1071" (1071 kHz AM)
- Mount Isa, Queensland: 4LM (666 kHz AM)
- Roma, Queensland: 4ZR (1476 kHz AM)
- To Broadcast Operations Group:
- Young, New South Wales: 2LF (1350 kHz AM), 2LFF "Star FM" (93.9 MHz FM)
- To Coastal Broadcasters Pty Ltd (owners of the 4KZ licence in Innisfail, Queensland):
- Atherton, Queensland: 4AM (558 kHz AM)
Southern Cross Austereo was made to sell 91.9 Sea FM and 92.7 Mix FM on the Sunshine Coast, due to the larger than allowed overlap between the stations' licence area and that of Brisbane.[26] In 2013, the two stations were sold to Eon Broadcasting.
See also
References
- ↑ Grant Blackley (CEO)Southern Cross Austereo profit plunges, Peter Bush named as chairman
- ↑ "Southern Cross Media". Intelligent Investor (Company). Retrieved 2015-05-05.
- ↑ Catalano, Christian (2004-09-03). "Macquarie pays $194m in radio deal". Fairfax. The Age. Retrieved 2008-04-27.
- ↑ Westerman, Helen; Stephen McMahon (2006-11-17). "Macquarie Media takes stake in Southern Cross". Fairfax. The Age. Retrieved 2008-04-27.
- ↑ Macquarie Media Group Announcement - http://www.macquarie.com.au/au/mmg/index.html
- ↑ BEN POTTER (1993-05-27). "Village grabs FM in late bid". Age, The (Melbourne, Australia) (Late ed.). p. 21. ISSN 0312-6307. Retrieved 2014-11-12.
- ↑ Bartholomeusz, Stephen (1994-09-27). "Merging of networks faces some stiff tests". Age, The (Melbourne, Australia) (Late ed.). p. 41. ISSN 0312-6307. Retrieved 2014-11-12.
- ↑ STENBERG, MARYANN; MEGAN JONES (1994-10-15). "TPC approves FM merger". Age, The (Melbourne, Australia) (Late ed.). p. 33. ISSN 0312-6307. Retrieved 2014-11-12.
- ↑ "CAN ENEMIES BE FRIENDS AFTER THEY'RE MARRIED? - NEWS REVIEW". Sydney Morning Herald, The (Australia) (Late ed.). 1994-10-01. p. 25. ISSN 0312-6315. Retrieved 2014-11-12.
- ↑ Reuters, ACCC allows Takeover Bid, https://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/17/austereo-idUSSDYGEE7W620110317
- ↑ Southern Cross to raise 471m for Takeover Bid, Fairfax, http://www.smh.com.au/business/southern-cross-to-raise-471m-for-austereo-takeover-20110406-1d3gs.html
- ↑ "Introducing the new look Southern Cross Austereo". Mumbrella. 21 July 2011. Retrieved 27 July 2011.
- ↑ "Guy Dobson appointed Chief Content Officer at SCA". radioinfo. 23 August 2012. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
- ↑ "Regional". Southern Cross Austereo. Retrieved 27 July 2011.
- ↑ "Duchess of Cambridge hoax call nurse death a 'tragedy'". BBC News.
- ↑ "Duchess of Cambridge: radio station behind hoax call says it has not broken any laws". Daily Telegraph.
- ↑ "Austereo responds to hospital complaint". radioinfo.com.au.
- ↑ "Radio Royal hoax 'broke law' according to watchdog". BBC. 20 September 2013. Retrieved 20 September 2013.
- ↑ "Kate prank radio station disciplined over rape show". Channel 4 Newsw.
- ↑ "Teenage girl's radio rape admission sparks DOCS inquiry". The Australian.
- ↑ Bodey, Michael (2006-10-05). "Mixed signals from regional radio as politicians tune in". The Australian. Retrieved 2009-05-27.
- ↑ Schulze, Jane (2006-10-24). "MacBank radio network for sale". The Australian. Retrieved 2009-05-27.
- ↑ Australian Communications and Media Authority. Search for broadcasters by postcode (Broadcaster 6TZ, Bunbury RA1 Licence Area, Postcode 6225). Accessed on 2008-03-21.
- ↑ Australian Communications and Media Authority (2008-03-14). Divestment of commercial radio licences by Macquarie Media Group. Accessed on 2008-03-21.
- ↑ ABC News Online (2008-03-14). Tas radio stations sold. Accessed on 2008-03-21.
- ↑ RADIOTODAY.com.au (2012-11-13). SCA to sell Sunshine Coast by March. Accessed on 2014-03-24.