Southern Cross Austereo
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| 250px | |
| Subsidiary | |
| Industry | Broadcast radio and television network |
| Founded | July 2011 |
| Headquarters | Australia |
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Key people
|
Peter Bush – Chairman[1] |
| Owner | Macquarie Bank |
| Parent | Southern Cross Media Group |
| Website | Southern Cross Austereo |
Southern Cross Austereo 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]
Contents
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
- Stations branded Southern Cross Television are sole affiliates of the Seven Network with some exceptions (for instance, GTS/BKN and QQQ). These stations often brand themselves both with the Seven and Southern Cross logos, from time to time.
- Stations branded Southern Cross Ten are sole affiliates of Network Ten. These stations brand themselves with the Network Ten logo for TV advertisements and in the bottom right corner of TV shows. The Southern Cross Ten logo is not used inside of TV programming.
Radio
The format of each station is defined by one of two common formats:
- Hit Network - a #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 Star FM, Hot FM and Sea FM brands in regional areas.[14]
- Triple M LocalWorks - talkback and rock music format targeted at men over 25-49, 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
Southern Cross Austereo produces its own networked programming across both brands, which include:
| Network | Show Name | Announcer/s | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hit | Hamish and Andy | Hamish Blake & Andy Lee | Drive program |
| Hit | The Scoopla Show | Jules Lund & Emma Freedman | Early evening program |
| Hit | Shazam Top 20 | Angus O'Loughlin | Night program |
| Hit | YouTube Hits | Michael Beveridge & Marty Smiley | Late night program |
| Hit | Weekend Breakfast | Jo Stanley & Michael Beveridge | Breakfast program |
| Hit | Take 40 Australia | Angus O'Loughlin | Top 40 Countdown program |
| Hit Regional Network | Alo Bakers Workday | Alo Baker | Workday |
| Lworks | Classic Vinyl | Trevor Smith | Artist Specific Program/Segments |
| Lworks | Property Matters | Real Estate Program | |
| Lworks | Health Matters | Dr. John D'Arcy | Personal Health Program |
| Lworks | Money Matters | Kel Harper & Josie Kay | Personal Finance Program |
| Lworks | 30 Something | Kim Bunney | Nightly Countdown Program |
| Lworks | Sunday Groovies | Various | 70's & 80's Focused Program |
| Lworks | Talking Back the Night | Christian Argenti | Overnight Talk-Back Program |
| Lworks | The Dan & Ken Show | Dan Lyons & Ken Green | Drive 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.
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 and pressured into discussing her sex life live on air. The radio show host 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 the host 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 "Hot FM" (103.5 MHz FM) | 4RGC "Sea FM" (99.5 MHz FM) |
| Charters Towers1 | 4CHT "Hot FM" (95.9 MHz FM) | 4GC (828 kHz AM) |
| Emerald | 4HIT "Hot FM" (94.7 MHz FM) | |
| Gold Coast | 4SEA "Sea FM" (90.9 MHz FM) | 4GLD "Gold FM" (92.5 MHz FM) |
| Kingaroy | 4KRY "Hot FM" (89.1 MHz FM) | |
| Mackay | 4MKY "Hot FM" (100.3 MHz FM) | 4RGM "Sea FM" (98.7 MHz FM) |
| Maryborough | 4CEE "Sea FM" (101.9 MHz FM) | 4MBB "Mix FM" (103.5 MHz FM) |
| Mount Isa | 4MIC "Hot FM" (102.5 MHz FM) | |
| Rockhampton | 4ROK "Hot FM" (107.9 MHz FM) | 4RGK "Sea FM" (101.5 MHz FM) |
| Roma | 4ROM "Hot FM" (95.1 MHz FM) | |
| Toowoomba/Warwick (Darling Downs) | 4RGD "Hot FM" (100.7 MHz FM) | 4GR (864 kHz AM) |
| Townsville | 4RAM "Hot FM" (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 "Star FM" (104.9 MHz FM) | 2BDR "The River" (105.7 MHz FM) |
| Coffs Harbour | 2CSF "Star FM" (105.5 MHz FM) | 2CFS "2CS" (106.3 MHz FM) |
| Dubbo | 2DBO "Star FM" (93.5 MHz FM) | |
| Gosford (Central Coast) | 2CFM "Sea FM" (101.3 MHz FM) | 2GGO "2GO" (107.7 MHz FM) |
| Griffith | 2RGF "Star FM" (99.7 MHz FM) | 2RG (963 kHz AM) |
| Kempsey2 | 2ROX "Star FM" (105.1 MHz FM) | 2PQQ "2MC FM" (106.7 MHz FM) |
| Newcastle | 2XXX "NXFM" (106.9 MHz FM) | 2KKO "KOFM" (102.9 MHz FM) |
| Orange | 2GZF "Star FM" (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 "Star FM" (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 "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 "Star FM" (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 "Star FM" (99.5 MHz FM) | 3RMR "Sun FM" (97.9 MHz FM) |
| Shepparton | 3SUN "Star FM" (96.9 MHz FM) | 3SRR "95 3SR FM"2 (95.3 MHz FM) |
| Warragul (Gippsland) | 3SEA "Star FM" (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 "Sea FM" (100.9 MHz FM) | 7XXX "Heart 107.3" (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 "Star FM" (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 "Hot FM" (106.5 MHz FM) | 6VA "RadioWest" (783 kHz AM) |
| Bridgetown | 6BET "Hot FM" (100.5 MHz FM) | 6BY "RadioWest" (900 kHz AM) |
| Bunbury | 6BUN "Hot FM" (95.7 MHz FM) | 6TZ "RadioWest" (963 kHz AM)1 |
| Esperance | 6SEA "Hot FM" (102.3 MHz FM) | 6SE "RadioWest" (747 kHz AM) |
| Kalgoorlie | 6KAR "Hot FM" (97.9 MHz FM) | 6KG "RadioWest" (981 kHz AM) |
| Katanning | 6KAN "Hot FM" (94.9 MHz FM) | 6WB "RadioWest" (1071 kHz AM) |
| Merredin | 6MER "Hot FM" (105.1 MHz FM) | 6MD "RadioWest" (1098 kHz AM) |
| Narrogin | 6NAN "Hot FM" (100.5 MHz FM) | 6NA "RadioWest" (918 kHz AM) |
| Northam | 6NAM "Hot FM" (96.5 MHz FM) | 6AM "RadioWest" (864 kHz AM) |
| Perth | 6PPM "92.9" (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 Ten Southern New South Wales/ACT
- NRN - Southern Cross Ten Northern New South Wales
- 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
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: Triple M Classic/Modern Rock, Buddha Radio, Stardust Radio, More Digital, with Southern Cross News included
- Triple M Classic Rock, Classic Rock
- Buddha Radio, Chill-Out Music
- Stardust Radio, Oldies/Jazz
- More Digital, 1980s & 1990s hits
Former:
- Loveland, Love Songs
- 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' license area and that of Brisbane.[26] In 2013, the two stations were sold to Eon Broadcasting.
See also
References
- ↑ Southern Cross Austereo profit plunges, Peter Bush named as chairman
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- ↑ Macquarie Media Group Announcement - http://www.macquarie.com.au/au/mmg/index.html
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- ↑ Reuters, ACCC allows Takeover Bid, http://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
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- ↑ 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.
