It was announced today that Nikki Osborne will be joining the Nova 106.9 Brisbane breakfast team as part of the brand new Ash, Luttsy & Nikki Osborne show, launching in 2025.

A popular Australian comedian, television presenter, actor and writer, Nikki will join long-standing Nova Brisbane breakfast announcers Ash Bradnam and David “Luttsy” Lutteral in the breakfast chair from Monday, January 20.

Said Nikki on her new role, “I have big flippers to fill but I’m confident Brisbane will warm to my ways. Sure, I get in trouble a bit, but I’ve got two big brothers in Ash and Luttsy and I have no doubt they’ll steer me even further off course! I love Brisbane. I grew up here and I look forward to having a good laugh with our listeners in this amazing city.”

Said Ash and Luttsy, “We’re excited to welcome Nikki aboard and join us for breakfast every morning. A Brissie local whose experience in the entertainment industry is second-to-none, we know Nikki will be an awesome addition to the team.”

Nova Network’s Group Programming Director, Brendan Taylor, added “We’re delighted to welcome Nikki to the Nova family. A proud Brisbane local, Nikki brings a wealth of experience and her infectious personality and comedic talent makes her a great fit for the show. We know our listeners will love spending time with Ash, Luttsy and Nikki in 2025.”

A highly regarded member of the Australian entertainment industry, Nikki’s experience as a sketch comedy veteran, writer, trained actor and stand-up comedian spans the past two decades.

A popular social media presence, Nikki’s characters like ‘Angry Aunt’ and the hugely popular ‘Bush Barbie’ have earned her a large following and tens of millions of views.

Nikki’s comedy credentials have earned her regular cast roles in sketch comedy television series including Mick Molly’s The Nation, Peter Helliar’s How to Stay Married and as narrator on the AACTA-nominated comedy series, Drunk History.

Nikki has appeared as a guest on television shows including Hughesy, We Have a Problem and I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here and competed in the 2024 season of Dancing with the Stars, making it through to the grand final.

She also hosted game show Quizmania and lifestyle show Find Me a Dream Home and as a trained actor, Nikki’s credits include starring as Delvene Delaney in the Paul Hogan miniseries Hoges: The Paul Hogan Story.

Nikki’s stand-up comedy credits include performing at the Sydney Opera House for four seasons of television stand-up series Just for Laughs. Her boundary-crossing live stand-up show Bad Barbie also received accolades both locally and internationally, and she performed the sold-out show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2023.

Ash, Luttsy & Nikki Osborne will air weekdays from 6am on Nova 106.9 in Brisbane from Monday, January 20

Listeners can also stream the show live or catch up with the daily podcast by downloading the Nova Player

It was announced today that Nova 106.9 Brisbane breakfast host Susie O’Neill is set to extend her longstanding relationship with NOVA Entertainment with a new role across the Nova Network in 2025.

The beloved co-host of the Ash, Luttsy and Susie O’Neill breakfast show for over 10 years recently announced that she had decided to step down from the show and is signing-off today, November 28.

In an exclusive audio agreement, Susie will remain within the NOVA Entertainment family, working on shows across the Nova Network as a guest presenter for both Breakfast and National shows next year.

Susie will also join the Nova Podcast Network, working alongside the podcast team to develop unique content for Nova’s 2025 podcast slate.

Said Susie about her new role, “It was such a hard decision to step away from the breakfast show and although my final day has been an emotional one, I’m really looking forward to starting this next chapter. This new opportunity in 2025 will allow me to remain with my Nova family while pursuing other goals, including getting back to the grass roots of sport and involving myself in the wider community.

“To be able to step into this new role across broadcast and podcasting, where I can connect with a broader audience while still being part of the community that I love, is a fantastic opportunity. Nova has been there from the beginning of my radio career, so this feels like a natural next step. Watch this space!”

Said Nova Network’s Group Programming Director, Brendan Taylor, “Susie has been an integral part of the Nova Brisbane broadcasting family for 11 years and we’re delighted she’ll remain with us in this new capacity next year. The unique relationship she has with her audience and commitment to excellence meant there was always going to be more to explore together. We know our listeners across Australia will love hearing Susie on Nova in 2025.”

Susie presents her final Nova 106.9 breakfast show alongside on-air colleagues Ash Bradnam and David “Luttsy” Lutteral today, Thursday, November 28.

The Ash, Luttsy & Nikki Osborne breakfast show launches on Monday, January 20, 2025.

This month, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) celebrates 85 years as Australia’s trusted international voice.   

On 20 December 1939, just after the start of WWII, Australian Prime Minister Robert Menzies launched ABC Radio Australia, then called Australian Calling, to counter disinformation and propaganda from enemy forces. Since then, ABC International has undergone many changes. Today, it is engaging audiences in Asia and the Pacific and supporting media across the region through the work of two teams – ABC International Services and ABC International Development.

ABC Radio Australia and international television service ABC Australia reach nearly 11 million people each month and digital platforms ABC Pacific and ABC Asia are also experiencing rapid growth. Meanwhile, media capacity building activities, funded by the Australian Government through DFAT and managed by ABC International Development, continue to expand, promoting public interest journalism in the Asia Pacific.

As part of the birthday celebrations, ABC International has launched an interactive storytelling platform, the Indo-Pacific Media Map, which portrays the ABC’s activities, audiences and impact across the region.

This week, international audiences will also enjoy special birthday content on ABC Pacific, ABC Asia and ABC Radio Australia, including ABC Radio Australia Nesia Daily presenters Jacob McQuire and Michael Chow interviewing iconic former ABC Radio Australia identities and unearthing some of the biggest moments from the past 85 years of programming and an in-depth digital feature delving into ABC International’s fascinating past.

ABC International Head Claire M. Gorman said: “I am incredibly proud of ABC International’s legacy as the trusted and independent Australian voice for 85 years in the Asia Pacific region. As we take this moment to reflect on our journey, we also look to the future as we continue to grow our international audiences and deepen our connections, championing regional storytelling and a robust and independent media landscape.”

EXPLORE THE INDO-PACIFIC MEDIA MAP

Take a journey through the media landscape of Asia and the Pacific using our interactive platform, the Indo-Pacific Media Map, and discover the depth and impact of the ABC’s international activities: https://indopacificmediamap.abc.net.au/

 

About ABC International Services 

For 85 years, the ABC has been broadcasting internationally. ABC Australia television has a monthly viewership across the Asia-Pacific of at least 10.5 million* and is available internationally via more than 100 rebroadcast partners. ABC Radio Australia’s FM radio service has a monthly urban listenership of at least 355,500** in the Pacific and Timor-Leste. ABC Pacific, the digital home for bespoke and curated content for Pacific audiences, has approximately 487,500*** followers on ABC Pacific Facebook. ABC Asia, the digital home for bespoke and curated content for audiences across Asia, has over 5.7 million***followers on ABC Asia Facebook.

*Viewership in Asia measured by Ipsos Affluent Asia data, estimations and extrapolations (May 24), in the Pacific viewership measured by Tebbutt data, estimations and extrapolations (Nov 23).  Total audience number is approximate and has not been de-duped. 

**Based on ABC-commissioned Tebbutt ‘Media Usage in the Pacific Survey’ (Nov 2023) noting listenership figure is estimated based on urban populations of six Pacific countries with the Timor-Leste audience figure extrapolated.  

***Figures taken from Khoros Analytics (Sept 24).

fbi.radio is looking for a Digital Producer to help shape its digital growth and presence.

Role – Digital Producer – Lead

Reports to – Managing Director (Creative)

Terms – Part time (30.4 hours / week) – (permanent contract)

Salary – Remuneration will be pro-rated accordingly, with an annual salary of $60,000

Location – Redfern

About fbi.radio

fbi.radio is an independent youth broadcaster. We target a demographic of 18-24 year olds and reach an audience of over 500,000 each month, broadcasting on 94.5 FM, DAB+ and online at fbi.radio. We believe in the transformative power of music, arts and culture to inspire young people, foster community and bring positive change to Sydney and the world.

Overview of the role:

As the Digital Producer – Lead, you will play a key role in shaping fbi.radio’s digital growth and presence, ensuring it resonates with the station’s audience and mission. You will oversee the creation of content that highlights and celebrates local and emerging music, arts, and culture across various digital platforms. You will lead a team that includes the Digital Coordinator and select content volunteers, focusing on developing engaging digital content, expanding audiences, and connecting with the diverse communities fbi.radio serves. Additionally, you will spearhead the development of fbi.radio’s overarching digital strategy, aligning it with the brand strategy established by staff and the Management Committee.

Responsibilities:

– Develop and implement a digital content strategy that aligns with fbi.radio’s goals, enhancing audience engagement and expanding reach

– Collaborate with Managing Directors, Programming, and Partnerships teams to develop innovative, multi-platform content that attracts new audiences and drives partnership revenue

– Oversee the creation, editing and publishing of content for all fbi.radio digital channels (including Instagram, Tik Tok, Youtube) including innovative ways to repurpose on-air content for online

– Develop, edit and publish website content that supports fbi.radio’s goals and objectives

– Develop social media strategies to engage with audiences, and increase interaction

– Plan digital campaigns around major events or special programming (e.g., SMAC Awards, interviews, fundraisers).

– Collaborate with the Managing Director (Creative) to track and monitor audience engagement across platforms and tailor content based on trends

– Manage and curate content for weekly e-newsletter and investigate ways to grow owned audience

– Recruit, brief and oversee volunteer and paid writers, digital content producers, photographers, editors, videographers and graphic designers

– Regularly assess the fbi.content strategy in collaboration with the Managing Director (Creative) to explore emerging technologies, identify monetisation opportunities, and ensure alignment with the fbi.radio audience

– Fulfill ad-hoc in-house design requests for social media graphics, event posters, merch, etc

Selection Criteria:

– 2+ years experience in digital editorial and design / digital marketing / social media

– Experience with image, video and audio editing software, such as Adobe Premiere, Adobe Photoshop

– Proven experience managing and maintaining website CMS

– Adept at using and monitoring social media to create community engagement

– Exceptional communication and organisational skills

– Able to work effectively in a team environment, providing leadership to an assistant and coordinating volunteer teams

– Reliable, diligent and able to work quickly and across multiple projects

– Problem solving and creative thinking to present new digital solutions

– A strong understanding of current trends in social media, radio, digital content and publishing

– A strong understanding of fbi.radio’s voice and where the organisation sits within Sydney’s media landscape

– Demonstrated passion for Sydney music, arts and culture

Desireable:

– Experience with Adobe After Effects, Illustrator, Audition

– Experience with Figma

– Experience with Payload, WordPress, or Kirby

– Web development / coding experience (HTML, CSS, Javascript)

– Experience briefing design and creative contractors

Additional Information: 

fbi.radio is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to a thriving and equitable workplace culture. We strongly encourage applications from First Nations peoples, people with disability and people of all ethnicities, genders, orientations.

This position is a permanent part-time contract, four days a week. The successful candidate must be available to work Tuesdays, with the remaining three days negotiable.

How to Apply:

Please send your CV and a cover letter addressing the selection criteria (no more than 3 pages) to jobs@fbiradio.com by 6pm, December 11.

Application dates for the first Low Power Open Narrowcast (LPON) licence allocation round for 2025 have been announced.

Applications open: 11 am, Monday 3 March 2025
Applications close: 11 am, Monday 17 March 2025

LPON licences are used for niche radio broadcasting services, such as tourist and racing information or religious programs. Find out more at Low power open narrowcasting licences | ACMA.

ABC Radio Sydney Weekend Mornings presenter Simon Marnie has announced he will finish with the ABC at the end of the year.

Simon started his career at 2UW in the 1980s where his love of radio really took hold.

In 1993 he joined the ABC in his first on air role as a presenter on triple j. He spent 10 years with the youth network but says, “it’s like being at Woodstock: if you can remember it, you probably weren’t there”.

Simon has also worked in Television conceiving and producing the SBS music show, nomad and reported on TVTV on the ABC.

Simon returned to ABC Radio in 1996, this time to ABC Radio Sydney where he has remained since.

Simon broke the news of the September 11 attacks to local radio across the nation and continued to broadcast for 15 hours across that night

He presented various programs on 702 ABC Radio Sydney including NightLife before landing his much-loved Weekend Mornings slot in 2000.

Since then, Simon has spent his weekends connecting city and country by sharing stories and broadcasting from communities across metropolitan and regional areas.

His programs enticed audiences with discussions about food, culture and the diversity of Sydney and NSW life and he has been recognised by some of the state’s leading chefs as a great supporter of Australian food and hospitality.

Simon continued to broadcast throughout COVID, setting up a studio in his sunroom throughout the peak of the pandemic.

Simon says, “Sydney weekends are about leisure, relaxing and fun and this city is one of the best in Australia – we cover as many events as possible to show the diversity of cultures, people and regions that make up the Greater Sydney Region.”

Simon has presented 100s of hours of Emergency Broadcasting for communities throughout NSW during floods, bushfires and other natural disasters.

He demonstrated his support for bushfire impacted communities from Bermagui to Nymboida by taking the program on the road for a series of live Road to Recovery broadcasts following the 2019/20 bushfire season.

Simon said: “While saddened to leave my colleagues and my treasured audience I am looking forward to the many opportunities that this opportunity will present. My parents had 2BL on every morning, it was such a rich part of my life and I’m eagerly awaiting the next stage. I will miss everyone very much”

ABC Director Audio Ben Latimer said “Our audience have loved easing into the weekends with Simon over the years and learning about what was happening in Sydney and beyond. I am sure many of our audience have discovered something new about where they live by listening to Simon on a Saturday or Sunday morning.

“I would like to thank Simon for his contribution to the program, and his dedication to bringing the audience the very best experiences from Sydney and across the state and his commitment to connecting with audiences in metro and regional areas.”

Simon is inviting audiences to join him one last time for the Weekend Show Christmas Picnic at Jazz @ The House at Government House in Sydney tomorrow, Sunday 1 December.