Category: Australian

4BC Breakfast to take on a new direction

4BC Breakfast to take on a new direction

Brisbane’s 4BC has announced it will be taking on a new direction in the Breakfast timeslot as Laurel Edwards, Gary Clare and Mark Hine prepare to bid farewell.

Laurel, Gary and Mark have been part of the morning routine for millions of Brisbane listeners for over 30 years thanks to their chemistry, music and determination to make people laugh.

Head of Content for Nine Radio, Greg Byrnes, said: “Laurel, Gary and Mark have played a crucial role in our live and local content strategy. It’s been a privilege to have them engage with Brisbane through 4BC but we’ve decided to take a new approach to Breakfast.

“Their loyal listeners, and all of us at 4BC, will miss them greatly, but we’ll be sending them off in a style worthy of their remarkable careers.”

Laurel, Gary and Mark will take their planned survey break next week and return on Monday, September 23, for a final week of cheers and tears as they reflect on their most memorable moments and farewell their 4BC listeners.

Their final day on air will be Friday, September 27.

An announcement on Brisbane’s 4BC Breakfast lineup for the remainder of 2024 will be made soon.

TRIPLE M: YOUR ULTIMATE NRL FINALS DESTINATION

As the 2024 NRL Finals Series begins, Triple M stands ready to deliver every exhilarating moment – from the high-octane kick-off to each exhilarating try and tackle. As Australia’s #1 NRL call, Triple M provides an unmatched listening experience for fans eager to follow every twist and turn of the finals.

With the race for the NRL premiership reaching new heights, Triple M is leading the charge in radio coverage.

This year, Triple M has set new benchmarks, achieving record-breaking audience shares and reach in Sydney and Brisbane. With a dominant streak of 162 consecutive wins over all other commercial competitors, Triple M continues to be the premier choice for NRL finals coverage this September and October.

Our NRL finals lineup features a stellar cast of commentators and experts, including play-by- play commentators Dan Ginnane, Anthony Maroon, and Ben Dobbin, along with renowned experts James Graham, Gorden Tallis, Ryan Girdler, Wade Graham, Aaron Woods, and Jason Demetriou. Their insights and commentary promise to deliver the ultimate finals experience.

Throughout the month, Triple M’s popular sports shows will keep the excitement rolling with in-depth analysis and engaging commentary. Don’t miss The Rush Hour Drive shows, The Saturday Scrum, The Sunday Sin Bin, and Dead Set Legends for all the latest action and lively discussion.

For those who want to dive deeper, SCA’s LiSTNR offers a suite of podcasts like Footy Talk – Rugby League, The Monday Scrum, and MG’s Rugby League rundown, providing thorough game breakdowns and exclusive insights.

SCA Head of Sports Content, Ewan Giles, remarked: “Triple M is the epicentre of NRL excitement. Our lineup of experts is unparalleled in Australian sports broadcasting, and we’re thrilled to guide fans through this thrilling journey to the grand final.

“With top-tier commentary, insightful analysis, and a touch of humour, Triple M is your go-to for every moment of the Finals’ Series. In a season as competitive as this, you won’t want to miss a second of the action with Triple M.”

Catch Triple M’s NRL coverage and exclusive sports shows on the Triple M Network and on-demand via LiSTNR.

Source: GfK Radio Ratings. Metro Survey 5, 2024. Sydney – Thursday 1800-2230, Friday 1800-2230, Saturday 1200-2230, Sunday 1300-1930. Brisbane – Thursday 1800-2200, Friday 1730-2200, Saturday 1130-2200, Sunday 1230-1900. Melbourne – Thursday 1800-2030, Friday 1745-2030, Saturday 1000-2030, Sunday 1100-1730. P10+ / P10-69 / P25-54. Cume / Market Share.

For more than 40 years, Triple M continues to be one of Australia’s best-known radio entertainment brands and the only radio network that provides its listeners with a unique combination of Greatest Hits, Sport and Comedy. With 49 stations across Australia, including six digital stations, Triple M 80s, Triple M Classic Rock, Triple M 2000s, Triple M Country, and Triple M 90s, Triple M has become known for playing Rock’s Greatest Hits, and its iconic talent and shows that get people talking.

The iconic brand entertains more than 4.6 million radio and on demand listeners each week and is home to some of Australia’s biggest sporting heroes, comedians and music gurus including Mick Molloy, Marty Sheargold, Mark Geyer, Gus Worland, Margaux Parker, Ryan Girdler, Leisel Jones, James Brayshaw, Billy Brownless, Gorden Tallis, Greg Martin, Mark Ricciuto, Laura O’Callaghan, Chris Dittmar, Peter ‘Spida’ Everitt and Andrew Jarman to name just a few! All Triple M’s content is available live or on demand on the LiSTNR app.

ABC journalist and pioneer Heather Ewart to retire

Pioneering journalist Heather Ewart has announced she will retire next year after an incredible career at the ABC of almost 50 years.

Starting as a cadet in 1977, Ewart went on to become one of the national public broadcaster’s most accomplished presenters, most recently as host of Back Roads.

She broke down many barriers as a woman in the industry as one of the ABC’s first female foreign correspondents and one of few women reporting on federal politics in the 1980s during the Fraser and Hawke eras.

As a foreign correspondent based in London, Washington DC and then Brussels, Ewart covered major international news events including the first Gulf War, the Waco siege in Texas, the election of US President Bill Clinton, tensions in the Balkans and Europe’s transition to the euro in Europe.

In Australia, she covered many federal election campaigns as Chief Political Correspondent for ABC radio news and current affairs, Political Editor, National Affairs Correspondent and fill-in host for 7.30 and presenter of World at Noon.

“I’ve had a varied and very interesting career at the ABC and am grateful for the opportunities given to me,” Heather said. “I fought hard for many of them, and hope this encouraged other women to have a go as well.”

ABC News Director, Justin Stevens said: “I first worked with Heather in the early 2000s at The 7.30 Report. She was held in great regard in the federal political sphere and was also a superb reporter on many other issues of national interest and history. The public have loved Heather and her work, they appreciate her authentic and passionate connection to our audience.”

Ewart was co-executive producer and presenter on a three-part ABC TV documentary on the history of the National Party in 2014, which was the catalyst for Back Roads, which launched the following year. Born and raised in the country, Ewart’s ambition was to create a program that helped bridge the gap between the country and the city and showcase a slice of country life that she loved as a child growing up on a farm in central Victoria.

“My aim was always to amplify the voices of regional Australians and to remind viewers of what’s right on their doorsteps,” Ewart said. “I’m very proud of what we created and that I got to present the show for the past ten years. I see the 10th anniversary next year as a fitting milestone to move on. I wish the Back Roads team every success in the future.”

Ewart’s many other career highlights include winning the 2007 Gold Quill, the Melbourne Press Club’s top award, for coverage of melanoma victim Claire Oliver, who later died. Claire blamed her use of solariums and Ewart’s reports on 7.30 resulted in the changing of laws to ban solariums. Her other acclaimed work included her extensive coverage of Victoria’s Black Saturday bushfires for 7.30 in 2009.

She was on the Walkley Board and a judge of excellence in journalism for six years and authored best-selling book The Great Aussie Road Trip.

Ewart is currently in production on a number of Back Roads episodes that will screen throughout 2025. She finishes up at the ABC in March next year.

ABC signs MOU with RNZ

Radio New Zealand (RNZ) and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding, outlining a new framework for co-productions, sharing of content domestically and on each other’s international channels. 

In a visit to RNZ offices in Wellington, ABC Managing Director David Anderson, ABC Strategy Director Mark Tapley and ABC International Head Claire M. Gorman met with RNZ Chief Executive Paul Thompson for the official signing of the new partnership.

Under the key tenets of the MOU, the ABC and RNZ will develop a productive and meaningful working relationship through collaborative projects and content sharing activity to serve audiences both domestically and across the Pacific.

The framework of the new agreement also identifies how both public broadcasters, through their regional broadcast efforts, will aim to promote access to high quality news, combat misinformation and provide content and services that inform, educate and entertain audiences.

Collaboration under the MOU has already begun with daily news sharing and content exchange between the ABC and RNZ News teams, as well as a radio and podcast co-production that will launch later this year.

RNZ Chief Executive and Editor in Chief Paul Thompson said the new partnership builds on the existing relationship: “We have so much in common with the ABC in terms of our shared opportunities and challenges as public media organisations, and this MOU allows us to learn from each other, to share content and even to consider how we might work together on co-productions.”

“The MOU also recognises the shared role we have in the Pacific to work collaboratively alongside local media partners to promote high-quality news and current affairs.”

ABC Managing Director David Anderson said: “As a fellow public broadcaster and close neighbour, the ABC has a deep history of working side-by-side with RNZ in fulfilling our responsibilities to serve our respective nations. We welcome this opportunity to explore new areas for collaboration and content exchange across our services and offerings.”

ABC International Head Claire M. Gorman commented: “We are delighted to be formalising our partnership with RNZ; the MOU signifies an exciting and important next step in strengthening our friendship. By working together across new initiatives and projects, this agreement will support our shared commitment to continue delivering high-quality news, diverse regional storytelling and informative and entertaining content to audiences across the region.”

About ABC International Services

Since 1939, the ABC has been broadcasting to audiences overseas. The International division reaches an estimated 14,224,065 unique monthly overseas audiences through owned and operated platforms including ABC Australia, ABC Radio Australia and ABC websites and apps including ABC Pacific and ABC Asia. The ABC’s international audiences come from all corners of the globe. ABC Australia, the ABC’s international television service available in 37 markets throughout Asia and the Pacific, has a monthly viewership of at least 3,905,050. ABC Radio Australia, the ABC’s international radio service available via FM in the Pacific and Timor Leste, has a monthly listenership of at least 321,225. Outside Australia, ABC websites and apps have an average global monthly usership of 9,997,790, which includes approximately 7,505,085 users across the Americas, Europe and Africa and 1,865,655 users in Asia.

*Figures based on the ABC 2022-23 Annual Report

About RNZ

RNZ is New Zealand’s independent non-commercial public media organisation and has proudly been so for almost 100 years.

RNZ delivers a diverse range of content that reflects New Zealand’s culture, social and regional diversity. It serves as a platform for quality journalism, creating a space for open dialogue and informed discussion on topics that matter to New Zealanders.

RNZ has more than 60 content-sharing partnerships and collaborations in place. It means RNZ content is available to many online media, print, radio and television services in New Zealand and the wider Pacific. This improves the accessibility of RNZ content for New Zealand and overseas audiences and provides a valuable source of unique local content for other media.

Australian Podcast Ranker – August

The Australian Podcast Ranker has been released by Commercial Radio and Audio (CRA) and Triton Digital. Below are the top five charts for August. The complete charts can be viewed here.

Want to uncover more podcast trends? Check out our Australian Podcast Bi-Annual Report here.

Australian Podcast Ranker top five podcasts August 2024
Podcast Producer Monthly Listeners
1 Hamish & Andy LiSTNR (SCA)  897,086
2 ABC News Top Stories Australian Broadcasting Corporation  717,549
3 Casefile True Crime Audioboom  677,813
4 Mamamia Out Loud Mamamia  562,587
5 Shameless Shameless Media  530,065

 

Australian Podcast Ranker top five genres August 2024
     Genre Monthly Listeners
1 Society & Culture 4,643,132
2 True Crime 4,041,916
3 News 3,996,564
4 Comedy 3,485,773
5 Sports 3,369,603

 

Australian Podcast Ranker top five podcast publishers August 2024
     Publisher Monthly Listeners
1 ARN/iHeart 4,441,912
2 LiSTNR (SCA) 3,460,055
3 Australian Broadcasting Corporation 2,826,744
4 SiriusXM Podcast Network 2,271,006
5 Audioboom 2,101,693

 

Top five sales representatives by monthly listeners August 2024
    Sales representatives Publishers represented Listeners
1 LiSTNR (SCA) LiSTNR (SCA), Schwartz Media, SiriusXM Podcast Network, audiochuck, Wondery, DM Podcasts, NBC Universal News Group 7,034,699
2 ARN / iHeart ARN, iHeartMedia, Audioboom, AdLarge Media, Sport Social Podcast Network, The Athletic, The Investors Podcast Network, All Ears English, Sony Music, Clubby Sports, NZME, TED, Johns Media 6,586,101
3 NOVA Entertainment NOVA Entertainment, News Corp Australia, Podshape 2,506,864
4 News Corp Australia News Corp Australia 1,733,042
5 Nine Nine Radio, Nine Publishing 1,630,326

About the Australian Podcast Ranker
The Australian Podcast Ranker is a monthly snapshot of the top 200 podcasts listened to by Australians, the top 200 Australian podcasts, the 20 biggest publishers and the 20 most successful podcast sales representatives.
The Australian Podcast Ranker is an industry initiative commissioned by CRA and published by Triton Digital. Results comply with IAB Podcast Measurement Technical Guidelines.

POSITION: Sponsorship Coordinator, Radio Skid Row, Sydney NSW

Radio Skid Row is looking for a part-time worker to coordinate and expand sponsorship at the station. This position includes working closely with the board, station manager, communications officer and volunteers to expand radio skid row’s sponsorship income and increase the organisation’s income generating capacity in general in both traditional radio and in more modern digital markets. The position also includes working closely with the Station Manager & Communication Officer to develop and expand fundraisers and supporter drives.

We’re looking for someone who is creative, confident and motivated, with a passion for building genuine grass-roots community organisations.

The core responsibilities of the Sponsorship Coordinator are:

  • Managing or-air sponsorship
  • Expanding Radio Skid Row’s income generating capacity in traditional radio markets
  • Expanding Radio Skid Row’s income generating capacity in digital markets
  • Developing and managing sponsorship relationships with local businesses and organisations
  • Developing and expanding fundraising at radio skid row
  • Meeting Key Performance Indicators

Selection Criteria

The successful candidate will have:

  • Demonstrable ability to manage and generate income streams for non-profit organizations
  • Strong time management and organisational skills
  • Strong communication skills and demonstrable ability to work as part of a team
  • Demonstrable ability to work with volunteers, community members and a volunteer board of directors
  • Strong IT & digital media skills
  • Strong knowledge of social media and digital marketing

The position is part time, 30 hours per fortnight at $38 per hour, including superannuation & benefits, with weekend work required occasionally. Radio Skid Row offers the opportunity for flexible working conditions, which can be discussed and agreed upon with the station manager. This is a one-year contract, with strong possibility for renewal, depending on funding and other circumstances. There will be a 3-month trial/probation period (at full pay), at the end of which there will be a review.

Please send your CV and a letter addressing the selection criteria to the station manager before the 30th September 2024. stationmanager@skidrow.com.au

POSITION: Intern, Radio Skid Row, Sydney NSW

Are you passionate about radio and community broadcasting? Do you want hands-on experience in a dynamic media environment? We’re excited to invite you to apply for Radio Skid Row’s Internship Program!

Why Intern at Radio Skid Row?

  1. Gain Practical Experience: Dive into every aspect of radio production, from behind-the-scenes operations to on-air experiences. You’ll develop valuable skills and insights into the world of broadcasting.
  2. Be Part of a Community: Radio Skid Row is more than just a radio station—it’s a hub for community engagement and social change. As an intern, you’ll contribute to programs that support and uplift the community.
  3. Develop Your Skills: Whether you’re interested in audio editing, content creation, or live broadcasting, our internship program is designed to help you build a diverse skill set.

What You’ll Do

  • On-Air Production: Assist in producing on-air shows or studio interviews using Adobe Audition and Audacity.
  • Broadcasting: Host your own radio program and bring your unique voice to our airwaves.
  • Digital Media: Produce content for our website and social media platforms to engage with our audience.
  • Community Engagement: Build relationships with the local community and contribute to our community-focused programming.
  • Diverse Projects: Work on a variety of projects including community news, activist news, and content.

What We’re Looking For

  • Everyone is Welcome: We encourage encourages First Nations people, people living with disabilities, LGBTQIA+ individuals and those from culturally diverse backgrounds to apply. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive community and value the unique perspectives and contributions of every applicant.
  • No Age Restrictions: We welcome individuals of all ages to apply!
  • No Prior Experience Required: No previous experience in radio or music is necessary.
  • Motivated Learners: We seek individuals who are eager to learn new skills and make a meaningful contribution.
  • Flexible Duration: Internships can range from 4 weeks to 6 months, depending on your availability and our program needs.

Apply Now!

Ready to make your mark in the world of broadcasting? Email your CV and Cover Letter to stationmanager@skidrow.com.au to apply.

Discover the New Features in the Community Radio Plus App

Community Radio Plus is making the listening experience better than ever with new features that put listeners in control of their favourite shows and stations.

COMING SOON

Radiothon Notifications: Boosting Support for Your Station

Supporting community radio stations is about to become easier! With the upcoming new radiothon notifications feature, stations will be able to notify their followers about upcoming fundraising events directly through the app. These alerts help listeners stay informed and engaged, making it easier for stations to spread the word and secure much-needed donations. Stations can request promotion for upcoming radiothons by getting in touch with the CBAA Online Services team at least 4 weeks before a radiothon, and must supply promotional material and relevant links for use in promotions.

OTHER NEW FEATURES

Show Reminders: Never Miss an Episode

Listeners can set up reminders for their favourite shows. They can choose between a single reminder for a specific episode or set weekly reminders so they’re always ready when their favourite program airs. It’s as simple as tapping the reminder bell on a show or podcast to get notified when new episodes drop.

Indigenous Placenames

Community Radio Plus has introduced a new feature that allows stations to display their Indigenous placenames on their station screen.

My Queue: Customise Your Listening Experience

With the new My Queue feature, listeners can now create a personalised playlist from various podcasts, allowing them to pick episodes from different shows, reorder them, and make an ideal listening mix.

Enhanced Push Notifications

Enhanced push notifications now include images and direct links to stations or individual podcast episodes.

Toast Messaging for Better User Experience

We’ve added toast messaging to improve app interactions. These subtle, brief notifications appear in response to certain actions, making it clearer and easier to navigate through the app.

New Podcast Player Controls

Managing podcast episodes has never been easier! We’ve added a new Up Next button to the Podcast Player screen, giving listeners the ability to reorder and manage episodes from Podcasts, Downloads, or My Queue.

Direct Access to New Episodes

Podcasts with new episodes now display a bell icon, making it easy to spot fresh content.

 

LET YOUR LISTENERS KNOW ABOUT THE COMMUNITY RADIO PLUS APP

Let your listeners know that they can find your station on Community Radio Plus, whether they’re using the app on the Google Play Store, the iOS App Store, using select smart speakers as well as Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

CBAA’s Submission to the Australian Government’s Community Broadcasting Sustainability Review

Consultation on the Australian Government’s Community Broadcasting Sustainability Review closed last week. Thanks to all of the community broadcasters that attended consultations sessions, made a submission or opened up their stations to the Department officials throughout the consultations. The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts (DITRDCA) will now review all verbal and written submissions with the aim of publishing a review document with recommended actions and outcomes. CBAA will continue to work with the Department throughout this process. We hope to achieve a positive outcome for Broadcasters this year.

Our submission builds on the vision of the Roadmap 2033 and the views expressed to us by stations throughout the process. As a priority, the CBAA is seeking an immediate and substantially increased funding allocation for community broadcasters to deliver Roadmap 2033: Community Broadcasting’s plan for greater impact in every Australian Community (Roadmap 2033). We are asking for more funding for station operations, workforce development, specialist content and projects to achieve community outcomes.

Our submission also covers the structure and funding of the Community Broadcasting Program (CBP) and Indigenous Broadcasting and Media Program (IMBP) as well as legislation, regulation, and the activity of the regulator (the ACMA). We are urging the Government to work with the sector on legislative and regulatory reforms which will create a clearer and more consistent framework for broadcasters to reduce administration, increase business certainty, enable operational flexibility and efficiency, expand services and increase opportunities to develop alternative sources of income.

Please contact CBAA Head of Advocacy and Communications Reece Kinnane (reece.kinnane@cbaa.org.au) regarding any issues you’d like to discuss or any help your station can provide to strengthen our advocacy on behalf of the sector.

ABC gains 450,000 podcast listeners in August

The ABC has added an additional 456,000 listeners across our podcast offering last month according to the Triton August Podcast ranker released today.

The additional listeners saw our programs achieve a total of 2.82 million monthly listeners, a new record for the ABC since it joined the ranker and maintaining our number 3 podcast publisher rank.

ABC Head of Audio Ben Latimer said: “This is a fantastic result for our team.

It is always heartening to see audiences turn to the ABC during these moments of national importance, like the Olympics.”

There were 32 ABC titles in the top 200 ranker with ABC News Top Stories maintaining the number 2 position it achieved for the first time in July.

The ABC had 4 titles in the top 20 with ABC News Top Stories joined by Conversations at #8, ABC News Daily at #11 and ABC Sport Daily moving up 8 spots to #13.

Other ABC titles making big moves in August were The World Today which rose 95 ranks to #59, Quick Smart jumped 53 places to #95 and Global Roaming with Geraldine Doogue and Hamish Macdonald which moved up 29 places to #117.

Roy and HG — Bludging on the Blindside continued to benefit from their Olympic coverage moving up 17 places for their highest ever rank of #24.

The full Triton Australian Podcast Ranker can be found here.

Audiences can enjoy all the ABC’s podcasts for free and ad free on ABC listen.

The Australian Podcast Ranker is a regular monthly snapshot of Australia’s most popular podcasts. The Ranker has been reporting podcast listening in Australia since 2019 and includes a wide cross section of Australian podcast publishers, from both radio and non-radio backgrounds.