Recent news items:

[Flash]

Recent news items:


Rick Astley Road Block in Sydney
In a rare inter-station link-up not seen since the Charles and Diana wedding, Sydney’s Music Diretors have conspired to play the same song at the same time.

Dicko left cabless in London: Audio
London is not a city you’d associate with rickshaws but vega 91.5’s Dicko (Ian Dickson) managed to find one there and use the experience to entertain his listeners in Melbourne.

27 years on air for nothing more than the love of country
With 27 years behind the microphine, Barbara Morison is one of 2SER’s longest serving volunteers and along the way has become a renowned figure in Australian Country music.

ABC Local Radio shines a torch on whether sport and politics can mix
As the Olympic torch makes it way – via Canberra - to Beijing, ABC Local Radio and Grandstand are mounting a special debate on sport and politics that asks: Can political grandstanding be separated from sporting endeavour?

Today Network plays more hits and their websites get more hits
Austereo’s Today Network has the number one radio website in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth, according to Nielsen online web traffic tracking for the first quarter of 2008.



Additionally, there are 6 items from around the web updated in the past 48 hours.


Pope endorses Radio as an effective way to get message across

NEW YORK, APRIL 22, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI sent a special greeting to radio listeners on the anniversary of his election to the papacy, saying the means of communication helps him to share the message of the Gospel.

boozing costs radio dj his job in South Africa

A radio presenter has been fired after he was found drunk and sleeping when he should have been presenting a midnight show

Tim Webster steps back from TV to concentrate on Radio

VETERAN TV news and sports presenter Tim Webster is set to take three steps back from Ten in an effort to tune into his new role on 2UE.

Will digital kill the community radio star?

A mixture of stone-walling and high hurdles is threatening the ability of Australia’s most diverse broadcasting sector to make the leap into the digital age.

Radio Free Europe: Radio To Stay Tuned To

Reputation to the contrary, RFE is not American propaganda radio. It is better described as "surrogate radio": a broadcasting service that supplies local, national and international news, in radio, Internet and sometimes video form, in countries where other local news is weak or unavailable.

Breaking radio silence

A $400 million broadcast system will allow listeners worldwide access to 13,000 digital radio stations away from their computers, reports Lia Timson.



Recent job ads:


Senior Broadcast Engineer
Based in Sydney

Program Director
Based in Sunshine Coast

Airtime Manager
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Breakfast Presenter - Mackay
Based in Mackay

Producer
Based in Brisbane



Recent movements:


22 Apr 2008
Paul Arandale from KO fm in Newcastle has been appointed to the position of announcer at 2TM 92.9 fm in Tamworth.

22 Apr 2008
Karina Singer is multitasking at 4TO. Not only is she the afternoon announcer and AMD of the Townsville station, she’s also been appointed Network MD of MACSC Local Works stations in the northern group.

21 Apr 2008
Current KO/NXFM Group Program Director Andrew Very has decided to leave his post in Newcastle to settle back in Brisbane with his young family. AV's last day will be May 2.

18 Apr 2008
Program Director, Justin Drexall is leaving Mix 104.9 and Hot 100 FM Darwin to take up a similar position at 4CC and 4RO. Louise Poole will take his place in Darwin leaving 2NM and Power FM, Muswellbrook behind.

17 Apr 2008
Los Angeles based Byron Cooke [ex 2DAY FM & Triple M Network personality] just picked up another Californian affiliate for his morning show. Active Rock station 92.5 The Bear in Merced, CA will air “The B-Team with Byron & Crissy” weekday mornings from Monday April 21st. The B-Team is now broadcast in 5 Californian markets - Santa Cruz, Monterey, Salinas, Chico and Merced. It is also available on-demand updated daily at bteamradio.com
Byron’s B-Team co-host Crissy Whalin [ex KIIS FM Los Angeles] is now a regular contributor for Macquarie Media’s Hit Music Network and Mix 94.5 in Perth.

[mickey]

Recent news items:


River 94.9 sold to Grant Broadcasters
Grant Broadcasters has bought River 949 from Fairfax Media. The acquisition is being announced to staff this morning by the new owners.

Senate Committee quizzes ACMA on community licence renewals
ACMA was quizzed this week about the number of community broadcasting licences renewed (271) and not renewed (5) during the regulator’s current round of community radio licence renewals. There was particular interest in the recently cancelled licence in Perth.

Rupert Murdoch agrees to present Boyer Lectures for ABC Radio National
Rupert Murdoch will present the Boyer Lectures for 2008, to be broadcast on ABC Radio National later this year.

Latest digital radio steps: no delay for ABC, Melbourne off air, new ACCC rules
ABC Managing Director Mark Scott has told a Senate Estimates committee that he does not expect the government’s change to the official start date for digital radio to delay the national broadcaster’s plans for the implementation of digital radio. Meanwhile the ACCC has issued guidelines to enforce cooperation between digital radio multiplex shareholders.

Kylie fever sweeping Austereo stations as Geoff gets suspended
2Day FM newsreader Jeff Field was a guest DJ at Kylie Minogue’s 40th birthday party celebrations this week. He must have enjoyed himself, because the next morning he blew a 0.13 reading in the breathalyzer put on him by Kyle and Jackie O.



Additionally, there are 12 items from around the web updated in the past 48 hours.


Branson in name tussle over Virgin Radio

Sir Richard Branson could relaunch Virgin Radio if SMG goes ahead with unbranded disposal of FM and AM licence.

Heckler: Scarred forever by a slip of the dial

LAST week I was involuntarily exposed to commercial radio for the first time in many years. Afterwards, I decided I would sooner voluntarily expose myself to the Ebola virus than tune in again.

3SER’s odd-couple are a hit

Almost 60 years of life experience separates 72-year-old pensioner Desmond Kelly and co-host, 13-year-old school student Bryce Eishold.

Is there a radio DJ in you? Try 2DryFM

COMMUNITY radio station 2DryFM is paving the way for future radio personalities, offering free training and the opportunity to practice on air and even host their own radio show.

Bay FM Redlands really rocks

LOCAL bands are now getting some radio airplay through a new show called Live and Local on Bay FM

Tougher Topics Tackled on 3CR

Helen Huynh is part of a team of young Vietnamese-Australian women producing a weekly radio show on 3CR Community Radio called Voicebox, reports The Maribyrnong Leader in this profile.

Retail giant backs Digital Radio

POTENTIAL suppliers of digital radios in Australia gathered for the first time this week to hear retail giant Harvey Norman throw its support behind the new technology.

Mobile plug-in to 'save' digital radio

A NEW electronic device that enables mobile phone users to plug into digital radio will rescue digital audio broadcasting, British broadcaster Channel 4 Radio believes.

NZ Radio frequency auction raises $3.3 million

Sixteen new local commercial FM licences had been acquired by bidders from Auckland, Christchurch and elsewhere in an auction of radio frequency, Communications Minister David Cunliffe said today.

Nova 919's alcopop contest under fire

Senator-elect Nick Xenophon has voiced concern about a radio station competition which promotes consumption of 'alcopop' drinks for young people.

Off the dial

THAT'S the marketing slogan for Melbourne-based company Torian Wireless's internet radio platform, miRoamer.

Kyle Sandilands signs Roberta Williams on management deal

HE'S the working class battler turned millionaire media star - now shock jock Kyle Sandilands plans to use his experience and influence to help Roberta Williams similarly improve her future fortunes.



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Journalist
Based in Albury

Station/General Manager
Based in Murray Bridge

On-Air Presenter Canberra
Based in Canberra

Journalist/News Reader - 25 hours per week
Based in Gosford

Rural Reporter
Based in Tamworth



Recent movements:


29 May 2008
WIN Corporation has appointed Chris Williamson to the newly created role, Head of Digital Media to ensure WIN establishes a strong online and digital presence while taking advantage of new media platforms and technologies. Most recently he worked with Technicolor Network Services as the Director of Business Development and prior to that, Williamson was the CEO and Company Secretary of Digital Broadcasting Australia Limited.

28 May 2008
1029 Hot Tomato has announced the appointment of Andrew Very as program director of the Gold Coast station. Andrew recently relocated to SE Queensland after a successful stint as group PD for KO/NX fm in Newcastle, before which he spent time with Austereo stations in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. He takes up his role immediately.

27 May 2008
Esther Anatolitis is the new General Manager at SYN 90.7FM in Melbourne, having previously managed Express Media, as well as projects at SBS and the NEMBC.

26 May 2008
Melbourne Age radio columnist Wendy Hargreaves has jumped the fence and is joining Triple M Melbourne as executive producer of Peter Helliar and Myf Warhurst's breakfast show.

26 May 2008
Tracey Callaghan (former afternoon newsreader ARN Brisbane) has moved back to Sydney and given birth to a beautiful baby girl "Honey Rose". Both Tracey and her husband Pedro are thoroughly enjoying their new role as parents!

[Flash]

Recent news items:


ACMA forms new group for community broadcasting sector
ACMA has formed a new internal team to liaise specifically with community broadcasters and “improve its interactions with the community broadcasting sector.” The regulator has recently come under fire from some community stations for its lack of understanding of the realities of this sector (see for example criticism from 2Hot FM Cobar in January), and in turn has been critical of the sector for breaches of management and sponsorship guidelines (see our recent story about Curtin FM). The new group, composed of people familiar with community broadcasting, may go some way to smoothing relations and providing continuity of contact for stations.

Why they can’t keep the boss off the air at Nova Adelaide
FIVEaa and Nova 91.9 boss, Paul Bartlett is one of the nicest GM’s around, yet this morning his Nova breakfast team Fitzy, Jules and Lisa announced that they’re quitting, effective immediately. Was it something Bart said?

3MBS Manager David Melzor joins ABC Radio
High profile 3MBS FM manager David Melzor has resigned from the station after ten years at the helm, to join the ABC.

"Rumours have been hurtful to me": Rob McCasker tells
Rob McCasker, still fuming after he was dismissed from Hot Tomato last month, contacted radioinfo with this statement...

“We do not dismiss people without good reason”: Tomato’s Torv breaks silence
Hot on the heels of Rob McCasker’s statement to radioinfo, which has since been widely distributed, Hot Tomato supremo, Hans Torv replied with a statement of his own…



Additionally, there are 11 items from around the web updated in the past 48 hours.


Wagga Wagga listeners say they love local radio 2AAA FM

Wagga Wagga’s local community radio station is overwhelmed by its recent survey results. According to the survey, which was conducted by McNair Ingenuity Research, 2AAA FM, broadcasting on 107.1FM now attracts 36% of the 30+ audience in Wagga according to the CBAA website.

Wireless link to golden past: Bakelite Radio Art Deco exhibition

Peter Sheridan can see the best qualities of the art deco era in the streamlined form of a colourful Bakelite radio, writes Sherrill Nixon in the Sydney Morning Herald.

Study: College Grads Are Less Likely to Listen to Radio

Edison Media Research President Larry Rosin says that those who are college-educated listen to radio much less than those who have not graduated from college.

Peters the radio host spars with callers (+audio)

Winston Peters was at his fiery best as he hosted a talkback radio show this morning, calling one listener a moron

Radio Firms Teaming Up With iTunes

HD (digital) Radio has teamed up with Apple's (AAPL) iTunes online music store for what both parties hope is a mutually beneficial relationship.

Haute cuisine for Lawsie

There's been movement at his table, for the word has passed around that Golden Tonsils has shifted his lunch-time patronage a few doors down.

High hopes for kids’ appeal

Radio station 105.7 The River launched its annual appeal at the Albury Base Hospital yesterday.

Sami Lukis voted radio's sexiest woman

SAUCY Triple M breaky co-host and Channel 9's stand-in weather girl Sami Lukis has been voted the sexiest woman on radio in a couriermail.com.au poll.

Landmark inquiry into BBC stars' salaries concludes that they are fair

Chris Moyles and Jeremy Paxman should have their salaries reviewed, but the millions earned by Jonathan Ross and Graham Norton from the BBC are justified, a report into presenters' pay concluded yesterday

No heart attack for Kyle

KYLE Sandilands' management was yesterday forced to deny rumours the overworked and overweight star had suffered a heart attack, at the same time revealing he has pneumonia

Rob McCasker threatens to sue Hot Tomato over sacking: Courier Mail

A BRAWL at Gold Coast radio station Hot Tomato has resulted in the breakfast boss being sacked and threatening a wrongful dismissal suit, reports the Courier Mail.



Recent job ads:


Account Managers
Based in

Talent Bank
Based in Canberra

Morning Announcer
Based in Adelaide

Operations Coordinator
Based in melbourne

Journalist
Based in Albury



Recent movements:


05 Jun 2008
Joh Switzer has resigned as Creative Director and Afternoon Announcer at 7HO FM, Hobart to return to the Sunshine Coast, effective Friday. She is launching www.limewrite.com.au to provide radio copywriting, voiceovers and creative services while on the lookout for a new position on-air in South East Queensland. Johjo told Radioinfo “It’s been an absolute pleasure to work for the Grant Broadcasters Group and Program Director, John Inglis again. I’m only leaving so I can defrost!”

05 Jun 2008
Guy Mylecharane completed Jim Barbour's commercial radio course last year and has just landed his first job in radio with the Eagle and 2GN in Goulburn. As typical of our industry, it’s not just one job, but several including morning announcer for 93.5 Eagle Fm (9am - 2pm) and Production/Imaging for 2GN. Guy wants it known that from here on in he wants to go by the handle, Guy My.

05 Jun 2008
Communications Minister Stephen Conroy has announced new appointments to the board of ACMA. Geoff Luther and Jennifer McNeill are new ACMA Members, while Johanna Plante and Rod Shogren have been reappointed for another term.

05 Jun 2008
David Melzor has resigned from 3MBS FM to join ABC Radio in Broome as manager.

05 Jun 2008
Tony Lawson has joined Abe’s Audio. He joins the company from the Sydney market, where he was producer for Tony, Bec and Mikey on Vega95.3fm. He is one of 6 producers working for the Abe’s Audio regional radio commercial and imaging production facility, which is based in Devonport Tasmania, and has edit suites around Australia.