Day: June 21, 2024

ACMA Calls for Submissions In Regard to High Power Open Narrowcasting Licences

The Radiocommunications (Allocation of Transmitter Licences – High Power Open Narrowcasting Licences) Determination 2014 is due to sunset on 1 October 2024. This instrument sets out a system for the price-based allocation of high power open narrowcasting (HPON) licences.

HPON services are usually operated for profit, and the allocation may attract a number of interested parties. For these reasons, ACMA allocate most LAP-planned HPON licences via price-based allocations.

ACMA’s view is that the determination is operating effectively and efficiently.

They plan to remake the instrument before the sunset date, with minor changes to:

  • Remove the requirement for them to maintain a register of section 34 determinations.
  • Provide more flexibility about the type of auction and the medium of bidding.
  • Make minor formatting and drafting changes, and group certain provisions together.

You can access details of their proposal in the consultation paper in the key documents box below. A copy of the draft Radiocommunications (Allocation of Transmitter Licences – High Power Open Narrowcasting Licences) Determination 2024 is also available.

Have your say

ACMA invites your feedback about the proposals outlined in this consultation.

They welcome submissions by 5 pm (AEST) on Friday 26 July 2024.

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Consultation paper: Proposal to remake the HPON allocation determination (115.75 KB)

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Draft Radiocommunications (Allocation of Transmitter Licences – High Power Open Narrowcasting Licences) Determination 2024 (125.86 KB)

ABC signs MOU and launches ABC Radio Australia in Tuvalu

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) has launched ABC Radio Australia on FM in Tuvalu for the first time, marking another milestone in the network’s expansion in the Pacific. Tuvalu audiences can now enjoy ABC Radio Australia’s full suite of Pacific-focused news, music, sport and cultural programming on 102FM.

The ABC has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Tuvalu Broadcasting Corporation (TVBC), demonstrating the ongoing partnership between the two public broadcasters. The MOU supports future opportunities for the ABC and TVBC to share technical knowledge and content, and recognises each organisation’s respective role providing public interest broadcasting services to their national audiences.

The ABC and TVBC signed the MOU and celebrated the historic launch of the new service at a ceremony in Funafuti, Tuvalu.

ABC International Head Claire M. Gorman, who co-hosted the ceremony, said: “We are incredibly excited to be commemorating the collaboration between the ABC and TVBC in launching ABC Radio Australia in Tuvalu and welcome everyone to enjoy the new FM radio service. The MOU between the ABC and TVBC also marks an important milestone in our partnership, and I look forward to future opportunities for us both to work together in supporting our audiences across Tuvalu and Australia.”

TVBC Managing Director Yvette D’Unienville Isaac, who also co-hosted the ceremony, said: “We welcome the new ABC Radio Australia FM service with open arms and are thrilled to be formalising the excellent relationship that TVBC enjoys with the ABC. We hope the new MOU leads to a greater cross-cultural exchange of ideas and information and deepens the connections and friendships between our countries.”

ABC Radio Australia has recently expanded its FM transmission footprint to include Nauru, Palau, Pohnpei (Federated States of Micronesia), Kokopo (Papua New Guinea) and Gizo (Solomon Islands) and plans to launch in more new locations in coming months including Kiribati, the Cook Islands, Marshall Islands, Lorengau in Papua New Guinea, and Buka in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville.

WAYS TO LISTEN:

Tuvalu residents can now listen on 102FM to high quality ABC Radio Australia programming including Pacific Beat, Nesia Daily, Climate Mana, Culture Compass, Pacific Pulse, Pacific Soul, Stories from the Pacific, Fresh Off The Field , Nesian Footy, Island Music and Sista Sounds.

There are multiple ways to listen to ABC Radio Australia – live via internet streaming or in your area through 24-hour FM stations, or catch up with full episodes on ABC Pacific online.

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.

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*Figures based on the ABC 2022-23 Annual Report

LiSTNR IS AUSTRALIA’S NO.1 SALES REPRESENTATION NETWORK FOR A RECORD 21 TIMES OUTPACING THE TOTAL MARKET

– Hamish & Andy remains Australia’s no.1 podcast –

LiSTNR has broken new records as Australia’s no. 1 sales representation podcast network nationally^ for 21 of the 23 months since its inception on the Australian Podcast Ranker in July 2022. The LiSTNR sales representatives podcast network reached more than 7.76 million monthly listeners^ in May, an increase of more than 474,000 monthly listeners from April’s ranker results and almost one million listeners ahead of its closest competitor. The LiSTNR Original published podcast network also grew ahead of the market with 254,000 new monthly listeners.

Australia’s favourite podcast, Hamish & Andy also keeps breaking records, once again taking the crown as Australia’s top podcast for the 21st time, reaching 970,415 listeners in May and growing the pair’s audience month on month, according to the Australian Podcast Ranker*.

In addition to Hamish & Andy, many of LiSTNR’s other owned and operated podcast titles grew in monthly listeners** including: Abbie Chatfield’s It’s A Lot, The Briefing, Darling, Shine!, KICPOD, Triple M’s Marty Sheargold Breakfast Show, CommSec Market Update, Crime Insiders, Everyone Relax, Triple M Rocks Footy NRL, Matt and Alex All Day Breakfast, Secrets of a Self-Starter and The Fox’s Fifi, Fev & Nick.

The Briefing achieved its highest ever monthly listeners in May to reach 218,656 monthly listeners in what is an increasingly competitive daily news podcast market.

LiSTNR had 18 podcasts in the top 50 of the Top 200 Australian Podcast Ranker* in May, once again more than double that of its closest competitor.

Popular podcasts in the top 20 included Hamish & Andy, which also claimed the number one comedy podcast, 7am with Schwartz Media, Happy Hour with Lucky & Nikki, It’s A Lot with Abbie Chatfield, Crime Junkie, and SmartLess.

Other titles that moved significantly up the ranker in May included Sit With Us, Crime Insiders, Something Was Wrong, and Prosecuting Donald Trump.

In addition, Secrets of a Self-Starter and Mr Ballen’s Medical Mysteries made their debut on the Top 200 Podcasts ranker, and CounterClock and The Grade Cricketer marked their return to the Top 200.

“It’s great to see such strong growth from our locally co-produced and created podcasts. Hamish & Andy grew their audience month on month.  It’s A Lot with Abbie Chatfield, KICPOD with Laura Henshaw and Steph Claire Smith, The Happy Hour with Lucy Jackson and Nikki Westcott, Darling, Shine! with Chloe Fisher and Ellidy Pullin, and Do you F*king Mind? with Alexis Fernandez show that this group of content creators are starting to really connect with under 35 women, growing their audiences and communities,” Executive Head of LiSTNR Podcasts, Grant Tothill, said.

“To see the growth of The Briefing and Crime Insiders is credit to the team in the competitive News and Crime genres. Today’s results reaffirm LiSTNR’s investment in Australian podcast creators offering advertisers local voices and communities to drive their brand messages.

“It’s encouraging to see the increase in both LiSTNR’s sales and publisher network audiences match the LiSTNR sales results for May as LiSTNR continues to drive podcast sales in Australia. The LiSTNR sales team achieved podcast revenue growth of 40.5% year on year, almost double the total podcast market average of 21.6% and driving market growth, CRA figures showed.”

Sources: *Australian Podcast Ranker Top 200 Podcasts – May 2024, ^Australian Podcast Ranker – Top Sales Representatives – May 2024. ^^ LiSTNR owned and operated  published podcast titles. ** All Australian Podcast Ranker – May 2024.

THE HIT NETWORK FIRES UP ITS 2024 METRO WINTER LINE UP WITH JIMMY & NATH AND LUCY & NIKKI TAKING OVER FROM 3PM

The Hit Network today announced its two-week metro winter break line up from Monday, 24 June with fan-favourites Jimmy & Nath taking over Drive and Lucy & Nikki making their weeknight radio debut.

Hit Network’s Jimmy Smith and Nath Roye from The Jimmy & Nath Show are jumping back in the Drive seat to keep the radio airwaves warm across the country. As the nation prepares for the 2024 Paris Olympics, the boys will be sporting their best green and gold, chatting to some of the country’s most recognised Olympians, past and present, each weekday from 3-6pm.

“Well, this is nice that they keep asking us to do this, I guess it means we haven’t screwed it up yet! We love bringing our show to national Drive and gently warming the earlobes of the Winter 3-6pm listeners around the country.”

“As always, we are packing the show with some wild ideas, big guests, plenty of prizes and the classic Jimmy & Nath spin on content. It will be big; it will be infectious and it will be wild this winter because ya boys are back in town!” said Jimmy and Nath.

Bringing their infectious fun are the hugely popular podcast and radio stars, Lucy Jackson and Nikki Westcott from Hit Network’s Saturday Nights show, Lucy & Nikki and LiSTNR podcast Happy Hour with Lucy & Nikki, who will broadcast nationally each weeknight from 7-10pm.

Head of Hit Metro Content and 101.9 The Fox Content Director, Amanda Lee, said: “We are thrilled to have Jimmy & Nath back for Drive and to see podcast powerhouses Lucy & Nikki joining the weekday radio line up for the first time.

“We know how much our listeners love these fun fuelled shows, and we can’t wait to hear them across the country as they heat up the winter break.”

Hear the two-week winter lineup across the Hit Network and on LiSTNR from Monday, 24 June.

 

THE LINE UP
2Day FM – The Fox – B105 – SAFM – Mix94.5
METRO BREAKFAST 6AM – 9AM Local ‘Best Of’ metro Breakfast shows
METRO WORKDAY 9AM – 3PM Local workday line-up and #1 Hit Music
NATIONAL DRIVE 3PM – 6PM The Jimmy & Nath Show
METRO EARLY NIGHTS 6PM – 7PM Local metro Breakfast Show Happy Hour
NATIONAL NIGHTS 7PM – 10PM Lucy & Nikki
NATIONAL LATE NIGHTS FROM 10PM #1 Hit Music

 

About The Hit Network

The Hit Network is Australia’s biggest radio network broadcasting across metro and regional markets with a unique collection of 50 FM and DAB+ stations. The Hit Network targets people aged 25 – 54, skews female and features a mood focused, ‘feel great’ pop music format alongside the most entertaining local breakfast and national drive shows. It is home to popular personalities including Carrie Bickmore, Tommy Little, Fifi Box, Brendan Fevola, Nick Cody, Ed Kavalee, Dave Hughes, Erin Molan, Abby Coleman, Matty Acton, Stav Davidson and many more.  

The Hit Network entertains more than 6 million Aussie radio listeners across B105, 2Day, The Fox, SAFM, Mix94.5, Sea FM, 41 Hit stations plus DAB+ stations including Oldskool 90s Hits, Buddha Hits, Oldskool 80s Hits, RnB Fridays Radio and Dance Hits. All Hit Network’s content is also available live or on demand on the LiSTNR app. 

New podcast Grand Gestures is the nonna bear hug we all need

Get to the heart of our deepest multicultural Australian relationships – the one with our grandparents!

There’s something special about the nonnas, zeidas and babushkas who have shaped not just the generations that followed them, but Australia itself.

Comedian Lizzy Hoo is the host of SBS’s new podcast Grand Gestures, an interview podcast with 10 notable Australians re-telling family stories and speaking about the special bonds they have with their grandparents.

Hear heart-warming and heart-breaking stories of grandparents who were second parents, confidants, heroes, and custodians of knowledge and traditions.

“Grand Gestures is like a warm hug from your grandparents – it’s full of warmth and stories that remind you of your own loved ones,” said Hoo.

“Especially as we get older, we start to realise our grandparents are the keepers of all the family stories and histories.”

A tapestry of multicultural and multilingual Australia, Grand Gestures talks candidly about the triumphs and challenges of settling in Australia, the migrant experience, and multi-generational, cross-cultural family life.

“There’s a lot of laughs, beautiful stories about happy times but also stories of overcoming life’s challenges like illness, disability and discrimination.”

Unique and personal, Grand Gestures has a diverse line-up of guests:

  • Singer Deni Hines talks about growing up in a family of three strong women; her mother pop icon Marcia and her Jamaican grandmother Esme who moved in to help raise Deni when Marcia became pregnant as a teenager.
  • Former Masterchef contestant Alice Zaslavsky shares how her love of gardening, food and teaching comes from her Georgian grandmother.
  • Actress Pia Miranda became a household name through the Australian cult classic, Looking for Alibrandi. She speaks about deepening her connection to her nonno and nonna’s family and religion, including spending her 50th birthday in a Sicilian cemetery.
  • Walkley Award winning journalist Pat Abboud shares the love story behind his grandparents’ arranged marriage and learning Arabic in the kitchen with his teita (grandmother).
  • Singer-songwriter Emily Wurramara reflects on growing up going between her gagu (grandmother) in the Northern Territory learning Dreamtime stories and singing karaoke at her Filipino grandmother’s house.
  • Comedian Emo Majok’s reflects on the legacy of his grandmother, who escaped war-torn Sudan and now has around 50 descendants in Australia.
  • Nadine J. Cohen shares how, after the death of her parents, she and her sister were left with the responsibility of caring for her grandmother who survived the Holocaust, but whose mind returned to that time increasingly as her health declined.

Grand Gestures is available on the SBS Audio app, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, LiSTNR, and wherever you stream podcasts. Grand Gestures was produced in partnership with Deadset Studios.