Macquarie Southern Cross Media is an Australian company, owned by Macquarie Media Group. The company 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. The company owns several regional radio stations, as a result of takeovers of stations formerly owned by DMG Radio Australia and RG Capital Radio Network[1]. The company also owns 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[2]. [edit] Brands [edit] Television The format of each station is defined by one of two common formats: - Hit Music Network - a popular music format targeted at 18-39 year olds, using the Star FM, Hot FM and Sea FM brands.
- Local Works - talkback and adult contemporary music format target at over 35s, mainly on the AM and heritage FM stations, as well as Gold FM and Mix FM and RadioWest in Western Australia.
Agreements were reached with Macquarie, DMG and Prime Television to ensure that existing brand names owned by DMG Radio could continue to be used by both Macquarie and Prime. [edit] Programming Group Program Director - Rod Brice Macquarie Southern Cross Media produces its own networked programming across both brands, which include: - The Big K's Work Day, afternoon program
- Maximum Music Workday with Dan Hill, Morning Program
- The Benchwarmers with Ant and Becks, afternoon program
- The List with Matty and Renee, a Top 30 program
- The Awesome 80s, Eighties music
- 30 Something, nighttime programming
- Health Matters with Dr. John D'Arcy, health issues with Dr. John D'Arcy
- Money Matters, personal finance issues
- Sunday Groovies, Seventies and Eighties music and trivia
- Truck Radio with Mel, overnight program
- Talking Back the Night, overnight program with Jamie McDonald
- Game On Air, with Cameron St. Clair
- Property Matters Real Estate Show.
- Classic Vinyl With Trevor Smith.
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. [edit] Criticisms One major criticism of stations owned by Macquarie is its reliance on networking news and also programs outside of breakfast from one of four networking centres:[3][4] [edit] Assets [edit] Radio stations | Licence area | Radio stations owned (call sign, branding if any, frequency) | | Atherton | 4AMM "Hot FM" (97.9 MHz FM) | | Bundaberg | 4RGB "Sea FM" (93.1 MHz FM) | | Cairns | 4RGC "Sea FM" (99.5 MHz FM), 4HOT "Hot FM" (103.5 MHz FM) | | 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 "CFM" (89.1 MHz FM) | | Mackay | 4RGM "Sea FM" (98.7 MHz FM), 4MKY "Hot FM" (100.3 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) | | Nambour (Sunshine Coast) | 4SEE "Sea FM" (91.9 MHz FM), 4SSS "Mix FM" (92.7 MHz FM) | | Rockhampton | 4RGK "Sea FM" (101.5 MHz FM), 4ROK "Hot FM" (107.9 MHz FM) | | Roma | 4ROM "Hot FM" (95.1 MHz FM) | | Townsville | 4TOO "4TO" (102.3 MHz FM), 4RAM "Hot FM" (103.1 MHz FM) | | Toowoomba/Warwick (Darling Downs) | 4GR (864 MHz AM), 4RGD "CFM" (100.7 MHz FM) | | Licence area | Radio stations owned (call sign, branding if any, frequency) | | Albury1 | 2BDR "The River" (105.7 MHz FM), 2AAY "Star FM" (104.9 MHz FM) | | Coffs Harbour | 2CFS "2CS" (106.3 MHz FM), 2CSF "Star FM" (105.5 MHz FM) | | Dubbo | 2DBO "Star FM" (93.5 MHz FM) | | Gosford (Central Coast) | 2GGO "2GO" (107.7 MHz FM), 2CFM "Sea FM" (101.3 MHz FM) | | Griffith | 2RG (963 kHz AM), 2RGF "Star FM" (99.7 MHz FM) | | Kempsey2 | 2PQQ "2MC FM" (106.7 MHz FM), 2ROX "Star FM" (105.1 MHz FM) | | Newcastle3 | 2XXX "NXFM" (106.9 MHz FM), 2KKO "KOFM" (102.9 MHz FM) | | Orange | 2GZF "2GZ" (105.9 MHz FM), 2OAG "Star FM" (105.1 MHz FM) | | Wagga Wagga | 2WG (1152 kHz AM), 2WZD "Star FM" (93.1 MHz FM) | 1.Translators for The River on 90.1 MHz in Omeo and 96.5 MHz in Corryong. There is also a translator for StarFM in Corryong on 95.7 MHz.
2. Translators on 100.7 MHz (2PQQ) and 102.3 MHz (2ROX) in Port Macquarie.
3. 50:50 joint venture with Austereo. NXFM is considered an Austereo Today Network station, while KOFM is considered part of the Austereo Triple M network. Macquarie Southern Cross Media handles administration and sales for both stations. 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. | Licence area | Radio stations owned (call sign, branding if any, frequency) | | Albany | 6VA "RadioWest" (783 kHz AM), 6AAY "Hot FM" (106.5 MHz FM) | | Bridgetown | 6BY "RadioWest" (900 kHz AM), 6BET "Hot FM" (100.5 MHz FM) | | Bunbury | 6TZ "RadioWest" (963 kHz AM)1, 6BUN "Hot FM" (95.7 MHz FM) | | Esperance | 6SE "RadioWest" (747 kHz AM), 6SEA "Hot FM" (102.3 MHz FM) | | Kalgoorlie | 6KG "RadioWest" (981 kHz AM), 6KAR "Hot FM" (97.9 MHz FM) | | Katanning | 6WB "RadioWest" (1071 kHz AM), 6KAN "Hot FM" (94.9 MHz FM) | | Merredin | 6MD "RadioWest" (1098 kHz AM), 6MER "Hot FM" (105.1 MHz FM) | | Narrogin | 6NA "RadioWest" (918 kHz AM), 6NAN "Hot FM" (100.5 MHz FM) | | Northam | 6AM "RadioWest" (864 kHz AM), 6NAM "Hot FM" (96.5 MHz FM) | 1. 6TZ also re-transmitted via 1134 kHz AM in Collie (6CI, now listed by ACMA under 6TZ[5]), and 756 kHz AM in Busselton and the Margaret River region. [edit] Television assets [edit] Former Owned and Operated Stations Due to conditions placed upon the takeover of DMG Radio's regional stations in 2005, Macquarie had to sell these stations to other parties: Further, due to conditions triggered by the purchase of the assets of Southern Cross Broadcasting[6], 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[7]: [edit] See also [edit] References - ^ Catalano, Christian (2004-09-03). "Macquarie pays $194m in radio deal" (html). Fairfax. The Age. http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/09/02/1093939069043.html. Retrieved 2008-04-27.
- ^ Westerman, Helen; Stephen McMahon (2006-11-17). "Macquarie Media takes stake in Southern Cross" (html). Fairfax. The Age. http://www.theage.com.au/news/business/macquarie-media-takes-stake-in-southern-cross/2006/11/16/1163266712727.html. Retrieved 2008-04-27.
- ^ Bodey, Michael (2006-10-05). "Mixed signals from regional radio as politicians tune in". The Australian. http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20526003-7582,00.html. Retrieved 2009-05-27.
- ^ Schulze, Jane (2006-10-24). "MacBank radio network for sale". The Australian. http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20634460-2702,00.html. Retrieved 2009-05-27.
- ^ 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.
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