Is Nine Radio on the block?
Newsmax and ARN have expressed interest in the talk network, which includes 4BC. Either way, it's probably not a good thing for Brisbane. Plus: Newspaper's old news
Not long after ARN (Australian Radio Network) boss Hamish McLennan said he’d like to purchase Nine Radio, owner of 4BC, 3AW, 2GB and other AM stations, Australian Digital Holdings, the local arm of American media company Newsmax, has been touted as a potential bidder for those assets.
The radio network hasn’t been officially declared for sale — and there would be substantial hurdles for an overseas player, or existing Australian radio licence holder, to buy them — but it is seen by some media analysts to be an uncomfortable fit in the Nine Entertainment empire.
I reckon Nine could make a real go of the radio assets, but it needs fresh thinking in management to do so.
In any case, Newsmax seems determined to be a player in the Australian market, so it’s worth looking at who it and ADH are.
According to Wikipedia …
ADH TV (Australian Digital Holdings) is a streaming news channel based in the Sydney suburb of Chippendale. The channel features libertarian and conservative presenters and airs live content for five hours every weekday. The channel's chief executive officer and chairman are Jack Bulfin and businessman Maurice Newman respectively.
It’s believed that billionaire James Packer was one of the early investors in ADH. Its first marquee streaming program in late 2021 was Alan Jones: Direct to the Public.
Alan Jones, a former top-rating 2GB breakfast host and Sky News commentator, is 83 and facing court charges, and it’s unknown whether either he or Packer are involved in the business.
Tim Burrowes, the media analyst who launched Mumbrella and has recently returned to that fold, said in his Unmade newsletter that ADH is also firming as the favourite to purchase unwanted TV regional licences from Southern Cross Austereo (SCA).
On its currently placeholder website, Newsmax Australia is touting itself as “the country’s newest trusted source for news and opinion. Authentic. Honest. Uncensored”.
The Australian Financial Review refers to the Newsmax parent company as “Trump-loving” and right wing.
The AFR notes that ADH “now broadcasts more than 20 programs online with a line-up of high-profile right-wing commentators including Australians for Constitutional Monarchy convenor David Flint, former Australian Christian Lobby managing director Lyle Shelton and Nick Cater, a conservative columnist and senior editor at The Australian”.
I guess the Nine Radio assets do look attractive to people who believe (wrongly in my opinion) that talk radio needs to have a partisan right-wing political bent to be successful.
Whoever buys those stations (if, indeed they are for sale) should consider that Australia almost certainly isn’t big enough to make a big profit catering for niche viewpoints — especially when those opinions are already being expressed elsewhere.
But, of course, maybe it’s not about being commercially successful, it’s more about pushing an agenda. If that’s the case, then we can probably expect a bargain-basement approach to a product that appeals to the lowest common denominator.
The AFR notes that, according to ADH’s own claims, it attracts an audience of up to 130,000 people over a 24-hour period to its streaming service — a figure it claims is higher than Sky News.
It’s widely believed that Sky will undergo a rebrand to Fox News Australia, doubling down on its conservative approach. Is Australia big enough for two TV networks chasing the same audience — and both of them competing to a degree with the conservative Nine Radio network?
Which brings me back to a potential Newsmax purchase of Nine Radio. If that happened, I would expect it to ditch the “live and local” approach at 4BC (and in other non-Sydney markets) and become a networked product with a handful of high-profile personalities from the same political fringe.
If so, that’s bad news for Brisbane jobs and for audiences who want an independent and local commercial talk-radio option.
Footnote: Yes, commercial talk does tend to work best when it’s conservative. But being conservative and being far-right-wing are very different things. Also, as LBC in Britain has demonstrated, you can throw left-leaning announcers (such as popular Mornings host James O’Brien) into the mix, and it actually strengthens the overall product and draws additional listeners.
RIP Richard, condolences to Kay
My thoughts, as are those of many Queenslanders, are with former Seven Brisbane newsreader Kay McGrath on the sudden death of her fiancé, Richard Moore, during a holiday in Agra, India.
Kay is one of the nicest and friendliest people in Brisbane media and has been a very active advocate for various causes, especially children’s safety.
The tragedy happened just one day after the couple visited the Taj Mahal, the famous monument built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan to honour his wife, Mumtaz Mahal.
“I’ll always treasure that and all the wonderful memories we created together over many years,” she said on social media.
“Richard was so loved and valued by family and friends. He leaves a huge hole in our hearts. A kind, smart, generous, wickedly funny and genuinely good man — we all miss you so much darling.”
Newspaper’s late extra
Congratulations to the print media outlet that has finally caught up with the controversial decision by Athletics Australia to change its name to Australian Athletics.
The story — which wasn’t brand new when I discussed it on air with Spencer Howson on ABC Brisbane on February 1 (eight days ago as I write) — is on page two* of The Sunday Mail (February 9).
And some people say newspapers are dying …
P.S.
A quick plug for my new newsletter and website The Wrinkle. Right now, the lead story is the sad news of the death of Tony Roberts, the actor best known for his roles in many early Woody Allen films. The Wrinkle is designed for members of Generation Jones and, among many other things, addresses the “invisibility” of older people.
Disclaimer: Brett Debritz used to work for Nine Radio/ 4BC and for The Sunday Mail. He is now building his own independent media empire, while also working part-time for an organisation that has nothing to do with any of this.
*In keeping with Muphry’s Law, I originally wrote page three rather than page two.