Macquarie Southern Cross Media

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 fomerly owned by DMG Radio Australia and RG Capital Radio Network [cite web | last = Catalano | first = Christian | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Macquarie pays $194m in radio deal | work = Fairfax | publisher = The Age | date = 2004-09-03 | url = http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/09/02/1093939069043.html | format = html | doi = | accessdate = 2008-04-27 ] . 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 [cite web | last = Westerman | first = Helen | authorlink = | coauthors = Stephen McMahon | title = Macquarie Media takes stake in Southern Cross | work = Fairfax | publisher = The Age | date = 2006-11-17 | url = http://www.theage.com.au/news/business/macquarie-media-takes-stake-in-southern-cross/2006/11/16/1163266712727.html | format = html | doi = | accessdate = 2008-04-27 ] .

Brands

Television

* Stations branded Southern Cross Television are usually dual affiliates of the Seven Network and Network Ten, with some exceptions (for instance, GTS/BKN and Southern Cross Central (QQQ)).
* Stations branded Southern Cross Ten are sole affiliates of Network Ten. These stations often brand themselves both with the Network Ten and Southern Cross Ten logos, from time to time.

Radio

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.

Programming

Group Program Director - Rod Brice

Macquarie Southern Cross Media produces its own networked programming across both brands, which include:

*"Charles Wooley Across Australia", a talk show dedicated to issues in regional Australia, presented by "60 Minutes" reporter Charles Wooley.
*"The Big K's Work Day", afternoon program
*"The Benchwarmers with Ant and Becks", afternoon program
*"The List with Matty and Renee", a Top 30 program
*"Red Eye Radio", overnight program
*"The Night Mix", 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 Nic", overnight program
*"Talking Back the Night", overnight program with Jamie McDonald
*"The Grind", weekdays '10 in a row' with Brendo
*"Digital Life", with Cameron St. Clair

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.

Criticisms

One major criticism of stations owned by Macquarie is its reliance on networking programs outside of breakfast from one of four networking centres:

*Gold Coast (national and regional centre)
*Townsville (regional centre)
*Albury (regional centre)
*Bunbury (regional centre)

Assets

Radio 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.

Tasmania

1. 6TZ also re-transmitted via 1134 kHz AM in Collie (6CI, now listed by ACMA under 6TZ [Australian Communications and Media Authority. [http://www.acma.gov.au/postcode/results_callsign.asp?pc=6225&cs=6TZ&la=BUNBURY+RA1 Search for broadcasters by postcode (Broadcaster 6TZ, Bunbury RA1 Licence Area, Postcode 6225)] . Accessed on 2008-03-21.] ), and 756 kHz AM in Busselton and the Margaret River region.

Television assets

* Southern Cross Television
* Southern Cross Ten

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:

* To Prime Television:
**4CA, Cairns
**Sea FM and Mix-FM, Townsville
**4MK, Mackay
**4RO, Rockhampton
**4CC, Rockhampton/Gladstone
* To Ace Radio:
**2AY, Albury-Wodonga

Further, due to conditions triggered by the purchase of the assets of Southern Cross Broadcasting [Australian Communications and Media Authority (2008-03-14). [http://www.acma.gov.au/WEB/STANDARD/pc=PC_311008 Divestment of commercial radio licences by Macquarie Media Group] . Accessed on 2008-03-21.] , 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 [ABC News Online (2008-03-14. [http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/03/14/2189743.htm Tas radio stations sold] . Accessed on 2008-03-21.] :

* To Grant Broadcasters:
** Launceston, Tasmania: 7LA (1098 kHz AM)
** Burnie, Tasmania: 7BU "Heart 558" (558 kHz AM), 7SEA "Sea FM" (101.7 MHz FM)
** Scottsdale, Tasmania: 7SD "Heart 540" (540 kHz AM), 7RGS "Sea FM" (99.7 MHz FM)
** Devonport, Tasmania: 7AD "Heart 900" (900 kHz AM), 7DDD "Sea FM" (107.7 MHz FM)
** Queenstown, Tasmania: 7XS "West Coast 7XS" (837 kHz AM), 7AUS "Aus FM" (92.1 MHz FM)
* To Resonate Broadcasting:
** Warragul, Victoria: 3GG (531 kHz AM)
** Charters Towers, Queensland: 4GC (828 kHz AM), 4CHT "Hot FM" (95.9 MHz FM)
* To Smart Radio/Pinecam Pty Ltd (owners of the 4VL licence in Charleville, Queensland):
** Emerald, Queensland: 4HI (1143 kHz AM)
** Kingaroy, Queensland: 4SB "Heart 1071" (1071 kHz AM)
** Mount Isa, Queensland: 4LM (666 kHz AM)
** Roma, Queensland: 4ZR (1476 kHz AM)
* To Broadcast Operations Group:
** Young, New South Wales: 2LF (1350 kHz AM), 2LFF "Star FM" (93.9 MHz FM)
* To Coastal Broadcasters Pty Ltd (owners of the 4KZ licence in Innisfail, Queensland):
** Atherton, Queensland: 4AM (558 kHz AM)

ee also

*RadioWorks
*American RadioWorks

References

External links

* [http://www.regionalradioworks.com.au Regional RadioWorks]
* [http://www.theradio.com.au theradio.com.au]