Nova Entertainment

Last updated

NOVA Entertainment
IndustryEntertainment
Founded1996 (1996)
Headquarters,
Parent Illyria Pty Ltd
Divisions Nova FM
smoothfm
FIVEAA
Star 104.5
Coles Radio
Website novaentertainment.com.au

NOVA Entertainment is an Australian entertainment company that operates commercial radio networks (and associated digital brands) in metropolitan and regional areas of Australia.

Contents

NOVA Entertainment is owned by Lachlan Murdoch's Illyria Pty Ltd which purchased the remaining 50% it did not own from Daily Mail and General Trust in September 2012. [1]

History

Nova Entertainment was formed in early 1996 under the name DMG Radio Australia, followed later in the year with the A$46M acquisition of 85% of the Broadcast Media group of regional stations. [2] [3] This was shortly followed by FIVEaa on 26 September 1996. [4] The founding Chairman and CEO were Charlie Cox and Paul Thompson respectively. [5]

In September 2004, DMG Radio Australia sold most of its regional radio stations to Macquarie Bank, keeping only Hot 91 Sunshine Coast (later sold in early 2005) and Star 104.5 in Gosford.[ citation needed ]

On Monday 21 May 2012, after poor ratings, 91.5 FM Melbourne and 95.3 FM Sydney were rebranded again to smoothfm with a new smooth, easy listening format to aim for women aged 35+. [6]

In December 2013, DMG Radio Australia launched a 24-hour Australian pay television music channel, Smooth available via Foxtel satellite and cable services. The pay television music channel extends from the smoothfm radio brand. [7] It was shut down on 30 June 2020.

In February 2014, DMG Radio Australia rebranded under the name Nova Entertainment to reflect the company's increasingly diversified interests in radio and the media and entertainment industries. The new company name has been developed to encapsulate both the pride and heritage of the company’s original and successful FM launch brand, Nova, with its recent evolution into the broader media and entertainment space. [8]

Current operations

Radio

NOVA Entertainment owns two national radio networks and four independent radio stations with a presence across Australia through terrestrial, digital and online. All stations can be streamed online or via the Nova Player.

NOVA

The Nova Network is a commercial radio network with an adult contemporary format. All network stations are owned and operated by NOVA entertainment and each FM station has its own local Breakfast show with daytime, drive and night shifts networked across all stations.

StationCallsignFrequencyLocationFormatNotes
Nova 96.9 2SYD96.9 MHz

DAB+

Sydney, New South Wales Adult Contemporary
Nova 100 3MEL100.3 MHz

DAB+

Melbourne, VictoriaAdult Contemporary
Nova 106.9 4BNE106.9 MHz

DAB+

Brisbane, QueenslandAdult Contemporary
Nova 93.7 6PER93.7 MHz

DAB+

Perth, Western AustraliaAdult ContemporaryJoint venture with Australian Radio Network
Nova 91.9 5ADL91.9 MHz

DAB+

Adelaide, South AustraliaAdult Contemporary
Nova 90sN/ADAB+Brisbane90s music
Nova Nation N/ADAB+Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane EDM Replaced Nova Noughties
Nova ThrowbacksN/ADAB+AdelaideRhythmic AC
Nova Fresh CountryN/AOnlineN/ACountry

smoothfm

smoothfm is a commercial radio network originally launched in 2012 as a rebrand of the Classic Rock network. Since 14 February 2020 the network's primary format is Hot-Adult Contemporary providing feel good and dance music.

StationCallsignFrequencyLocationFormatNotes
smooth 95.3 2PTV95.3 MHz

DAB+

Sydney, New South Wales Easy listening Formerly branded as Vega 95.3 (2005–10) & Classic Rock 95.3 (2010–12)
smooth 91.5 3PTV91.5 MHz

DAB+

Melbourne, VictoriaEasy listeningFormerly branded as Vega 91.5 (2005–10) & Classic Rock 91.5 (2010–12)
smooth BrisbaneN/ADAB+Brisbane, QueenslandEasy listening
smooth PerthN/ADAB+Perth, Western AustraliaEasy listening
smooth AdelaideN/ADAB+Adelaide, South AustraliaEasy listening
smooth Relax N/ADAB+Sydney and MelbourneSoft Adult Contemporary
smooth 80sN/ADAB+Adelaide, South AustraliaEasy listening (80s)
smooth vintageN/ADAB+Sydney and MelbourneOldies

Non-network radio

In addition to its network-based assets, NOVA also operates the following radio stations.

StationCallsignFrequencyLocationFormatNotes
Coles RadioN/ADAB+Metro capital cities (DAB+) and all Coles storesAdult ContemporaryBranded station for Coles Supermarkets
Star 104.5 2GOS104.5 MHz FM

DAB+

Central Coast, New South WalesAdult contemporaryPreviously part of the Star FM radio network (now Hit Network)
FIVEAA 5AA1395 kHz AM

DAB+

Adelaide, South AustraliaTalkback radioShares some resources with Nine Radio stations, including news and sport (primarily Australian Rules football).
KIIS 97.3 4BFM97.3 MHz FM

DAB+

Brisbane, Queensland Hot adult contemporary 50/50 joint venture with ARN
Priceline RadioN/ADAB+Sydney and Melbourne (DAB+) and all Priceline storesAdult ContemporaryBranded station for Priceline
Sky News RadioN/ADAB+Sydney, Melbourne and BrisbaneNews talkAudio simulcast of Sky News Australia

Other

Former operations

Foxtel Smooth

Foxtel Smooth was an 18-hour pay television music channel (time-shared with Foxtel Arts) available via Foxtel satellite and cable services. It launched on 3 December 2013, dedicated to easy listening adult contemporary music. [9] [10] The channel ceased broadcasting on 30 June 2020. [11] [12]

GOAT

GOAT was a pop culture, news and entertainment website aimed at a millennial audience. [13] It has been dormant since 2018.

See also

Related Research Articles

Smooth may refer to:

NXE Australia Pty Ltd, trading as the Foxtel Group, is an Australian pay television company—operating in cable television, direct broadcast satellite television, and IPTV streaming services. It was formed in April 2018, superseding an earlier company from 1995. The service was established as a 50/50 joint venture between News Limited and Telstra, with News Corp and Telstra holding 65% and 35% ownership shares respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MTV (Australian and New Zealand TV channel)</span> Entertainment television channel

MTV was a 24-hour general entertainment channel specialising in music and youth culture programming which serves Australia and New Zealand. Paramount Networks UK & Australia headquartered in London with a local office at Network 10's headquarters in Sydney is responsible for marketing and advertising in Australia and New Zealand. The channel was replaced by MTV Global in August 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southern Cross Austereo</span> Australian media company

Southern Cross Media Group Limited, doing business as Southern Cross Austereo, is an Australian media company which operates broadcast radio and television stations. It is the largest radio broadcaster in Australia, operating 86 radio stations, and has a reach into every state and territory.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SAFM</span> Radio station in Adelaide, South Australia

SAFM is a commercial FM radio station owned and operated by Southern Cross Austereo as part of the Hit Network. The station is broadcast to Adelaide, South Australia from studios in Franklin Street.

smoothfm Australian radio network

smoothfm is an Australian commercial radio network owned and operated by NOVA Entertainment. From original launch in 2012, The format was focused on providing 'more music and less talk' along with an eclectic easy-listening playlist, usually featuring ballads. From Valentine’s Day in February 2020, the station revised genres when the primary channel became an adult contemporary radio station.

Relative to most other Australian cities, Melbourne media is unusual in its size and diversity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1116 SEN</span> Sports radio station in Melbourne, Victoria

1116 SEN is an Australian radio station in Victoria, Australia. Owned and operated by Sports Entertainment Group, it broadcasts a sports radio format. It commenced broadcasting on 29 November 1931 as 3AK, the station currently broadcasts from studios in South Melbourne.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richard Wilkins (TV presenter)</span> New Zealand-Australian television presenter

Richard Stephen Wilkins is a New Zealand–born Australian television and radio presenter. He is the entertainment editor for the Nine Network and weekend announcer on smoothfm.

FIVEAA is Adelaide's only commercial talkback radio station. The station has a range of programs including news, sports, current affairs, social issues, football calls, gardening, lifestyle, cars, travel and health. It is owned by Nova Entertainment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Disney Channel (Australian TV channel)</span> Defunct Australian TV channel

Disney Channel was an Australian pay television channel. It was the flagship television property owned and operated by The Walt Disney Company a localized version of the namesake American television channel launched in 1996, the network targeted towards children and their families, with original series and movies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">4BH</span> Radio station in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

4BH 1116 is the on-air identifier of a radio station in Brisbane, the state capital of Queensland, Australia. It broadcasts on a frequency is 1116 kHz in the AM radio band and is simulcasted in DAB+ on channel 9B. It is owned by Nine Entertainment Co and run under a lease agreement by Ace Radio.

Smooth 91.5 is a commercial radio station based in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hit101.3 Central Coast</span> Radio station in Central Coast, New South Wales

Hit101.3 is an Australian radio station located on the New South Wales Central Coast, part of Southern Cross Austereo's Hit Network. Hit101.3 broadcasts from the Central Coast Radio Centre on Henry Parry Drive, in Gosford, along with sister station 107.7 Triple M Central Coast. Its broadcast area is the Central Coast, however the station can be heard on FM at points as far as Newcastle, Sydney and parts of the Blue Mountains. The station was first broadcast from studios located in Mann Street, Gosford, where it was known on-air as Coast Rock FM, and is now broadcast from Henry Parry Drive, Gosford.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SYN (radio station)</span> Radio station in Melbourne, Victoria

SYN is an Australian community radio station broadcasting to Melbourne, Victoria. First broadcast in January 2003, the station is operated by SYN Media under a youth license, with programming presented entirely by volunteers aged 12–25 years old. The station broadcasts from studios on the campus of RMIT University, with additional content syndicated from other community radio stations in Australia.

Paul Thompson is an Australian broadcasting executive.

Triple M Central Queensland is a commercial radio station broadcasting from Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia. It is owned by Southern Cross Austereo and broadcasts an Adult Contemporary (AC) format. It features both locally produced content and nationally syndicated content. It has two repeaters, one at Gladstone (95.1FM) and Mount Murchison (101.1FM). It was previously known as '101.5/95.1 Sea FM' until it was rebranded as Triple M in December 2016, alongside many other Southern Cross Austereo stations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nova Nation</span> Australian digital radio station

Nova Nation is a DAB+ and an internet 24/7 dance music radio station, originally launched in 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Foxtel Smooth</span> Television channel

Foxtel Smooth was an 18-hour Australian pay television music channel available via Foxtel satellite and cable services. It launched on 3 December 2013, dedicated to easy listening adult contemporary music. The channel ceased broadcasting on 1 July 2020.

References

  1. "Lachlan Murdoch acquires other half of DMG Radio". MediaSpy. 2 September 2012. Archived from the original on 23 November 2012. Retrieved 3 September 2012.
  2. "DMG Radio Australia Acquires 12 Radio Stations". Asia Pulse. 24 September 1996.
  3. Jacques, Bruce (25 September 1996). "Daily Mail Arm Buys Australian Radio Group". Financial Times . p. 34.
  4. Jemison, Simon (26 September 1996). "DMG pays $7m for 5AA". Australian Financial Review (Late ed.). p. 26.
  5. Chapman, Heather (30 September 1996). "They're Back - And How". Sydney Morning Herald . p. 8. Retrieved 9 February 2012.
  6. "DMG Radio rebrand sees launch of smoothfm in Sydney and Melbourne". 3 May 2012. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
  7. "Smoothfm moves to TV | B&T". Archived from the original on 26 April 2014. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
  8. "DMG Radio rebrands as Nova Entertainment, denies move related to Daily Mail's arrival" . Retrieved 26 February 2014.
  9. Knox, David (1 November 2013). "Foxtel refreshes music channels". TV Tonight. Retrieved 1 November 2013.
  10. "Summer Channel Changes". Foxtel. Archived from the original on 16 March 2014. Retrieved 1 November 2013.
  11. Challenor, Jake (3 June 2020). "Foxtel confirms its Smooth music channel won't continue". The Music Network. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  12. Perry, Kevin (3 June 2020). "FOXTEL CONFIRMS CLOSURE OF SMOOTH MUSIC CHANNEL". TV Blackbox. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  13. "GOAT | NOVA Entertainment". www.novaentertainment.com.au. Retrieved 18 June 2021.