Australia - Radio - Overview and Statistics

Synopsis

The recent changes to media ownership and broadcasting regulations in Australia are likely to lead to further consolidation of radio operators and increased cross-media ownership. In 2011 we are seeing takeovers starting to eventuate as the Austereo Group merged into Southern Cross Media and Fairfax offloading its regional radio stations.

Digital radio is in the five capitals around Australia and with trials in Canberra and Darwin continuing until July 2012. All these extra channels are competing for new and existing radio advertising dollars. Although its advertising base is growing, the radio market is losing share to other media sectors. While radio is still available over AM and FM frequencies, and almost three-quarters of all radio is commercially operated, new technology including digital radio, podcasting and converged multi-media technologies are offering new revenue opportunities and challenges.

The major commercial radio broadcasters include the Australian Radio Network, Southern Cross Media, DMG Radio Australia, and Macquarie Radio Network with Fairfax Media selling its regional stations to Grant Broadcasters in late 2011. The radio networks have established metropolitan and regional footprints through aggregation and together account for three quarters of the market. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation accounts for almost all of the remaining radio audience.

In this report we provide statistics on radio usage patterns including revenue streams in tabular and easy-to-read chart formats, a radio history timeline, and also an overview of the markets of the major players. For information on Digital Radio, see our separate report Australia - Radio - Digital Radio.

Companies mentioned

Companies mentioned in this report include – Austereo, Fairfax, ABC, Grant Broadcasters, Australian Radio Network, Southern Cross Media, DMG Radio Australia, Macquarie Radio Network.

Hot topics and technologies mentioned

Hot topics and technologies mentioned in this report include – DAB, Broadcasting, podcasting, media.

Table of Contents

• 1. Synopsis
• 2. Market overview
  • 2.1 Amplitude modulation (AM)/Frequency modulation (FM) and digital
  • 2.2 Market trends
    • 2.2.1 Overview
    • 2.2.2 Radio must convert to multiple formats
  • 2.3 Radio advertising statistics
  • 2.4 2010 statistics
  • 2.5 Number of radio licences
  • 2.6 PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) report
• 3. Major players
  • 3.1 Overview
  • 3.2 Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)
  • 3.3 Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) Radio
  • 3.4 ACE Radio
  • 3.5 Australian Radio Network (ARN)
  • 3.6 DMG Radio Australia (DMG)
  • 3.7 Fairfax Radio Syndication
  • 3.8 Grant Broadcasters
  • 3.9 Macquarie Radio Network (MRN)
  • 3.10 Southern Cross Media Group (SCMG)
    • 3.10.1 Overview – Regional Mediaworks
    • 3.10.2 Austereo
• 4. Digital media developments
  • 4.1 Market overview
  • 4.2 Podcasting and vodcasting
    • 4.2.1 Overview and definition
    • 4.2.2 Market trends
    • 4.2.3 Podcasting/vodcasting providers
• 5. Brief history of radio broadcasting
  • 5.1 Timeline
• 6. Related reports

• Table 1 – Radio advertising revenue by metropolitan city – 2009 - 2012
• Table 2 – Estimated metropolitan radio listeners – 2008 - 2011
• Table 3 – Number of commercial and government radio stations – 2011
• Table 4 – Number of commercial radio services by city
• Table 5 – Southern Cross Austereo financial key performance indicators – 2010 - 2011

• Chart 1 – Radio advertising revenue by metropolitan city – 2007 - 2011
• Chart 2 – Estimated metropolitan radio listeners – 2007 - 2011
• Chart 3 – Southern Cross Austereo financial key performance overview – 2010 - 2011

• Exhibit 1 – Estimated number of radios in the home
• Exhibit 2 - DMG’s full list of radio stations:
• Exhibit 3 – Grant Broadcasters radio stations – 2011
• Exhibit 4 – Austereo national networks