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. The switch-on of digital radio in the five capitals around Australia is set to also compete for new radio advertising dollars in future years.

There are five major commercial radio broadcasters: Austereo, the Australian Radio Network, Fairfax Media / Southern Cross Broadcasting, DMG Radio Australia and Macquarie Radio Network. All five radio networks have established national footprints through aggregation and together account for three quarters of the market. The ABC accounts for almost all of the remaining radio audience.

The latest statistics on radio usage patterns include a survey on the commercial radio industry. Although its advertising base is growing, the radio market is losing share to other media sectors such as TV. While radio is still available over AM and FM frequencies, and almost three-quarters of all radio is commercially operated, new technology such as podcasting and converged multi media technologies are offering new revenue opportunities and challenges.

Table of Contents

• 1. Synopsis
  
• 2. Market overview
  
  • 2.1 AM/FM and digital
    
  • 2.2 Market trends
    
    • 2.2.1 Overview
      
    • 2.2.2 Radio must convert to multiple formats
      
  • 2.3 Radio usage statistics
    
  • 2.4 2010 statistics
    
  • 2.5 Advertising statistics
    
  • 2.6 Number of radio licences
    
  • 2.7 PWC report
    
• 3. Major players
  
  • 3.1 Overview
    
  • 3.2 ABC
    
  • 3.3 SBS Radio
    
  • 3.4 Austereo Group
    
    • 3.4.1 Multimedia strategy
      
  • 3.5 Australian Radio Network (ARN)
    
  • 3.6 Fairfax Media/Southern Cross Broadcasting (SBC)
    
  • 3.7 DMG Radio Australia (DMG)
    
  • 3.8 Macquarie Radio Network (MRN)
    
  • 3.9 Macquarie Regional Radioworks
    
• 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
  
• 6. Related reports
  

• Table 1 – Radio ad revenue by city – three months to 30 September 2009
• Table 2 – Number of commercial and government radio stations
• Table 3 – Number of commercial radio services by city

• Exhibit 1 – Estimated number of radios in the home
• Exhibit 2 – Austereo national networks