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Overpaid staff, low ratings cost racing radio station dearly Patrick Bartley
November 22, 2011
Rival SEN radio's Francis Leach and David Schwartz. The station has has taken many of Radio Sport National's listeners.
THE fortunes of Radio Sport National appear to be going from bad to worse after financial figures from the past five years revealed the station has achieved losses believed to be close to $20 million.
The AM station, formerly known as Sport 927, has been an ongoing drain on its owners with losses incurred ranging between $3.2 million and $4.5 million per year for the past five years.
Some insiders claim that a full audit of the business is the only way out for Radio Sport National.
Advertisement: Story continues below The station chose to opt out of the official ratings some years ago, but media experts maintain it would have the smallest listening audience on the AM dial.
Radio Sport National is part-owned by the three city race clubs and Country Racing Victoria. They hold 67 per cent with the remainder held by Harness Racing Victoria and Greyhound Racing Victoria.
With the sporting station SEN having taken many long-time listeners, the pay structure of Radio Sports National has some media consultants baffled.
''In the past six years, especially in radio, wages have dropped, but here is a station that has really no audience paying staff as though they were as powerful as Alan Jones in Sydney,'' one media consultant said.
''The rates of pay for full-time and casual people on the station is so out of line with all other stations, including FM stations, and when you consider advertising rates would be rock bottom because of the lack of audience, no wonder you have some very, very nervous board members.''
Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/overpaid-staff-low-ratings-cost-racing-radio-station-dearly-20111121-1nqv8.html#ixzz1eQeNW3rP
If you can believe what you read, racing radio Sport 927 is in financial trouble and it would appear that there will be some severe staff pay cuts in the wings, if not a significant reduction in staff numbers in the coming new yr.
November 22, 2011
Rival SEN radio's Francis Leach and David Schwartz. The station has has taken many of Radio Sport National's listeners.
THE fortunes of Radio Sport National appear to be going from bad to worse after financial figures from the past five years revealed the station has achieved losses believed to be close to $20 million.
The AM station, formerly known as Sport 927, has been an ongoing drain on its owners with losses incurred ranging between $3.2 million and $4.5 million per year for the past five years.
Some insiders claim that a full audit of the business is the only way out for Radio Sport National.
Advertisement: Story continues below The station chose to opt out of the official ratings some years ago, but media experts maintain it would have the smallest listening audience on the AM dial.
Radio Sport National is part-owned by the three city race clubs and Country Racing Victoria. They hold 67 per cent with the remainder held by Harness Racing Victoria and Greyhound Racing Victoria.
With the sporting station SEN having taken many long-time listeners, the pay structure of Radio Sports National has some media consultants baffled.
''In the past six years, especially in radio, wages have dropped, but here is a station that has really no audience paying staff as though they were as powerful as Alan Jones in Sydney,'' one media consultant said.
''The rates of pay for full-time and casual people on the station is so out of line with all other stations, including FM stations, and when you consider advertising rates would be rock bottom because of the lack of audience, no wonder you have some very, very nervous board members.''
Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/overpaid-staff-low-ratings-cost-racing-radio-station-dearly-20111121-1nqv8.html#ixzz1eQeNW3rP
If you can believe what you read, racing radio Sport 927 is in financial trouble and it would appear that there will be some severe staff pay cuts in the wings, if not a significant reduction in staff numbers in the coming new yr.
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as long as they keep dean lester,dont care bout rest ..
I presume it's the breakfast crew and Shane Anderson that they're referring to, can't imagine the racing hosts get paid much for reading out dividends all day.
None of the others are on there enough to be costing alot.
None of the others are on there enough to be costing alot.
Their breakfast team is very good, would be a shame if they went.
with one exception joel. I know two friends who went straight to SEN when TJ bobbed up on the morning show. Can barely stomach him myself, he's an annoying constantly objectionable piece of you know what IMO.... but like to listen to the others particularly micky m.
The only time I listen, is if I've had a bet and have had to go somewhere, so I'm forced to listen to them in my car. As soon as I know the result, I turn off. The general presenters aren't too bad, but I can't stomach that legend in his own mind Neil Longden, who, after all these years, still can't get through the dividends without stumbling and bumbling or making stupid unnecessary editorial comments, such as, that's 4 for the day for Cassidy cr@p on cr@p on cr@p on. No one gives a fvk.
I don't know how many times, due to his cr@pping on, they would jump in a race somewhere, and he hadn't given the over the line dividends of the race you had just listened to. So you'd have to wait 5 minutes to get them. And if you are in your car and you've had your last on one that wins, I'm sure, like me, you want to know ASAP what the horse has paid.
Obviously, the powers that be at the station have the same opinion of him as me, because in what must be more than 20 years there, he's never progressed to more than a reader out of the totes.
The best coordinator of an afternoon races that I've heard, is Mercedes at 4TAB in Brisbane. I haven't been for a couple of years, but when we are driving around on days when I haven't had a wager, I like to listen to the races to at least try and keep up with the form. She is excellent. And basically, unless it's changed, does it all on her own in free flowing non-stumbling manner.
The fact is, that Sky, and TVN have killed racing radio. Although, I'm sure that if they took a ratings survey of what the average punter is listening to in his car, I'm sure that their ratings, which, even though they aren't part of the system, are pretty poor, might be a lot better than they are.
The reason they have lost so much money, is the same reason that 3 MTR the new talk station here in Melbourne have lost 6.4 million in just 18 months. MTR's ratings are 1.9, compared to 3 AW at around 18. No one is listening, and the best indicator of that are the advertisers. A mate of mine advertised his financial services practice on MTR about 8 months ago. They did a pretty good package for him and gave him an extra month at half price to keep his business. After two months advertising at a cost of around 18,000, he had received two inquiries, none of which went anywhere.
I'm sure you will find that advertisers on Racing radio, get the same result, and if you haven't got companies paying for advertising, you can't pay the bills, and if you have got a huge wage bill like both stations have, you are going to make big losses.
I don't know how many times, due to his cr@pping on, they would jump in a race somewhere, and he hadn't given the over the line dividends of the race you had just listened to. So you'd have to wait 5 minutes to get them. And if you are in your car and you've had your last on one that wins, I'm sure, like me, you want to know ASAP what the horse has paid.
Obviously, the powers that be at the station have the same opinion of him as me, because in what must be more than 20 years there, he's never progressed to more than a reader out of the totes.
The best coordinator of an afternoon races that I've heard, is Mercedes at 4TAB in Brisbane. I haven't been for a couple of years, but when we are driving around on days when I haven't had a wager, I like to listen to the races to at least try and keep up with the form. She is excellent. And basically, unless it's changed, does it all on her own in free flowing non-stumbling manner.
The fact is, that Sky, and TVN have killed racing radio. Although, I'm sure that if they took a ratings survey of what the average punter is listening to in his car, I'm sure that their ratings, which, even though they aren't part of the system, are pretty poor, might be a lot better than they are.
The reason they have lost so much money, is the same reason that 3 MTR the new talk station here in Melbourne have lost 6.4 million in just 18 months. MTR's ratings are 1.9, compared to 3 AW at around 18. No one is listening, and the best indicator of that are the advertisers. A mate of mine advertised his financial services practice on MTR about 8 months ago. They did a pretty good package for him and gave him an extra month at half price to keep his business. After two months advertising at a cost of around 18,000, he had received two inquiries, none of which went anywhere.
I'm sure you will find that advertisers on Racing radio, get the same result, and if you haven't got companies paying for advertising, you can't pay the bills, and if you have got a huge wage bill like both stations have, you are going to make big losses.
exacta moondo layer. Suffered exact same problem myself years ago with 3DB ??? .... ridiculously high advertising costs for almost zero return. They are kidding themselves when they workout the market, and hence price of advertising, they "think" they are reaching. 927 has tried to sustain itself with high advertising price at the same time as not even being part of an audience survey ..... fkn ridiculous.
mercedes is still doing a top job up here in briz LTF ... on more than one occasion when the race call failed from the track .. she gave the 'best she could do' in running just from watching the live feed without audio ... gutsy
Does anyone have some any inside info. who the cost cutting casualities might be or who do you think should be cut ?
Thebas, she's a real talent incredibly efficient. Is she a good sort too? Coz I've yet to find a sheila whose got it all. Most have had their brains fvked out
she is a bit chunky,average conveyance tbh..youd need beer goggles imo 
In an effort to revive their fortunes Father Gerard Dowling now has two collection plates at every mass he conducts with one for the church and now one collection for Radio Sport National
At my stage in life, biggy, I won't bar anyone between 18 and 80 irrespective of how they look. A bit chunky aye, good, I don't fancy the twiggy types where you haven't got any meat to grab hold of while you're riding her to the finishing post.
lol ted ... i always carried a couple of pair ... in my younger days ... so that opportunities weren't just wasted
i've not seen her LTF ... but i'm with you at this stage ... chunky is funky no probs
M Howard 4tab very good, clearly the best in Melbourne is Mazza. Both are cool under pressure and don't miss a beat. Would have to say that 4tab has a bit on the opposition as it's a true racing station.
It's simply another radio station that general manager Noel Crowe has messed up. He messed up 3MP and now has driven 927 into the ground.
Couldn't manage a flea circus, even needs others to manage his shares in horses.
It's a matter of public record he was before the industrial tribunal for lending STATION money to employees to gamble with.
He was and still is, a complete joke.
Couldn't manage a flea circus, even needs others to manage his shares in horses.
It's a matter of public record he was before the industrial tribunal for lending STATION money to employees to gamble with.
He was and still is, a complete joke.
When he took Tiny Dancer of the 3MP playlist i was flabbergasted 
927 needs to concentrate on it's core business....racing
but more than that, it needs to appreciate and accept that racing and radio is part of the entertainment business.....
I liken 927 racing coverage to old school 60's, 70's in that we do it this way cos we have always done it like that.........for 927 to prosper, it needs to say.......fk that shiiite.
It needs to be more edgy and no more pu$$y footing around with issues and topics.............listeners and punters switch off to the drab, same old stuff..........
927..........grow a sack and become something that is unique and true..........not old 3UZ, old shool stuff..........that era is gone
but more than that, it needs to appreciate and accept that racing and radio is part of the entertainment business.....
I liken 927 racing coverage to old school 60's, 70's in that we do it this way cos we have always done it like that.........for 927 to prosper, it needs to say.......fk that shiiite.
It needs to be more edgy and no more pu$$y footing around with issues and topics.............listeners and punters switch off to the drab, same old stuff..........
927..........grow a sack and become something that is unique and true..........not old 3UZ, old shool stuff..........that era is gone
LTF-
same same, none ruled out here, legal age and a pulse the only requirement.One caveat- no politicians
same same, none ruled out here, legal age and a pulse the only requirement.
One caveat- no politicians
The station's Executive Chairman Michael Harms is on the 9-10am show tomorrow, plus Sam Nati.
Following a restructure at Radio Sport National Noel Crowe is stepping down from his role as CEO of Radio Sport National effective immediately
Stepping down is the industry polite way of saying get out, but we'll let you save face.
None too soon, and next stop he'll pop up at another station and cause disaster.
Can you imagine any station manager lending station money to employees to gamble with?
Interesting that the contents of the tribunal report have mysteriously dropped off Google now.
Nice one Noel
Couldn't run a flea circus!
Stepping down is the industry polite way of saying get out, but we'll let you save face.
None too soon, and next stop he'll pop up at another station and cause disaster.
Can you imagine any station manager lending station money to employees to gamble with?
Interesting that the contents of the tribunal report have mysteriously dropped off Google now.
Nice one Noel
Couldn't run a flea circus!
Had to login to say - agree 100% with the praise for Mercedes in Brissie. Seems the only one there that realises people want to hear not only the race but a bit of the oncourse commentator's comments as they load or score up.
All the others want to tell you what the Tattsbet fav or tote fav is in this or the next race or some completely unrelated contest later that day or night. Telling me what the 3 favs price's are as they are in the late stages of the score up or load is just so damned annoying and irrelevant. No time to get a bet on even if you wanted to. One idiot there on usually at night is particlarly bad in this regard. Must love the sound of his own voice and think the score up is dead time that only he can fill.
Merc rules OK!!!!!!!!!!
For those mentioning a love interest she got married in the last 2 years or so thus I think you may have missed the (love)boat sorry. Must admit I was also interested in what she looks like as a competant female...naw that's not fair...I should say a competant person is as rare as hen's teeth on a racing channel.
All the others want to tell you what the Tattsbet fav or tote fav is in this or the next race or some completely unrelated contest later that day or night. Telling me what the 3 favs price's are as they are in the late stages of the score up or load is just so damned annoying and irrelevant. No time to get a bet on even if you wanted to. One idiot there on usually at night is particlarly bad in this regard. Must love the sound of his own voice and think the score up is dead time that only he can fill.
Merc rules OK!!!!!!!!!!
For those mentioning a love interest she got married in the last 2 years or so thus I think you may have missed the (love)boat sorry
. Must admit I was also interested in what she looks like as a competant female...naw that's not fair...I should say a competant person is as rare as hen's teeth on a racing channel.
Racing radio in Vic has been stuffed since the 80's when Bert Newton took over 3DB with his slogan being " A new beginning" and tried to have it be like a 3AW with racing squeezed in between....and various managements since have still never known where it (racing) belongs in the scheme of things in the running of a radio station. Now with virtual 24/7 racing there is very little time to enhance the racing product with programmes that will attract any new listeners ..so good luck they'll need it!
"I know two friends who went straight to SEN when TJ bobbed up". Spot on VLTU but in country Vic we take what we can get. Just give it to Micky M and Whitey in the mornings and I would be happy. TJ has thinner skin than Durex.
And get rid of Tram Car McIntosh, that chopper couldn't call a one horse race right.
And get rid of Tram Car McIntosh, that chopper couldn't call a one horse race right.
Any news 9 months after changes to personnel, have ratings improved?
I found this gem from Noel Crowe at the time of SEN's creation.
"It doesn't matter if (SEN) has signed David Beckham or Tiger Woods, there is simply no market for a 24-hour-a-day, seven-days-a-week sport format."
http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/01/18/1074360627018.html
I found this gem from Noel Crowe at the time of SEN's creation.
"It doesn't matter if (SEN) has signed David Beckham or Tiger Woods, there is simply no market for a 24-hour-a-day, seven-days-a-week sport format."
http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/01/18/1074360627018.html
Merc is tops for me. Clearly best facilitator on 4TAB for mine......though she has recently been slipping a little bit into the apalling habit of using the harness score up for station business grrrrrrr
https://twitter.com/mssmerc
Photo (at bottom, wait loads fully) from 2 years ago ("chunky"...she has been trying to diet according to a note on one of those social media thingies I saw while getting this)
http://brisbaneracing.com.au/article.php?current_article=3247
https://twitter.com/mssmerc
Photo (at bottom, wait loads fully) from 2 years ago ("chunky"...she has been trying to diet according to a note on one of those social media thingies I saw while getting this)
http://brisbaneracing.com.au/article.php?current_article=3247
Any radio station that puts overseas racing on ahead of the local product ie Singapore /HK before local trots and dogs deserves to fail. GRV and HRV are shareholders ffs
3UZ John Vertigan they were the days....unfortunately long gone
Was given the ass when they started to take the tvn callers bailey/osmanthus
was a very good harness caller imo, but got fired by that goose who was destr.... sorry running MVHR and replaced by Dan Malarkey. Amen.
No he is still there but not used as much which is shame. Was calling the dogs the other day.
Schwartz certainly landed on his feet when SEN started operating, nice station. Lets hope this allows him to pay back all his bad gambling debts now.
Dan Malecki class caller not sure how he calls now but called a Melbourne Cup or two pretty well.
Melboune Cup calls are too over rehearsed now, their all members of actors equity. Just not natural now days.
Malecki is unbelievably good in a tight finish. Has a go every time and gets it right 99.999999% of the time
Michael Christian and Mick McGuane axed from breakfast duties.
Rumors of Daniel Harford coming over from sports banter station SEN.
Rumors of Daniel Harford coming over from sports banter station SEN.
They were supposed to finish Friday but seems like they buzzed off early.
LTF will be pleased to know that Neil 'Lofty' Longden has a radio show on RPP 98.7FM every Friday from 3-4PM.
It's called "LOFTY'S GROOVES, GOLF AND GALLOPS".
I haven't caught the show yet but the website 'neilloftylongden.com' describes it as "very entertaining".
It's called "LOFTY'S GROOVES, GOLF AND GALLOPS".
I haven't caught the show yet but the website 'neilloftylongden.com' describes it as "very entertaining".
amazing that mickey and michael are gone !! best sports interviewers going around, knew their s..t on any sport you could mention, including the stations forte, HORSE RACING.
Not sure if this is the case with the replacements :(
Not sure if this is the case with the replacements :(
Need to sign Hamish & Andy... instant audience boost, worth every cent of $5M!
...failing that I am available. Yes, I know tough job...... but someone has to do it!
I read elsewhere that management didn't like the critical text messages Mick & Mike were reading out on air during wednesday's show so they told them to finish up and not see out the week.
Collingwood champions Michael Christian, Mick McGuane in bitter split with radio station RSN
Jon Anderson, Herald Sun
November 5, 2016 7:00pm
FUN and games behind the scenes during the week at Melbourne’s racing station Radio Sports National (RSN).
It began with the surprise sacking on Monday of breakfast co-hosts Michael Christian and Mick McGuane after a year in which their program was seen to have gained increasing traction.
Ironically, station bosses Denis Stirton and John Thwaites reportedly told the 1990 Collingwood premiership teammates their dismissal was partly due to a “lack of relevance”.
This is despite Christian sitting on the AFL’s match review panel and Laws of the Game Committee, while McGuane is widely acknowledged for his astute football brain.
Their axing came at a feisty meeting on Monday morning, and the pair were offered the chance to complete the year.
But that changed on Wednesday morning when three supportive callers went to air and McGuane read texts from listeners querying the sanity behind their dismissal.
They were told that afternoon to pack their bags.
Christian hosted the breakfast program for 13 years, while McGuane was involved at the station in different roles for quarter of a century, and both were said to be extremely disappointed they didn’t get the chance to farewell listeners.
Station bosses initially denied any behind-the-scene talks, but were said to be embarrassed at Monday’s meeting when Christian revealed he knew that Daniel Harford and Jason Richardson had been approached to replace him.
Harford is a likely starter, having been given no guarantees at SEN after his contract finishes at the end of 2017, whereas Richardson’s Channel 7 commitments could see him sharing duties as Harford’s co-host with Adam White.
Meanwhile, add Mike Sheahan to the new-look SEN breakfast show that will feature Garry Lyon and Hamish McLachlan as co-hosts.
Not always known for his love of early hours, Sheahan will be asked to bring his unique talents two or three mornings a week.
And Robert Murphy is another name in the mix as the station tries to revive flagging breakfast ratings.
Jon Anderson, Herald Sun
November 5, 2016 7:00pm
FUN and games behind the scenes during the week at Melbourne’s racing station Radio Sports National (RSN).
It began with the surprise sacking on Monday of breakfast co-hosts Michael Christian and Mick McGuane after a year in which their program was seen to have gained increasing traction.
Ironically, station bosses Denis Stirton and John Thwaites reportedly told the 1990 Collingwood premiership teammates their dismissal was partly due to a “lack of relevance”.
This is despite Christian sitting on the AFL’s match review panel and Laws of the Game Committee, while McGuane is widely acknowledged for his astute football brain.
Their axing came at a feisty meeting on Monday morning, and the pair were offered the chance to complete the year.
But that changed on Wednesday morning when three supportive callers went to air and McGuane read texts from listeners querying the sanity behind their dismissal.
They were told that afternoon to pack their bags.
Christian hosted the breakfast program for 13 years, while McGuane was involved at the station in different roles for quarter of a century, and both were said to be extremely disappointed they didn’t get the chance to farewell listeners.
Station bosses initially denied any behind-the-scene talks, but were said to be embarrassed at Monday’s meeting when Christian revealed he knew that Daniel Harford and Jason Richardson had been approached to replace him.
Harford is a likely starter, having been given no guarantees at SEN after his contract finishes at the end of 2017, whereas Richardson’s Channel 7 commitments could see him sharing duties as Harford’s co-host with Adam White.
Meanwhile, add Mike Sheahan to the new-look SEN breakfast show that will feature Garry Lyon and Hamish McLachlan as co-hosts.
Not always known for his love of early hours, Sheahan will be asked to bring his unique talents two or three mornings a week.
And Robert Murphy is another name in the mix as the station tries to revive flagging breakfast ratings.
I didnt realise John Thwaites was a boss, that guy likes to think he knows everything about sport, but from what I've heard, no one knows less.
Horowitz not happy about it on twitter, although he's generally not happy about much.
I think Andy Maher's been delisted from SEN.
Inter Dom night and not covering early GP races ? Amazing
Probably because they were scheduled 1 minute before the Valley
Yep that's the reason for the thread... they've lost the plot
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