Fairfax Radio Network’s Content Solutions Division today announced the launch of an Australian media first content initiative called The 60 Second Mentor with foundation partner iiNet.
 
The mini mentoring program will feature some of the best and brightest up and coming business owners, entrepreneurs, business coaches and advisors who provide their insights and tips for business managers and owners to be more successful.
 

3AW will launch a new one-hour program dedicated to travel and food called A Moveable Feast on Saturday, February 7 from 11.00 am until 12.00pm.

The program is the brainchild of Ross Stevenson, who will co-host the new program with Kate Stevenson (no relation). Ross Stevenson has co-hosted 3AW Breakfast for decades with partner John Burns and the team has maintained the program’s Number One position for a record 104 surveys engaging 19.3% of the Melbourne radio audience.

Jeff Kennett, former Victorian Premier and weekly guest on Neil Mitchell’s 3AW morning show announced to everyone’s surprise, that he was leaving the station.

“Just one other thing before I go, this will be my last appearance.” Kennet stated bluntly on air.

“Really? I thought we were going to discuss that further.” replied Mitchell.

“No.”

Kennet explained that negotiations with 3AW management to renew his contract went to pieces.

Fairfax Radio Network’s News Talk stations 2UE and 3AW will launch a major promotion in conjunction with Dubai Tourism from this weekend with 2UE’s Tim Webster broadcasting live from Dubai.

The promotion sees four lucky listeners from Sydney and Melbourne travel to Dubai to join the experience.

Webster will broadcast live from Dubai this weekend from 12.00pm to 6.00pm on both Saturday and Sunday. The 2UE show will feature content about Tim’s trip and some fascinating interviews.

774 ABC Melbourne morning presenter Jon Faine will present a state-wide Election Night Count broadcast this weekend, in front of a live audience at the ABC Election Centre at Southbank.

Joining Jon to dissect the results will be David Feeney, Labor Member for Batman and Josh Frydenberg, Liberal Member for Kooyong.

Also providing expert analysis will be Associate Professor Paul Strangio from Monash University.

Neil Mitchell has renewed his multi-year contract with 3AW to continue as the station’s mornings presenter. Neil Mitchell said:“People ask me why I continue working stupid hours and getting up in the middle of the night to come to work.  It is because I have one of the most satisfying jobs in journalism in this country. It is a privilege to have access to a microphone and it is an honour to work with an audience like ours.”

Yet as the interview progressed, it came apparent that the caller 3AW had on the line was no such person.

After the event went to air, the 360 Facebook page posted a video of the rapper listening to the interview from his bed after only becoming aware of it moments earlier. 

At the beginning of the year, critics - and Fairfax had more than most - had written the Radio Network and, indeed, the whole organisation off.

By Survey 2, only the second one conducted by new radio measurement company GfK, 2UE had fallen to a 4.6 share overall. Even that was flattering as it was being propped up by Weekends. Take the weekend out of the equation and the station’s audience share was a whittled down to a paltry 3.6 per cent, Monday - Friday.

Worse still, the Fairfax flagship, Melbourne’s 3AW, was beaten out of it’s accustomed number one spot by ABC774.

Fairfax Radio’s team of cricket commentary legends Ian Chappell, Dean Jones, Greg Matthews, Glenn McGrath and Tim Lane have been doing the rounds of media agencies as the network pitches this year's commercial radio cricket coverage to advertisers.

The team has already visited OMD (pictured) and are continuing the roadshow to a number of other media agencies to discuss the upcoming season.

The Aussie cricket team will play visitors including India, England and South Africa in Australia this season.