Commercial radio broadcasters today criticised an attempt by the Labor Party to amend the Interactive Gambling Bill to phase out and ban advertising of betting odds and gambling commercials during live sporting broadcasts.
 
Joan Warner, the chief executive officer of peak industry body Commercial Radio Australia, described the move as “unnecessary and counterproductive”.
 
“There has been no consultation with the industry,” Ms Warner said.
 

Metropolitan commercial radio stations reported modest growth in advertising revenue of 0.85% in the month of January 2017 to a total of $50.551 million, according to figures sourced by Deloitte and released by Commercial Radio Australia.

The figures follow growth of 6.75% in the month of December, for total annual growth of 4.04% to $779.960 million for calendar year 2016.

All metro markets recorded positive growth in radio ad revenue in December 2016 up 6.75% to a total of $58.837 million, according to the metropolitan commercial radio advertising revenue, sourced by Deloitte and released today by industry body, Commercial Radio Australia.
 
The Sydney market was up 6.5% to $17.792 million, Melbourne also showed strong growth up 6.68% to $17.546 million, Brisbane rose 10.37% to $9.674 million, Perth was up 6.43% to $8.401 million and Adelaide was up 2.23% to $5.424 million.   
 

Melbourne agency Clemenger BBDO has won round four of the 2017 Siren Awards.

Canberra, Darwin and Hobart will be the next in line for permanent DAB+ digital radio services, with commercial radio broadcasters today welcoming the ABC’s announcement that it intends to extend services into the three capital cities.

Chief executive officer of industry body, Commercial Radio Australia, Joan Warner said commercial broadcasters were working closely with the ABC and SBS on the regional rollout plans.

Designer British radio brand VQ plans to accelerate its expansion into Australia through a joint Christmas campaign with Commercial Radio Australia aimed at putting the glamour into radio products.

The campaign is VQ’s first major marketing push in Australia since entering the market earlier this year, and promotes the Retro Mini DAB+ digital radio with built-in Bluetooth speaker, which retails for $129.

Gift vouchers are at the top of Christmas shopping lists this year, according to a survey of radio listeners by Commercial Radio Australia and Presslaff Interactive Revenue.
 
Seventy percent of survey participants said they like to give gift vouchers for Christmas, with toys (57%), clothes (56%) and bath and beauty products (52%) following closely behind.
 

Radio remains the most popular entertainment choice on the road, with Australian commuters largely overlooking the music streaming options that have been introduced into car dashboards, according to research released today.

Radio accounts for 80% of in-car listening, followed by owned music such as CDs and downloads making up 12% of listening, and three per cent of listening going to the streaming services Apple Music, Pandora and Spotify, the GfK Australian Share of Audio study found.

The application closing date for AFTRS 2017 Graduate Diploma in Radio has been extended to next Monday 21 November.
 
AFTRS Graduate Diploma in Radio

Commercial radio broadcasters have welcomed the passing in Parliament yesterday of the 25 percent reduction in licence fees for commercial radio licence holders.
 
Joan Warner, chief executive officer of industry body Commercial Radio Australia, said: “The licence fee reduction is a welcome relief and the industry looks forward to continuing to work with the Communications Minister on further cuts in 2016/2017 as foreshadowed in his budget statement.”