The transaction between Nine and Macquarie Media was completed on Friday. And this week Nine are conducting “town halls” with Macquarie employees around the country.

In a memo to all staff, headed: “The opportunity in front of us,” Nine CEO, Hugh Marks emphasised the enormity of the move and the value that radio adds to the business.

This is an important moment for our business as it gives Nine the leading offering of any Australian media company across Television, Publishing, Digital, Video Streaming and now Radio, wrote Mr Marks. 

We are tremendously excited about the potential that radio opens up for the wider Nine business. We have a great opportunity to lead the news conversation in each city and better engage with our audiences – be they television viewers, print and online readers or now listeners via radio or online. 

Mr Marks was keen to assure Macquarie staff and stakeholders that Macquarie’s presenters will remain independent – a position confirmed by new Macquarie Managing Director, Tom Malone. Mt Marks wrote: We also believe that Macquarie’s stations need to have distinctive voices. Our stations of 2GB, 3AW, 4BC and 6PR need to be there for their communities as it is their ability to connect with their audiences and help drive the agenda in each city that helps ensures they are an integral part of the daily lives of their listeners. 

Mr Marks also pledged to provide more budget for news services. He wrote: Together across Nine and Macquarie we will be investing more than $400 million per year in providing Australians with premium news and editorial content. All of this serves to ensure we are the place where communities connect, engage and debate – across all platforms – I’m excited by the potential of what we can do together. I hope you are too, he told staff. 
 
As Nine’s Annual General Meeting approaches, Hugh Marks has written to staff in all the company’s divisions looking ahead to the future.