Pacific Star Network will launch SEN+ 1377 AM on Monday, promising to bring Melbourne sports fans more sport than ever before and a greater choice.
PSN Managing Director and Crocmedia CEO, Craig Hutchision says “SEN+ will begin with dedicated calls of sports such as VFL football …(and become) the dedicated home of national A-League matches in the summer.”
Hutchison says community and women’s sport would continue to be focus areas.
“We are open for business on live sport and look forward to many non-traditional
discussions. We are keen to give sports fans greater choice than ever before.”
“And for those who feel they have live sport products that suit dedicated audiences, we
look forward to engaging them.”
SEN + will broadcast almost 100 national A League games, add additional Melbourne United content as well as creating further cricket and racing content.
Hutchison says that SEN+ will showcase 1116 SEN on air favourites and their shows in different and sometimes catch-up environments
“We have a passion for sport and feel there’s never too much of a good thing at SEN+,”
Two points:
(1) 3MP (music 1970s to 2010) to MTR (talk 2010-2012) to Classic Rock (music 2012 - 2018) to SEN+ (talk - 2019). Have the powers that be at SEN done enough market research to support a third sport talk format especially when 3MP has skipped from music to talk to music and talk and where public expectations of 3MP have been towards a music station? The owners of 3MP will have to invest money into changing peoples' perception of the 3MP such that the 3MP is committed to an additional sports format and no longer a music format (classic rock).
(2) While SEN is Melbourne's market leader (3.0+) compared to MSR (0.4), assuming the owners of 3MP have got it right will it create a barrier to entry or moreover succession to MSR? As with point (1), time will tell. But given the flip-flop nature of 3MP's format and the labour-intensive nature of a talk format will there be enough funds either by providing cash or by SEN+ being a self-sustaining service. Time will tell depending on whether customers will support a third talking sport station.
Regards
Anthony of exciting Belfield