Changes at the top for Star 104.5 and DMG Radio Australia

DMG Radio Australia holds nine radio licenses, including Star 104.5, the national Nova FM network of stations in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, and the Vega FM stations in Sydney and Melbourne.

After a very successful year culminating in the station’s best ever survey results, Star 104.5 FM General Manager Andy Mathers said, “It’s a wonderful acknowledgement of DMG Radio’s strength and future potential.”

“Despite the backdrop of a GFC we are in tremendous shape as a business; 2009 has been our most successful year to date. To now be the number 1 station on the Central Coast in the highly valued 25 to 54 year old demographic is testament to the hard work the team have been doing. I look forward to showing off the Central Coast when Mr Murdoch visits us in the coming months,” he said.

Following the acquisition Mr Murdoch said that DMG Radio Australia is a strong business with talented on- and off-air people.
“Together we will explore new growth opportunities in the existing business and also in related media,” Mr Murdoch said.

“I am very happy to be partnering with DMGT in driving the future of DMG Radio Australia. Patience is a virtue, and after exhaustively searching the market for the right acquisition, we have found in DMG Radio Australia the right business, the right partner and the right brands which are positioned for exemplary growth.”

Star continues to rise in ratings war

Meanwhile Star 104.5, which only entered the Central Coast market in March 2004, has again made significant inroads into a marketplace once dominated by 2GO and Sea FM.

In the latest Nielsen Central Coast Radio Survey the media landscape has changed dramatically. Star 104.5 has increased its audience to now be the number 1 station across the significant 18 – 54, 30 – 44 and 25 – 54 age groups.

In the highly competitive breakfast time slot ‘Rod and The Flack’ have increased their audience share to 12.5% – a rise of 3.7%. 2GO at 18.6% has dropped back 5.0% shedding 20,000 listeners, whilst SEA FM continues to struggle, dropping 2.1% down to 11.7% – now fourth in the breakfast market behind the ABC.

Since Star 104.5 entered the Central Coast radio market, and despite early hiccups, they have worked on making a significant impact into the local area. They have consistently targeted the 25 to 54 age group and it appears this is paying off for them. 2GO has been established on the Coast for over forty years while its sister station Sea FM launched in about 1992 originally as Coast Rock.

Star 104.5 General Manager, Andy Mathers said, “ To again be the fastest growing radio station on the Central Coast is extremely humbling. The latest survey results show we are definitely on the right track, both entertaining our listeners as well as providing a powerful market for our advertisers. These results have even left Rod and The Flack speechless which is no mean feat.”

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