Nova Entertainment

NOVA Entertainment is an Australian entertainment company that operates commercial radio networks (and associated digital brands) in metropolitan and regional areas of Australia.

NOVA Entertainment
IndustryEntertainment
Founded1996 (1996)
Headquarters
Sydney
,
Australia
ParentIllyria Pty Ltd
DivisionsNova FM
smoothfm
FIVEaa
Star 104.5
Coles Radio
Websitenovaentertainment.com.au

NOVA Entertainment is owned by Lachlan Murdoch's Illyria Pty Ltd which purchased the remaining 50% it did not own from Daily Mail and General Trust in September 2012.[1]

History

Nova Entertainment was formed in early 1996 under the name DMG Radio Australia, followed later in the year with the A$46M acquisition of 85% of the Broadcast Media group of regional stations.[2][3] This was shortly followed by FIVEaa on 26 September 1996.[4] The founding Chairman and CEO were Charlie Cox and Paul Thompson respectively.[5] The company grew rapidly to over 64 radio stations across New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Queensland and Western Australia under the Star FM, Hot FM, Nova and Vega (now Smooth) brands.

In September 2004, DMG Radio Australia sold most of its regional radio stations to Macquarie Bank, keeping only Hot 91 Sunshine Coast (later sold in early 2005) and Star 104.5 in Gosford, which they still own and operate.

In April 2009, DMG Radio Australia launched two new digital radio stations: NovaNation, a 24/7 digital dance station and Koffee, a chillout music station. These stations were launched as part of the introduction of DAB+ digital broadcasting in Australia's major state capital cities. On 24 December 2013, NovaNation and Koffee both ceased broadcasting as DAB+ stations. Koffee was rebranded to smooth Chill with a chill easy listening format and NovaNation ceased broadcasting online by mid-2016.

On Friday 12 March 2010 Vega rebranded with the name Classic Rock to counteract similar stations Gold 104.3, WSFM, Triple M Sydney and Triple M Melbourne. Nova Entertainment announced the change to Vega's brand as the stations had struggled towards the bottom of the ratings ladder in both Sydney and Melbourne. In building these new stations DMG Radio needed a "simple, focused music concept that would appeal to the 35-54 audience," according to CEO Cathy O'Connor. The stations later became 91.5 FM in Melbourne and 95.3 FM in Sydney.

On Monday 21 May 2012, after poor ratings, 91.5 FM Melbourne and 95.3 FM Sydney were rebranded again to smoothfm with a new smooth, easy listening format to aim for women aged 35+.[6]

In December 2013, DMG Radio Australia launched a 24-hour Australian pay television music channel, Smooth available via Foxtel satellite and cable services. The pay television music channel extends from the smoothfm radio brand.[7] It was shut down on 30 June 2020.

In February 2014, DMG Radio Australia rebranded under the name Nova Entertainment to reflect the company's increasingly diversified interests in radio and the media and entertainment industries. The new company name has been developed to encapsulate both the pride and heritage of the company’s original and successful FM launch brand, Nova, with its recent evolution into the broader media and entertainment space.[8]

Current operations

Radio

NOVA Entertainment owns two national radio networks and four independent radio stations with a presence across Australia through terrestrial, digital and online

NOVA
Main article: Nova (radio network)

The Nova Network is a commercial radio network with an adult contemporary format. All network stations are owned and operated by NOVA entertainment and each station has its own local Breakfast show with daytime, drive and night shifts networked across all stations.

Station Callsign Frequency Location Format Notes
Nova 96.9 2SYD 96.9 MHz

DAB+

 Sydney, New South Wales Adult Contemporary
Nova 100 3MEL 100.3 MHz

DAB+

 Melbourne, Victoria Adult Contemporary
Nova 106.9 4BNE 106.9 MHz

DAB+

 Brisbane, Queensland Adult Contemporary
Nova 93.7 6PER 93.7 MHz

DAB+

 Perth, Western Australia Adult Contemporary Joint venture with Australian Radio Network
Nova 91.9 5ADL 91.9 MHz

DAB+

 Adelaide, South Australia Adult Contemporary
Nova 90s N/A DAB+ Brisbane, Queensland 90s music
Nova Noughties N/A DAB+ Brisbane, Queensland 00s music
Nova Throwbacks N/A DAB+ Adelaide, South Australia Rhythmic AC

smoothfm
Main article: smoothfm

smoothfm is a commercial radio network originally launched in 2012 as a rebrand of the Classic Rock network. Since February 14 2020 the network's primary format is Hot-Adult Contemporary providing feel good and dance music.

Station Callsign Frequency Location Format Notes
smooth 95.3 2PTV 95.3 MHz

DAB+

 Sydney, New South Wales Easy listening Formerly branded as Vega 95.3 (2005-10) & Classic Rock 95.3 (2010-12)
smooth 91.5 3PTV 91.5 MHz

DAB+

 Melbourne, Victoria Easy listening Formerly branded as Vega 91.5 (2005-10) & Classic Rock 91.5 (2010-12)
smooth Brisbane N/A DAB+ Brisbane, Queensland Easy listening
smooth Perth N/A DAB+ Perth, Western Australia Easy listening
smooth Adelaide N/A DAB+ Adelaide, South Australia Easy listening
smooth Relax N/A DAB+ Sydney and Melbourne Soft Adult Contemporary
smooth 80s N/A DAB+ Adelaide, South Australia Easy listening (80s)
smooth vintage N/A DAB+ Sydney and Melbourne Oldies

Non-network radio

In addition to its network-based assets, NOVA also operates four independent radio stations.

Station Callsign Frequency Location Format Notes
Coles Radio N/A DAB+ Capital cities (DAB+) and all Coles stores Adult Contemporary Branded station for Coles Supermarkets
Star 104.5 2GOS 104.5 MHz FM

DAB+

 Central Coast, New South Wales Adult contemporary Previously part of the Star FM radio network (now Hit Network)
FIVEaa 5AA 1395 kHz AM

DAB+

 Adelaide, South Australia Talkback radio Shares some resources with Nine Radio stations, including news and sport (primarily Australian Rules football).
KIIS 97.3 4BFM 97.3 MHz FM

DAB+

 Brisbane, Queensland Hot adult contemporary Joint venture with the Australian Radio Network

Other
  • novafm.com.au, online news, music & lifestyle portal
  • smooth.com.au, online news, music & lifestyle portal
  • fiveaa.com.au, online news portal
  • star1045.com.au, online news, music & lifestyle portal
  • Nova Player, mobile app for radio streaming, podcasts & news

Former operations

NovaNation
Main article: NovaNation

NovaNation was a 24/7 dance music radio station that broadcast on DAB+ and online. It was marketed as Australia's first 'digital' dance station in an effort to differentiate itself from its analog competitors.

Early in 2013, NovaNation was removed in Adelaide and Perth and replaced by a DAB+ syndication of smoothfm. It was removed in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane on the 24th of December 2013 and replaced by Coles Radio.[9] The station was accessible online until mid-2016, when it ceased streaming. The NovaNation brand is still used for weekend content on the NovaFM stations.

Foxtel Smooth
Main article: Foxtel Smooth

Foxtel Smooth was an 18-hour pay television music channel (time-shared with Foxtel Arts) available via Foxtel satellite and cable services. It launched on 3 December 2013, dedicated to easy listening adult contemporary music.[10][11] The channel ceased broadcasting on 30 June 2020.[12][13]

GOAT

GOAT was a pop culture, news and entertainment website aimed at a millennial audience.[14] It has been dormant since 2018.

See also

References
  1. "Lachlan Murdoch acquires other half of DMG Radio". MediaSpy. 2 September 2012. Retrieved 3 September 2012.
  2. "DMG Radio Australia Acquires 12 Radio Stations". Asia Pulse. 24 September 1996.
  3. Jacques, Bruce (25 September 1996). "Daily Mail Arm Buys Australian Radio Group". Financial Times. p. 34.
  4. Jemison, Simon (26 September 1996). "DMG pays $7m for 5AA". Australian Financial Review (Late ed.). p. 26.
  5. Chapman, Heather (30 September 1996). "They're Back - And How". Sydney Morning Herald. p. 8. Retrieved 9 February 2012.
  6. "DMG Radio rebrand sees launch of smoothfm in Sydney and Melbourne". 3 May 2012. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
  7. "Smoothfm moves to TV | B&T". Archived from the original on 26 April 2014. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
  8. "DMG Radio rebrands as Nova Entertainment, denies move related to Daily Mail's arrival". Retrieved 26 February 2014.
  9. "dmg drop Novanation/Koffee for Coles Radio". Radio Today. 28 December 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
  10. Knox, David (1 November 2013). "Foxtel refreshes music channels". TV Tonight. Retrieved 1 November 2013.
  11. "Summer Channel Changes". Foxtel. Archived from the original on 16 March 2014. Retrieved 1 November 2013.
  12. Challenor, Jake (3 June 2020). "Foxtel confirms its Smooth music channel won't continue". The Music Network. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  13. Perry, Kevin (3 June 2020). "FOXTEL CONFIRMS CLOSURE OF SMOOTH MUSIC CHANNEL". TV Blackbox. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  14. "GOAT | NOVA Entertainment". www.novaentertainment.com.au. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
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