On the first day of formal Nine Entertainment Co control of the Macquarie Radio network, Nine CEO Hugh Marks is meeting with 2GB staff in Sydney.
In what is a busy week, again, for the boss of Australia’s biggest media company, he will meet with 3AW staff on Wednesday.
Marks will be travelling to the radio stations with Nine’s new head of radio, Tom Malone.
On Tuesday this week, Marks will address Nine shareholders at the AGM alongside chairman Peter Costello.
Marks sent a letter to Macquarie Media staff this morning and these are the highlights:
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.
We are big believers in the power of Macquarie’s talk radio network and in its people. Talk radio has an innate power to drive debate and to speak up on behalf of the community.
We are confident that with the full backing of Nine we can continue to grow the radio business and will work to ensure that you have the support, infrastructure and clarity to be able to do what you do best.
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.
I’m conscious that events in recent weeks have led to some uncertainty within the business and I want to thank you for your patience. We are working hard to align these two businesses to capitalise on the benefits of the transaction (such as aligning both sales teams, particularly from an agency perspective) but there are still some decisions, such as whether there will be relocations in some states, to be resolved. We will continue to communicate with you as decisions are made.