DMG Radio rebrands as Nova Entertainment, denies move related to Daily Mail’s arrival

Lachlan Murdoch’s DMG Radio Australia is to rebrand as Nova Entertainment, although the company has denied it is shedding its last links to ownership by the Daily Mail Group and Trust because the Mail Online has entered the Australian market.

The company is rebranding some 17 months after Murdoch bought the remaining 50 per cent from the Daily Mail and General Trust through his investment vehicle Illyria, but CEO Cathy O’Connor said it was to do with reflecting its diverse investments.

When asked if it had to do with the Mail Online’s entry to the Australian market O’Connor said: “No, its not. Lachlan purchased the remaining stake in 2012 so DMGT has not been involved since 2012 so it was natural that at some point we would change the name.”

She also spoke about the new radio survey which comes out in under two weeks, and will see new data company Gfk provide the figures for the first time. However, she said she expected the slew of changes in the FM radio market, especially in Sydney and Melbourne, to have a greater impact on the new ratings.