How Disrupt Radio lost nearly $5m in its first year on air; another new low on the Unmade Index
Welcome to a midweek update from Unmade. Today: We share the first numbers on the financial performance of Australia’s newest radio network, Disrupt Radio. And Nine’s plummeting share price drags the Unmade Index to another low.
I’m in Sydney today. Don’t forget to tune in later this morning for the launch of this year’s Infinite Dial results. I’m moderating the panel.
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Where has been the marketing (as distinct from sales)? Crowd Funding to build a community as distinct from raising funds? Really? Surely community building comes from delivering a great brand across a range of on and off-line channels (where is the PR? where are the events?) Frankly, I would like to know of anyone reading this who had actually heard of Disrupt other than the initial and minor promotion of Libbi at launch.
Thanks Tim for shining a light on an important space – startup & innovation. Great mission and clearly a growing category. I wonder if the team took a startup approach to the idea. Ie., low cost experiments before investing in studios, production, talent etc?
Media startups are hard unless there is bold approach on business model innovation.
I’d love to understand how Disrupt are using data and how they are exploring new sources of revenue. Eg., modern media companies often have a SAAS/subscription mechanism to drive revenue.*
* I don’t have any commercial background on Disrupt
I think it’s a great mission too Vijay. It also seems a small amount of money in comparison to what we see in the press every day. They pretty much built and ran an entire station for a year for the same price as one channel 7 executive which is think is pretty awesome.
I don’t have any commercial background on Disrupt either but I think it’s great that they already have revenue so early and are creating jobs when everyone else seems to be getting sacked.
hi, is this the Gary Newman from days gone by that may know Mike Fitzgerald ?