Job losses ‘inevitable’, admits MRN boss, as network prepares to put 2CH on the market
Macquarie Radio Network (MRN) chief executive Russell Tate has admitted there will be job losses as a result of its merger with Fairfax Radio Network (FRN) as he hinted that a sale of Sydney station 2CH is unlikely to take place before the FRN deal is completed.
He told Mumbrella it was too early to estimate the extent of the cuts but said it was “inevitable” some staff would go.
“It’s premature to comment on operational issues,” he said. “But in any merger like this where you have very similar operations operating in the same sort geographies, of course there is going to be duplication and that inevitably will lead to some redundancies but it’s far too early to comment on the number or the people involved.”
The comments follow those of FRN managing director Adam Lang who told staff the merger will see “some cost synergies and efficiencies to be achieved in some functions and duplicated roles”.
Singo has sold his talent down the river with this one. Ray Hadley went to air after the last merger attempt fell over with a blistering, expletive filled attack on Fairfax and 2UE. Hadley was clearly telling Singo to forget the idea altogether but Singo pressed on. If I were Hadley and Alan Jones I would start my holidays preparing and submitting their resignations so that Fairfax can put the shock jock era in Sydney radio behind them and start afresh with new talent more in line with current political trends away from the hard Right.
This is a huge slap in the face for Alan Jones and Ray Hadley. They should resign immediately rather than being put on death row while Fairfax waits for their contracts to run out.
I am stunned that this has happened, after the spray 2GB gave the plonkers at Fairfax last time. It cannot be happy times at 2GB. I don’t see the advantages
If John Brennan buys 2CH I’ll be the first in line for an audition to join his new on-air team…
JUST ANOTHER, ITS ONLY BUSINESS DEAL…NO RELATION TO THE PRINCIPLES OF THE RIGHT WING HQ BEING CAPTURED BY THE ENEMY……WHATS NEXT SINGO…, THE LABOUR PARTY JOING THE LIBS…AFTER ALL WHATS THE DIFFERENCE… THEY BOTH WORK FOR OVERSEAS INTERESTS, AND TELL LIES BREAK MOST PROMISES…REMEMBER…GREED IS GOOD (THATS IS FOR SOME)…ANOTHER NAIL IN THE COFFIN…BB
Aussie Austridge, you’re forgetting one thing: Fairfax have no idea how to run a radio network and MRN have the top rating radio station in Sydney.
Are you kidding @ Aussie_Austridge, The Magus? These stations are bleeding because of the over priced talent. This should mean that they can curve some costs and get back to providing a better work environment for the staff who bust their gut everyday. You have to remember where the money comes from here, the agency market certainly don’t support these guys and the direct dollars are under pressure from digital.
The 2UE Stff who 2GB will sign will mosdt likely replace Messers Jines and Gadldy when they retire from 2GB,