Melbourne’s new talk radio station to go live April 19
Macquarie Radio Network and Pacific Star Network’s new Melbourne talk radio station, MTR 1377, is set to go head to head with Fairfax’s 3AW on April 19 when it goes live at 6am.
Former 3AW and 2UE presenter Steve Price, will attempt to dent 3AW’s breakfast lead, which reported a ratings share of 17.6 per cent in the latest Nielsen results.
The station will take over the broadcast frequency currently occupied by 3MP, which recently recorded an overall ratings share of 2.2 per cent compared to 3AW’s 14.6 per cent.
MTR’s other presenters will include Steve Vizard in mornings, afternoons with Chris Smith, drive with Martin King and money news with Ross Greenwood.
Barrie Quick, Pacific Star Network CEO, said: “MTR 1377 is all about providing Melbourne with an alternative offering, a talk radio station that is committed to telling it like it is, regardless of the consequences.”
The radio station recently appointed the Ogilvy Group to handle its integrated marketing account.
So Chris Smith — celebrated disgraced drunk — keeps his job at 2GB, and is now rewarded by being networked to Melbourne?
And this has been tried and failed before, right? Melbourne folk don’t take kindly to having interlopers beamed in from north of the Murray…
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Have you heard the talk back in Melbourne? AFL this AFL that. This will at least give the educated something to listen to and keep them up with the news.
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Good one Pete…
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In audience terms MTR will be a bit player. The line up is not strong, the question is how many listeners will they need to make money and how long will they stick at it to get that audience.
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Steve Vizard escaped jail amid the type of circumstances only people with very deep pockets do. (read about it on Wikipedia http://bit.ly/9UK4d3). I doubt the Melburnian’s will be that interested in what he has to say.
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Nobody beats Ross & John for breakfast!
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Steve Price’s recent appearances on the 7pm project are cringe-worthy at best. How he’s going to go against Ross & John for 2½ hours and attract listeners is anyone’s guess.
Putting Vizard in mornings will probably work as his “soft” style is diametrically opposite to that of Faine & Mitchell. He’ll pick up the listeners who switch to FM to avoid them.
3 months and they’ll attempt a raft of changes to keep it afloat. 6 months & it’ll be dead.
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Pete: Why are you Sydney siders (I’m guessing) so threatened by we Mexicans?
Other Rob: Read the biography written about Vizard & you will see what really went on. (NOT AN AUTO-BIOGRAPHY before you jump at me)!
It’ll be great to have an opinion other than Mithell’s in the morning.
Ross & John will continue to dominate.
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THE GROPER on air in Melbourne That should make his wife feel comfortable when he visits Melbourne. THE GROPER will be able to hit the bars and pubs [edited] women after a few glasses of grog, as is his way . Anyone checking to see if he is still drinking and taking his medication? What a disgusting creep, and he has the hide to comment on Tiger Woods behaviour yesterday. Women in particular should be appalled by this grub, and his family continually nervous of THE GROPER making a come back. It will happen, Chris Smith is [edited for legal reasons].
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Yay – MSWMTR. Melbourne Straight White Male Talk Radio. A very disadvantaged demographic, good to see they’re finally getting a voice.
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Catherine lighten up and give Chris Smith a go. Men haters like you went on like that about the legendary Matty Johns. Now he is back on the telly at 7.30 pm rating no 1.
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I’m sure the average person could find increasingly enlightening conversations down at their local pub.
What does MTR 1377 stand for? More Tiresome Ramblings…
Get a real job!
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What about the easy music on 3mp? What station will now play this type of music? There is no other station in Melbourne like it and to just turn it into a talk radio station just isn’t fair. Bring back the easy music.
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What a joke! do these clowns think they can compete against the professionals at 3AW. Give them six months , and they will be gone.
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The networking of commercial talkback across state borders, has worked in regional centres, ie John Laws,plus the 2SM menagerie, however when 3AK tried something similar years ago, it flopped, with unseemly pauses whilst stations got in sync again after ad breaks, etc. So called big- names don’t automatically come with a guaranteed listener appeal. I predict they’ll occupy both the 3MP frequency and also its ratings. The AW signal is much stronger too, at least here in Central Vic.
Doubt if anything could recreate the most profitable days for Macquarie when they had high rating talk shows on 3AW, 2GB & 5DN.
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Dynamite, your comment makes no sense what so ever . So Matthew ( who’s turn is it next ) Johns is back,. He won’t last, look at his eyes when he looks down the barrel of the camera, the eyes of a deviate that got away with seriously degrading a woman. Listen to Chris Smith’s voice on air when he talks to an attractive female known to us eg the weather reporter Magdolina Rose. He sounds like he has his small dick in his tiny fat hands. I bet his wife cringes when she hears the sleaze in his voice . They are both very transparent dirty men who treat woman appallingly. If you Dynamite feel comfortable with what they are both known to have done, then i suggest that you to seek professional help,as they supposedly have both done.Remember, they have known track records for this kind of offensive behaviour. against women. Further, I love decent men, always have!
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I say that this is a fantastic opportunity for the people in Melbourne to experience a different style of talk radio. Time will tell how long this attempt to provide some competition for the Melbourne audience will last.
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To these people who say MTR will die wasn’t the same thing said about SEN when they were losing money.
I read of one or two former 3AW Listeners who have said that they will change to MTR and I hopemany more will follow when they see 3AW is yesterdays style of Talkback Radio and Oglivy Group attract even more Listeners to MTR from 3AW I ask Who will be laughing then?
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