Nova hit by redundancies due to ‘tough economic environment’
The end-of-year layoffs in radio are continuing, with Nova Entertainment the latest network to suffer a round of redundancies.
Mumbrella understands 15 people have been let go.
Sources tell Mumbrella the redundancies include a high-profile executive producer, as well as a program director.
A Nova Entertainment spokesperson told Mumbrella that Nova was not immune from the tough economic conditions hitting other businesses.
“We are operating in a tough economic environment and media companies, like many others, have been impacted,” the spokesperson said.
“As part of the ongoing review of its operations and after careful consideration, Nova Entertainment has made some changes to staff structures for 2020 and this has led to some redundancies across the business.
“We continue to believe in the strength of radio and its future in a digital world and our plans in 2020 will reflect that with continued investments in digital and audio.”
Nova Entertainment runs radio networks including Nova and Smooth FM.
Nova joins both Southern Cross Austereo (SCA) and Australian Radio Network (ARN) in making redundancies at the tail end of 2019.
SCA revealed it was letting approximately 90 people go last week, including the Hit Network’s head of music Irene Hulme. And ARN also had a small round of redundancies.
The radio networks have also undergone content shake-ups as they head towards 2020, with ARN’s Brisbane breakfast hosts in Brisbane, Bianca Dye and Mike van Acker, departing. Over at SCA, drive host Kate Langbroek is being replaced by former 2Day FM Breakfast host Ed Kavalee across the Hit Network, and Wil Anderson has left Triple M’s Hot Breakfast in Melbourne. Australia By Night, run by Stephen Cenatiempo on the Triple M network, has also been axed.
ARN also announced yesterday it had sold its sports content platform The Roar to Athletes Voice for an undisclosed sum as it increases its focus on its audio assets.
Wow, Nova loves to make people redundant 2 weeks before Christmas! They did this in 2008 and 2009 and now in 2019. Couldn’t be worse timing. You can’t get a proper interview until late Jan / early Feb and it is an expensive time of year. D*ck move that they seem to love repeating.
User ID not verified.
Why have the radio networks all executed on these redundancies at the same time?
While the market is tough and there has been some general downsizing, everyone else has staggered their redundancies across the year..
Are radio execs just absolute heartless jerks or is there a reasonable explanation for this timing outside the obvious market downturn?
User ID not verified.
extremely normal…you need to get the costs off the books before the new year starts
User ID not verified.
The programming year has just ended, it’s likely the least disruptive time to clear out on air or programming talent without effecting the overall sound and consistency of the stations.
User ID not verified.
Out of Survey, Key talent on holidays and Christmas Holidays for everyone to forget and move on…. no better time.
User ID not verified.
They’re just not making money, flaky audiences and talent!
Do I need to remind everybody they hired Matt Tilley? GOTCHA!
Revenues back at least 3m FYTD which equates to around 8%, more heads to roll…. Do not pass go, do not collect $200
User ID not verified.