News

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.

Nova is operating in a ‘tough economic environment’ 

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.

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