| Industry | Entertainment |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1996 |
| Headquarters | , |
| Parent | Illyria Pty Ltd |
| Divisions | Nova FM smoothfm FIVEaa Adelaide Star 104.5 Coles Radio |
| Website | novaentertainment |
NOVA Entertainment is an Australian entertainment company that operates commercial radio networks (and associated digital brands) in metropolitan and regional areas of Australia.
NOVA Entertainment is owned by Lachlan Murdoch's Illyria Pty Ltd which purchased the remaining 50% it did not own from Daily Mail and General Trust in September 2012.[1]
Nova Entertainment was formed in early 1996 under the name DMG Radio Australia, followed later in the year with the A$46M acquisition of 85% of the Broadcast Media group of regional stations.[2][3] This was shortly followed by FIVEaa on 26 September 1996.[4] The founding Chairman and CEO were Charlie Cox and Paul Thompson respectively.[5] The company grew rapidly to over 64 radio stations across New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Queensland and Western Australia under the Star FM, Hot FM, Nova and Vega (now Smooth) brands.
In September 2004, DMG Radio Australia sold most of its regional radio stations to Macquarie Bank, keeping only Hot 91 Sunshine Coast (later sold in early 2005) and Star 104.5 in Gosford, which they still own and operate.
In April 2009, DMG Radio Australia launched two new digital radio stations: NovaNation, a 24/7 digital dance station and Koffee, a chillout music station. These stations were launched as part of the introduction of DAB+ digital broadcasting in Australia's major state capital cities. On 24 December 2013, NovaNation and Koffee both ceased broadcasting as DAB+ stations. Koffee was rebranded to smooth Chill with a chill easy listening format and NovaNation ceased broadcasting online by mid-2016.
On Friday 12 March 2010 Vega rebranded with the name Classic Rock to counteract similar stations Gold 104.3, WSFM, Triple M Sydney and Triple M Melbourne. Nova Entertainment announced the change to Vega's brand as the stations had struggled towards the bottom of the ratings ladder in both Sydney and Melbourne. In building these new stations DMG Radio needed a "simple, focused music concept that would appeal to the 35-54 audience," according to CEO Cathy O'Connor. The stations later became 91.5 FM in Melbourne and 95.3 FM in Sydney.
On Monday 21 May 2012, after poor ratings, 91.5 FM Melbourne and 95.3 FM Sydney were rebranded again to smoothfm with a new smooth, easy listening format to aim for women aged 35+.[6]
In December 2013, DMG Radio Australia launched a 24-hour Australian pay television music channel, Smooth available via Foxtel satellite and cable services. The pay television music channel extends from the smoothfm radio brand.[7] It was shut down on 30 June 2020.
In February 2014, DMG Radio Australia rebranded under the name Nova Entertainment to reflect the company's increasingly diversified interests in radio and the media and entertainment industries. The new company name has been developed to encapsulate both the pride and heritage of the company’s original and successful FM launch brand, Nova, with its recent evolution into the broader media and entertainment space.[8]
NOVA Entertainment owns two national radio networks and four independent radio stations with a presence across Australia through terrestrial, digital and online
|
Main article: Nova (radio network) |
The Nova Network is a commercial radio network with an adult contemporary format. All network stations are owned and operated by NOVA entertainment and each station has its own local Breakfast show with daytime, drive and night shifts networked across all stations.
| Station | Callsign | Frequency | Location | Format | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nova 96.9 | 2SYD | 96.9 MHz
DAB+ |
Sydney, New South Wales | Adult Contemporary | |
| Nova 100 | 3MEL | 100.3 MHz
DAB+ |
Melbourne, Victoria | Adult Contemporary | |
| Nova 106.9 | 4BNE | 106.9 MHz
DAB+ |
Brisbane, Queensland | Adult Contemporary | |
| Nova 93.7 | 6PER | 93.7 MHz
DAB+ |
Perth, Western Australia | Adult Contemporary | Joint venture with Australian Radio Network |
| Nova 91.9 | 5ADL | 91.9 MHz
DAB+ |
Adelaide, South Australia | Adult Contemporary | |
| Nova 90s | N/A | DAB+ | Brisbane, Queensland | 90s music | |
| Nova Nation | N/A | DAB+ | Brisbane, Queensland | EDM | Replaced Nova Noughties |
| Nova Throwbacks | N/A | DAB+ | Adelaide, South Australia | Rhythmic AC |
|
Main article: smoothfm |
smoothfm is a commercial radio network originally launched in 2012 as a rebrand of the Classic Rock network. Since 14 February 2020 the network's primary format is Hot-Adult Contemporary providing feel good and dance music.
| Station | Callsign | Frequency | Location | Format | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| smooth 95.3 | 2PTV | 95.3 MHz
DAB+ |
Sydney, New South Wales | Easy listening | Formerly branded as Vega 95.3 (2005–10) & Classic Rock 95.3 (2010–12) |
| smooth 91.5 | 3PTV | 91.5 MHz
DAB+ |
Melbourne, Victoria | Easy listening | Formerly branded as Vega 91.5 (2005–10) & Classic Rock 91.5 (2010–12) |
| smooth Brisbane | N/A | DAB+ | Brisbane, Queensland | Easy listening | |
| smooth Perth | N/A | DAB+ | Perth, Western Australia | Easy listening | |
| smooth Adelaide | N/A | DAB+ | Adelaide, South Australia | Easy listening | |
| smooth Relax | N/A | DAB+ | Sydney and Melbourne | Soft Adult Contemporary | |
| smooth 80s | N/A | DAB+ | Adelaide, South Australia | Easy listening (80s) | |
| smooth vintage | N/A | DAB+ | Sydney and Melbourne | Oldies |
In addition to its network-based assets, NOVA also operates four independent radio stations.
| Station | Callsign | Frequency | Location | Format | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coles Radio | N/A | DAB+ | Capital cities (DAB+) and all Coles stores | Adult Contemporary | Branded station for Coles Supermarkets |
| Star 104.5 | 2GOS | 104.5 MHz FM
DAB+ |
Central Coast, New South Wales | Adult contemporary | Previously part of the Star FM radio network (now Hit Network) |
| FIVEaa | 5AA | 1395 kHz AM
DAB+ |
Adelaide, South Australia | Talkback radio | Shares some resources with Nine Radio stations, including news and sport (primarily Australian Rules football). |
| KIIS 97.3 | 4BFM | 97.3 MHz FM
DAB+ |
Brisbane, Queensland | Hot adult contemporary | Joint venture with the Australian Radio Network |
|
Main article: Foxtel Smooth |
Foxtel Smooth was an 18-hour pay television music channel (time-shared with Foxtel Arts) available via Foxtel satellite and cable services. It launched on 3 December 2013, dedicated to easy listening adult contemporary music.[9][10] The channel ceased broadcasting on 30 June 2020.[11][12]
GOAT was a pop culture, news and entertainment website aimed at a millennial audience.[13] It has been dormant since 2018.