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 & General Trust in September 2012.
History 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. This was shortly followed by FIVEaa on 26 September 1996. The founding chairman and CEO were Charlie Cox and Paul Thompson respectively.
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.
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+.
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 Smooth FM radio brand. 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.
Current operations
Radio Nova Entertainment owns two national radio networks and numerous independent radio stations with a presence across Australia through terrestrial, digital and online.
All stations can be streamed online or via the Nova, Smooth, FIVEAA or Star Player apps. Nova
The Nova Network is a commercial radio network with an adult contemporary format. All network stations are owned and operated by Nova Entertainment (with Perth being a JV with ARN) and each FM station has its own local Breakfast show with daytime, drive and night shifts networked across all stations. StationCallsignFrequencyLocationFormatNotesNova 96.92SYD96.9 MHz DAB+Sydney, New South WalesTop 40 (CHR)Nova 1003MEL100.3 MHz DAB+Melbourne, VictoriaTop 40 (CHR)Nova 106.94BNE106.9 MHz DAB+Brisbane, QueenslandTop 40 (CHR)Nova 93.76PER93.7 MHz DAB+Perth, Western AustraliaTop 40 (CHR)Joint venture with ARN MediaNova 91.95ADL91.9 MHz DAB+Adelaide, South AustraliaTop 40 (CHR)Nova NationN/ADAB+Sydney, MelbourneDance radioNova Fresh CountryN/ADAB+BrisbaneCountry radioNova ThrowbacksN/ADAB+BrisbaneContemporary hit radio90s and 00s musicNova JamzN/ADAB+AdelaideRhythmic CHR
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. StationCallsignFrequencyLocationFormatNotessmooth 95.32PTV95.3 MHz DAB+Sydney, New South WalesHot ACFormerly branded as Vega 95.3 (2005–10) & Classic Rock 95.3 (2010–12)smooth 91.53PTV91.5 MHz DAB+Melbourne, VictoriaHot ACFormerly branded as Vega 91.5 (2005–10) & Classic Rock 91.5 (2010–12)smooth BrisbaneN/ADAB+Brisbane, QueenslandHot ACsmooth PerthN/ADAB+Perth, Western AustraliaHot ACsmooth AdelaideN/ADAB+Adelaide, South AustraliaHot ACsmooth RelaxN/ADAB+Sydney, MelbourneSoft Adult Contemporarysmooth VintageN/ADAB+Sydney, MelbourneOldiessmooth 80sN/ADAB+Adelaide1980s music
Non-network radio In addition to its network-based assets, NOVA also operates the following radio stations. StationCallsignFrequencyLocationFormatNotesColes RadioN/ADAB+Metro capital cities (DAB+) and all Coles storesAdult ContemporaryBranded station for Coles SupermarketsStar 104.52GOS104.5 MHz FMCentral Coast, New South WalesTop 40 (CHR)Previously part of the Star FM radio network (now Hit Network)FIVEAA5AA1395 kHz AM DAB+Adelaide, South AustraliaTalk radioShares some resources with Nine Radio stations, including news and sport (primarily Australian Rules football).KIIS 97.3 4BFM97.3 MHz FM DAB+Brisbane, QueenslandTop 40 (CHR)50/50 joint venture with ARN MediaPriceline RadioN/ADAB+Sydney and Melbourne (DAB+) and all Priceline storesAdult ContemporaryBranded station for PricelineSky News RadioN/ADAB+Sydney, Melbourne and BrisbaneNews talkAudio simulcast of Sky News Australia
NOVA Entertainment also rebroadcasts News-owned British station Talksport locally via its website and NOVA Player app.
Other Nova Podcasts, the podcast network suite of Nova Entertainment novafm.com.au, online news, music & lifestyle portal smooth.com.au, online news, music & lifestyle portal fiveaa.com.au, online news portal star1045.com.au, online news, music & lifestyle portal
Former operations
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. The channel ceased broadcasting on 30 June 2020.
GOAT GOAT was a pop culture, news and entertainment website aimed at a millennial audience. It has been dormant since 2018.
See also List of radio stations in Australia
References
External links NOVA Entertainment