Anyone Remember 3AK?
australia.radio.broadcast.moderated Now with 67 Members
Seagull
Members" <nswa...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Anyone Remember 3AK?
>From 1997 till January 2004 3AK gave us ...
Rob Elliott, Tim Ferguson, Jan McGuinness, Cecily Waters, Bernie
Finn,
Don Lunn , Ian Major, Wayne Vitnell , Jane Edmanson, Michael Pope ,
Derryn Hinch , Tony McManus, Liz Sullivan, Anna Pinkus, Robert Hicks,
Dennis Donoghue, Arthur Higgins, Jill Rogers, Peter Lawrance, Leon
Wiegard ,
Peter Tarnawski, Kevin Hillier, Kathy Bedford, Ric Melbourne, Glenn
Johns,
Yvonne Lawrence, Brett de Hoedt, Tarnie James, Ian Hewitson & The
Doc,
Rozzi Bazzani, Nick Papas, Con Killias, Simon Madden, Paul Gough,
John Hindle, Bruce Mansfield, Kerryn Marlow, Dave Barnett, Paul
Konik,
Tom Stokes, Zinta Jurjans, James Tsiavos, Gary Turner, Muriel Cooper,
John Tamb, Heather in Leather, Leigh Drew, Paul Higgins, Mal Garvin,
John Patrick, Gavin Wood, Melissa King, Michele Adler, Jhody Goy,
John Blackman, Don Crawford, Jeff Kennett, Gary McQuade, Damien
Sleep,
Simon O ' Donnell, James Dunn, Peter Harrison, Ian Marshman ,
Jim Wright , Greg Denham , Mike Edmonds , Jim Hilcke , Greg Evans,
Alex Money , Adrian Tame , Bruce Ewan , Craig Opie , Gloria Oxford ,
John Paige , Robert 'Dippa" Di Pierdomenico , Carole Browne ,
Clark Hansen, Dr David Marsh, Robert Shannon, Colin Tannerhill ,
Yvonne Adele, Jane Holmes, Sam Kekovich, Doug Aiton, Phil Cleary, ,
Di Rolle, Jason Cameron, Terry Laidler, Nicole Bland , Sandy Kaye
Graham Rebbeck, Sonia Heidideman, Brad Smart Tom Smith, John Jost
Just imagine if they hadn't had so many ongoing lineup changes and had
settled their lineup (something that's always happened with SEN), if
the financial woes weren't so damaging, and had Southern Cross not
held them programming hostage over their news broadcasts, where they'd
be rating now, More than 2.7% I'd say.
Keep the footy broadcasts, and some of the regular sports talkback
programs, but ...
Bring back Talk 1116 3AK!
Blue Fig Tree
orchestral pop classics mix under the brand Beautiful Music (rating
always with it), dropping this successful format to switch to some
talk / music blend that sent it to the bottom of the ratings, and
eventually handing an audience to a then struggling "The way you are
today" 3MP.
It went Italian for a while - after Peter Corso purchased it and while
he kept some of the on air talent, however replaced much of the others
with Italian-ish broadcasters. (He kept the John Laws show (at least
for a while), and Keith McGowan, amongst a few others)
Then Southern Cross purchased the 3AK licence, and tried (remarkably
unsuccessfully) to revive the old "Beautiful Music" brand and format.
then... then... then... Then SEN
end of story - it's working reasonably well and I would imagine it
will stay as SEN for quite some time.
Andrew Bayley
> he kept some of the on air talent, however replaced much of the others
> with Italian-ish broadcasters. (He kept the John Laws show (at least
> for a while), and Keith McGowan, amongst a few others)
my recollection is that Corso sacked 3AK's entire schedule and workforce -
Keith McGowan was the last one to turn out the lights on 3AK before it went
into a two-week holding pattern (automated music) before launching itself as
radio Italiano. John Laws and Phillip Adams, both networked from 2UE, were
gone. Apparently the only staff from the "old" 3AK to be part of Corso's
effort were two technical crew, who had been sacked by Corso but then
offered their jobs back.
Harold
"Blue Fig Tree" <bluef...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1179054494.2...@k79g2000hse.googlegroups.com...
<snip>
>
> It went Italian for a while - after Peter Corso purchased it and while
> he kept some of the on air talent, however replaced much of the others
> with Italian-ish broadcasters. (He kept the John Laws show (at least
> for a while), and Keith McGowan, amongst a few others)
>
I don't recall Keefie being at 3AK (in the Corso era). Perhaps you meant
the late Hal Todd?.
Corso lost the respect and goodwill of many of his staff when he bragged
to a journalist writing for the Herald (or was it the Herald-Sun by then?)
newspaper that he'd actually acquired 3AK NOT for the station per se, but
for the land that the transmitter was on. He planned to move the
transmitter to a property he owned at Craigieburn, and flog the existing
site (worth a small fortune), which would have made him a packet.
BearCave
wrote:
> my recollection is that Corso sacked 3AK's entire schedule and workforce -
> Keith McGowan was the last one to turn out the lights on 3AK before it went
> into a two-week holding pattern (automated music) before launching itself as
> radio Italiano. John Laws and Phillip Adams, both networked from 2UE, were
> gone. Apparently the only staff from the "old" 3AK to be part of Corso's
> effort were two technical crew, who had been sacked by Corso but then
> offered their jobs back.
I remember when 3AK relaunched in mid-1990 as "1503 3AK - The
Renaissance".
As a matter of fact, the English-side of 3AK's bi-lingual format was a
good quality mix of talk and music.
Within the first six months, we had Tess Lawrence in the afternoons
and Hal Tood on weekend overnights. Paul Marinelli took on the role
of producing dance-oriented music program for the younger generation,
building on his 3ZZZ experience from the previous two years.
Unfortunately, the quality fell away within a year, Lawrence and
Marinelli departed, and by early 2002, Hal Todd was gone.
Andrew Bayley
> to a journalist writing for the Herald (or was it the Herald-Sun by then?)
> newspaper that he'd actually acquired 3AK NOT for the station per se, but
> for the land that the transmitter was on. He planned to move the
> transmitter to a property he owned at Craigieburn, and flog the existing
> site (worth a small fortune), which would have made him a packet.
isn't 3AK (SEN) still broadcasting from Lower Plenty as it was then?
Blue Fig Tree
park), and I remember seeing thousands of LP records from the old 3AK
collection for sale for 50c each in the 2nd hand shop below. (All
stamped and stickered 3AK Beautiful Music), numbered etc.
Interestingly, there is a site at Craigieburn - SBS runs their AM site
from there, and SBS own the site (though it is leased to Broadcast
Australia who operates it on SBS's behalf, for a fee (weird?)-
politics did that I suggest)
The site at Lower Plenty has many current tenants, who all pay nicely
for the privilege, however it may an interesting day when all the
tenanted radio stations are given their 60 days notice to quit. Where
would they go ? There is another site at Lower Plenty - managed by
Broadcast Australia - running 1026 kHz and 1179 kHz (The old 3DB / KZ
site now as News Radio and 3RPH) 3UZ recently killed their antenna and
becaame a new tenant at the Peter Corso Super Site.
Peter Corso sold the 3AK licence to Southern Cross - without any of
the land, facilities or transmission facilities. He sold it for what
he bought it (from Channel 9) for, and ended up with what was
effectively a free transmitter site.
Smart business.
Imagine holding a site and having the bulk of commercial radio in
Melbourne operating from it ! He can charge whatever he likes, and
without doubt he'll get what he asks for.
There is another option - the 3MP site at Rowville - perhaps the SEN
management can lease out capacity on that, or move SEN to the 3MP
site, and remove the "what if" question.
Ahh, the world of stuff.
On May 14, 3:48 pm, "Andrew Bayley" <NOJUNKMAIL_and...@yahoo.com.au>
wrote:
P
explains exactly why many people do not wish to remember 3AK.
http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/06/07/1054700443908.html
Seagull
Thanks for this P.
An amazing article, written so well by Brett de Hoedt. It's a tragedy
that Brett hasn't got a regular talking spot somewhere on Melbourne
radio.
It also makes you realise how many good broadcasters were dudded by
those in charge at Fusion and DCL.
Yet over those five years that Brett was there 3AK did put out some
great talk radio. (Yes - and a fair amount of shemozzle that along
with all the line-up changes didn't auger well.)
Just imagine if the cream of those 65 sacked or resigned presenters (a
dozen would do) were there now under the current stable SEN
management, and given a proper chance of success in a settled line-up.
Given the footy broadcasts they'd be rating 5% by years end, maybe
more.
Not much chance of that with the repetitive sportstalk 24/7.
geoffreyw...@gmail.com
> Anyone Remember 3AK?
>
>
> http://www.radionews.multiservers.com/3ak.htm
Going back to the 50s is when I remember 3AK.Their studios were in Grey St. St.Kilda near Fitzroy St.There were 2 studios One very large and a much smaller one.The large studio sported a grand piano and was the main presentation studio.It echoed a lot due to no sound dampening.The smaller studio was much more modern and was used for classical music programmes on Sundays.The record library was on the ground floor.The station was owned by the Mack's Furniture Co.The station manager was Mr.Margots.There was no advertising on Sunday.Broadcasts finished at 6 pm every day.Their transmitter was at Korioit creek road in Altona using an STC transmitter with a power of 500 watts.One of the engineers was Ron Tonkin.Some of the announcing staff at the time were Ron Alderton,Russ Robbins,and Peter Cavenagh.I used to visit the station frequently.and knew it well.