Kate Ritchie, Tim Blackwell and Marty Sheargold, hosts of the NOVA Network’s national drive show, have won the coveted Best On-Air Team (Metro FM) category at the 28th annual Australian Commercial Radio Awards (ACRAs) in Melbourne.
The trio debuted on-air as a team in January 2014 and last year took out the Best Networked Program category at the ACRAs.
Steve Price and Andrew Bolt won the Best On-Air Team (Metro AM) award for their show on 2GB, Nights with Steve Price, and 3AW’s Neil Mitchell claimed the Best Current Affairs Presenter award for the fifth consecutive year.
The Best Talk Presenter category was won by 2GB’s Ben Fordham for the third year running, while the show’s producer, Harriet Glenn won Best Talk/Current Affairs Producer.
NOVA’s Sam Pang was named Best Newcomer On-Air, and the Hit Network’s the Hamish & Andy show (hosted by Hamish Blake and Andy Lee) won the ACRA for Best Networked Program.
Kent Small, host of Smallzy’s Surgery on the NOVA network, took home the ACRA for Best Music or Entertainment Presenter, while WSFM’s Amanda Keller and Brendan Jones took home the Best Syndicated Program award for their national weekly show My Generation.
Melissa Doyle and Richard Wilkins accepted the Best Musical Special award on behalf of NOVA’s smoothfm team for the Top 500 Smooth Favourites Countdown.
Lisa Barnes from Macquarie Media’s 6PR in Perth won the Brian White Memorial award, which recognises sustained achievement and effort across news, current affairs, entertainment and sports reporting. The award includes a fellowship exchange with Mediacorp, Singapore’s largest broadcaster.
Meanwhile, NOVA Entertainment CEO Cathy O’Connor, who celebrates 31 years in the radio industry this year, was inducted into the Commercial Radio Hall of Fame at the awards for her outstanding achievement and contribution to the radio broadcasting industry.
Organised by Commercial Radio Australia, the ACRAs covers 33 categories, with 260 metro and regional radio stations from across the nation submitting entries this year.
Here is the full list of winners:
BEST ON-AIR TEAM – METRO FM
Kate, Tim & Marty (Kate Ritchie, Tim Blackwell and Marty Sheargold, NOVA Network, NOVA Entertainment)
BEST ON-AIR TEAM – METRO AM
Nights with Steve Price (Steve Price and Andrew Bolt; 2GB, Sydney, NSW, Macquarie Media Limited)
BEST ON-AIR TEAM – COUNTRY
Chris & Juelz (Chris Sewell and Juelz Jarry; Star FM, Dubbo, NSW, Southern Cross Austereo)
BEST ON-AIR TEAM – PROVINCIAL
Mike E & Emma (Michael Etheridge and Emma Chow; The Edge, Western Sydney, NSW Australian Radio Network)
BEST ENTERTAINMENT/MUSIC PRESENTER
Country: Andy Young (Eagle FM, Goulburn, NSW, Capital Radio Network)
Provincial: Dave Rabbetts (Star 104.5, Gosford, NSW, NOVA Entertainment)
Metro: Kent ‘Smallzy’ Small (NOVA Network, NOVA Entertainment)
BEST TALK PRESENTER
County: Kate Vincent-O’Bree (2BS Gold, Bathurst, NSW, Bathurst Broadcasters)
Provincial: Brian Carlton (LAFM, Launceston, TAS, Grant Broadcasters)
Metro: Ben Fordham (2GB, Sydney, NSW, Macquarie Media Limited)
BEST CURRENT AFFAIRS PRESENTER
Non-metro: Stephen Cenatiempo (2NM, Muswellbrook, NSW, Grant Broadcasters)
Metro: Neil Mitchell (3AW, Melbourne, VIC, Macquarie Media Limited)
BEST SPORTS PRESENTER
Country: Nathan Dell (Zinc 96, Gympie, QLD, Grant Broadcasters)
Provincial: Tom King (K Rock, Geelong, VIC, Grant Broadcasters)
Metro: Tim Lane (3AW, Melbourne, VIC, Macquarie Media Limited)
BEST NETWORKED PROGRAM
Country: The Morning Rush (Jon Vertigan, Maria Foundas and Richard Kew, ACE Radio Broadcasters)
Provincial: Tasmania Talks (Brian Carlton, Grant Broadcasters)
Metro: the Hamish & Andy show (Hamish Blake and Andy Lee, Southern Cross Austereo)
BEST SYNDICATED AUSTRALIAN PROGRAM
My Generation (Authentic Entertainment)
BEST MARKETING CAMPAIGN
Non-metro: hit104.7 Launch (Zak Davies, hit104.7, Canberra, ACT, Australian Radio Network/ Southern Cross Austereo)
Metro: Hamish & Andy Return (Nikki Clarkson and Adam Bower, Hit Network, Southern Cross Austereo)
ENGINEERING EXCELLENCE
Embedded Devices in a Broadcasting Environment (Daniel Jackson and Ryland Sandison, Southern Cross Austereo)
BRIAN WHITE MEMORIAL
Lisa Barnes (6PR, Perth, WA, Macquarie Media Limited)
BEST NEWCOMER ON-AIR
Country: Peter Samios (Star FM, Dubbo, NSW, Southern Cross Austereo)
Provincial: Amanda Angiolino (Star FM, Warragul, VIC, Southern Cross Austereo)
Metro: Sam Pang (NOVA 100, Melbourne, VIC, NOVA Entertainment)
BEST SPORTS EVENT COVERAGE
Non-metro: ‘Geelong v Hawthorn – Welcome to the Danger Zone’ (The K Rock Football Commentary Team, K Rock, Geelon,g VIC, Grant Broadcasters)
Metro: 2015 AFL Grand Final (Triple M Footy, Triple M, Melbourne, VIC, Southern Cross Austereo)
BEST NEWS PRESENTER – COUNTRY
Lois Chislet (3YB, Warrnambool, VIC, ACE Radio Broadcasters)
BEST NEWS PRESENTER – PROVINCIAL
Rod McLeod (Gold FM, Gold Coast, QLD, Southern Cross Austereo)
BEST NEWS PRESENTER – METRO FM
Ange Anderson (NOVA 106.9, Brisbane, QLD, NOVA Entertainment)
BEST NEWS PRESENTER – METRO AM
Anne Stone (FIVEaa, Adelaide, SA, NOVA Entertainment)
BEST DIGITAL RADIO FORMAT
Kinderling Kids Radio (Evan Kaldor, Patrick Joyce, Lorna Clarkson, Tim Ritchie, Kylie Little, Shevonne Hunt, Sally Knight, Jason Treuen, Max Gosford and Melanie Valkenburg, Southern Cross Austereo)
BEST STATION PRODUCED COMEDY SEGMENT
Country: ‘Tantrum Song’ (Jon Vertigan, Maria Foundas and Richard Kew (3YB, Warrnambool, VIC, ACE Radio Broadcasters
Provincial: ‘Adele Phone Call’ (Adam Barratt, Sea FM, Maroochydore, QLD, EON Broadcasting)
Metro: ‘Avocado’ (Chrissie Swan, Sam Pang and Jonathan Brown, NOVA 100, Melbourne, VIC, NOVA Entertainment)
BEST SHOW PRODUCER – ENTERTAINMENT/MUSIC
Non-metro: Nicole Levey (Tanya & Steve for Breakfast, KOFM, Newcastle, NSW, Southern Cross Austereo)
Metro: Nic McClure (The Kyle & Jackie O Show, KIIS 1065, Sydney, NSW, Australian Radio Network)
BEST SHOW PRODUCER – TALK/CURRENT AFFAIRS
Non-metro: Melissa Mobbs (Tasmania Talks, LAFM, Launceston, TAS, Grant Broadcasters)
Metro: Harriet Glenn (The Ben Fordham Show, 2GB, Sydney, NSW, Macquarie Media Limited)
BEST MUSIC DIRECTOR
Country: Gemma Maddox (Max FM, Taree, NSW, Super Radio Network)
Provincial: Dan Hill (Sea FM, Gold Coast, QLD, Southern Cross Austereo)
Metro: Georgina Ingham-Myers (NOVA 106.9, Brisbane, QLD, NOVA Entertainment)
BEST PROMOTIONS DIRECTOR
Non-metro: Justin Williams (102.9 Hot Tomato, Gold Coast, QLD, Hot Tomato)
Metro: Natali Brabant (KIIS 101.1, Sydney, NSW, Australian Radio Network)
BEST PROGRAM DIRECTOR
Country: Michael Moffett (2CS FM and Star FM, Coffs Harbour, NSW, Southern Cross Austereo)
Provincial: Leigh Kuhlmann (K Rock, Geelong, VIC, Grant Broadcasters)
Metro: Peter Clay (smoothfm, Sydney, NSW, NOVA Entertainment)
BEST DOCUMENTARY
Non-metro: What Is It Like? (Kristen Henry, Mix 106.3, Canberra, ACT, Australian Radio Network/ Southern Cross Austereo)
Metro: Modern Warrior (Merrick Watts, Triple M Network, Southern Cross Austereo)
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN PRODUCTION
Country: Troy McInnes and Brendan Egan (Zinc 96, Gympie, QLD, Grant Broadcasters)
Provincial: Matt Innes (Sea FM, Gold Coast, QLD, Southern Cross Austereo)
Metro: Darcy Milne (NOVA 96.9, Sydney, NSW, NOVA Entertainment)
BEST MUSIC SPECIAL
Country: ‘David Bowie Tribute Special’ (George Mihalos, 2XL, Jindabyne, NSW, Capital Radio Network)
Provincial: ‘Back To The Future Day’ (Drew Chapman and Mark Hales, River 94.9, Ipswich, QLD, Grant Broadcasters)
Metro: ‘Top 500 Smooth Favourites Countdown’ (David Campbell, Peter Clay, Anna Crotti, Glenn Daniel, Simon Diaz, Melissa Doyle, Travis Evans, Ty Frost, Jennifer Hansen, Kate Mason, Georgie Page, Mike Perso, Lauren Saylor, Bogart Torelli, Byron Webb and Richard Wilkins, smoothfm, NOVA Entertainment)
BEST STATION SALES ACHIEVEMENT
Non-metro: KOFM sales team (KOFM, Newcastle, NSW, Southern Cross Austereo)
Metro: ARN Adelaide agency sales (ARN Adelaide, SA, Australian Radio Network)
BEST AGENCY SALESPERSON
Natalia Papas (NOVA 96.9, Sydney, NSW, NOVA Entertainment)
BEST DIRECT SALESPERSON
Country: Kristy Cooper (2DU, Dubbo, NSW, Super Radio Network)
Provincial: Casey Gould (KOFM and NXFM, Newcastle, NSW, Southern Cross Austereo)
Metro: Brendan Blatt (Fox FM and Triple M, Melbourne, VIC, Southern Cross Austereo)
BEST STATION-PRODUCED COMMERCIAL – SINGLE
Country: ‘Everything Goes With Eggs’ (Chris Mueller and Dalwinder Nijjar, 5RM, Riverland, SA, Grant Broadcasters)
Provincial: ‘Dad’s Taxi’ (Ryan Musgrave and Chris Crickmay, Gold FM, Gold Coast, QLD, Southern Cross Austereo)
Metro: ‘Great Scott’ (Jonathan Williams and Chris Gates, Triple M, Melbourne, VIC, Southern Cross Austereo)
BEST STATION-PRODUCED COMMERCIAL – CAMPAIGN
Non-metro: ‘Spot-Go’ (Cameron Horn and Anna Cook, Sea FM, Gosford, NSW, Southern Cross Austereo)
Metro: ‘We Don’t Do Husbands’ (Matt Dickson, Mix 94.5, Perth, WA, Southern Cross Austereo)
BEST SALES PROMOTION
Country: The Running Of The Brides (Power FM, Muswellbrook, NSW, Grant Broadcasters)
Provincial: Carl’s Junior Store Opening (Alana Hall, Cameron Horn and Renee Franckiewicz, Sea FM, Gosford, NSW, Southern Cross Austereo)
Metro: MLA – Operation Boomerang (Andy Milne, Jessica Roach, Eve Crawshaw, Ashley Minchin, Carlie Millican and Shaun Heron, NOVA Entertainment)
BEST MULTIMEDIA EXECUTION – SALES
Kyle & Jackie O’s Haunted House (KIIS 1065 campaigns and content team, KIIS 1065, Sydney, NSW, Australian Radio Network)
BEST MULTIMEDIA EXECUTION – STATION
Non-metro: Rescue With Heart (Heart 107.3, Hobart, TAS, Southern Cross Austereo)
Metro: The Ed Sheeran $2 Peep Show Experiment (Hamish Blake amd Andy Lee, Hit Network, Southern Cross Austereo)
BEST STATION PROMOTION
Country: The Zinc Alice Cooper Golf Day (Cassy Small, Zinc 96, Maroochydore, QLD, Grant Broadcasters)
Provincial: Bay 93.9 Sitar Hero (Bay 93.9, Geelong, VIC, Grant Broadcasters)
Metro: The Race That Slows Down The Nation (Hamish & Andy, Hit Network, Southern Cross Austereo)
BEST COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT
Country: Wimmera Health Care Group Telethon (Emma Elsom and Mark Sulic, 3WM, Horsham, VIC, ACE Radio Broadcasters)
Provincial: i98FM’s Camp Quality Convoy (i98 convoy team, i98FM, Wollongong, NSW, WIN)
Metro: Radiothon 2015 (2UE, Sydney, NSW, Macquarie Media Limited)
BEST NEWCOMER OFF-AIR
Country: Alexis LeMasson (2BS Gold and B-Rock FM, Bathurst, NSW, Bathurst Broadcasters)
Provincial: Nikolina Koveska (The Edge, Katoomba, NSW, Australian Radio Network)
Metro: Jack Charles (NOVA 100, Melbourne, VIC, NOVA Entertainment)
