MEDIA RELEASE 28 AUGUST 2016 Finalists announced for 2016 Radio Awards The finalists in the 28th annual Australian Commercial Radio Awards (ACRAs) were announced today with the hotly contested Best On Air Team FM (Metro) finalists including five-time winners Kyle Sandilands and Jackie Henderson, (The Kyle and Jackie O Show, KIIS 1065, Sydney) up against three-time winners Hamish Blake and Andy Lee (The Hamish & Andy Show, SCA Hit Network). Also competing for the title are Jonesy and Amanda (Brendan Jones and Amanda Keller, WSFM, Sydney) (winners in 2012 and 2014); Kate, Tim & Marty (Kate Ritchie, Tim Blackwell & Marty Sheargold, Nova Network, Sydney); Fifi & Dave (Fifi Box & Dave Thornton, Fox FM, Melbourne); and Chrissie, Sam & Browny (Chrissie Swan, Sam Pang & Jonathan Brown, Nova 100, Melbourne). Kyle and Jackie O won the award in 2006, 2007, 2011, 2013 and 2015, while Hamish and Andy won from 2008 to 2010. The Metropolitan Best On-Air Team AM title will be a contest between four-time winners 3AW Breakfast (Ross Stevenson & John Burns, 3AW, Melb); 3AW Nightline/Remember When (Bruce Mansfield & Phillip Brady, 3AW, Melb); The Big Sports Breakfast with Slats & TK (Michael Slater & Terry Kennedy, Sky Sports Radio, Sydney); Breakfast with Steve Mills & Basil Zempilas (6PR, Perth); and Nights with Steve Price (Steve Price & Andrew Bolt, 2GB, Sydney). 3AW’s Neil Mitchell is a finalist for Best Current Affairs Presenter, which he has won four years running, against Tom Elliott from 3AW; Leon Byner from FIVEaa; Chris Smith from 2GB and Ben Fordham from 2GB. Mitchell is also competing for the Best Talk Presenter award against Chris Smith, Steve Price, Ben Fordham and Jeremy Cordeaux from FIVEaa. Other major award categories include: Best News Presenter FM & AM, Best Sports Presenter and Best Music/Entertainment Presenter, which sees smoothfm weekend breakfast host Melissa Doyle (smoothfm, Nova Entertainment, Sydney) a finalist up against fellow Nova presenters Tim Blackwell and Kent (Smallzy) Small, plus Gordie Waters (KIIS 1065 Sydney), Chris Beckhouse (Triple M, Sydney) and Dave Williams (Triple M, Melbourne). This year’s metro finalists for Best Newcomer On-Air include Olympic Gold medallist Susie O’Neill (Nova 106.9, Bris); Sam Pang (Nova 100, Melb); Sarah Faour (Triple M 105.1, Melb); former Home and Away actor Jason “Finn” Smith (Nova Network); and Julian King (2GB, Syd). Entries were received from 260 metropolitan and regional radio stations across Australia. Stations outside the metropolitan areas are well represented at the ACRAs with more than 200 finalists from country and provincial stations. This year the gala black-tie event will be held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on Saturday, 8 October and will start at 6.00 pm (red carpet 5.00 pm). Chief executive officer of Commercial Radio Australia, Joan Warner said: “Congratulations to all the finalists on the recognition of their work. Live radio is one of the most demanding mediums to work in and takes high level commitment to creating programs that are compelling, revealing and entertaining, day in, day out. The Radio Awards are a night for everyone to come together to celebrate the best in the industry.” Organised by Commercial Radio Australia, the national Awards cover 33 categories. Winners are announced in each category across three areas: metropolitan, provincial and country commercial radio stations, and encompass all areas of commercial radio broadcasting including news, talk, sport, music and entertainment. The ACRAs differ from television’s Logie Awards in that they are peer judged by industry members. The ACRAs follow the National Radio Conference, which will be held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on Friday 7 October. A complete list of the 2016 ACRAs finalists follows. The finalists list is also available on the CRA website: www.commercialradio.com.au For all the latest news, get social with CRA on: Twitter: @ComRadioAU #CRAConf #ACRAs2016 Facebook: facebook.com/commercialradioaustralia Instagram: instagram.com/comradioau Media contacts: Melissa Fleming – 0417 499 529 and Judy Shaw – 0418 415 965. FINALISTS FOR 2016 AUSTRALIAN COMMERCIAL RADIO AWARDS (ACRAs) Please note: Category Finalists are denoted with the following letters: Country>Provincial>Non-Metropolitan>Metropolitan BEST ON-AIR TEAM – METRO FM Kate, Tim & Marty; Kate Ritchie, Tim Blackwell & Marty Sheargold, Nova Network, NOVA Entertainment M The Kyle & Jackie O Show; Kyle Sandilands & Jackie Henderson, KIIS 106.5, Sydney NSW, Australian Radio Network M The Hamish & Andy Show; Hamish Blake & Andy Lee, Hit Network, Southern Cross Austereo M Jonesy & Amanda; Brendan Jones & Amanda Keller, WSFM , Sydney NSW, Australian Radio Network M Fifi & Dave; Fifi Box & Dave Thornton, hit101.9 Fox FM, Melbourne VIC, Southern Cross Austereo M Chrissie, Sam & Browny; Chrissie Swan, Sam Pang & Jonathan Brown, Nova 100, Melbourne VIC, NOVA Entertainment M BEST ON-AIR TEAM – METRO AM FIVEaa Breakfast; David Penberthy & Will Goodings, FIVEaa, Adelaide SA, NOVA Entertainment M 3AW Breakfast; Ross Stevenson & John Burns, 3AW, Melbourne VIC, Macquarie Media Limited M 3AW Nightline/Remember When; Bruce Mansfield & Philip Brady, 3AW, Melbourne VIC, Macquarie Media Limited M The Big Sports Breakfast with Slats & TK; Michael Slater & Terry Kennedy, Sky Sports Radio, Sydney NSW, Tabcorp M Breakfast with Steve Mills & Basil Zempilas; Steve Mills & Basil Zempilas, 6PR, Perth WA, Macquarie Media Limited M Nights with Steve Price; Steve Price & Andrew Bolt, 2GB, Sydney NSW, Macquarie Media Limited M BEST ON-AIR TEAM COUNTRY & PROVINCIAL Bangers & Mash; Janeen Hosemans & Peter Harrison, 2BS Gold, Bathurst NSW, Bathurst Broadcasters C Carly & Dane; Carly Portch & Dane McGuirk, Star FM, Griffith NSW, Southern Cross Austereo C Ryan & Jess; Ryan Warren & Jess Pantou, Star FM, Mount Gambier SA, Southern Cross Austereo C Chris & Juelz; Chris Sewell & Juelz Jarry, Star FM, Dubbo NSW, Southern Cross Austereo C Bryce & Trace; Bryce Ruthven & Tracey Sergiacomi, Hitz939, Bundaberg QLD, Grant Broadcasters C Crystal & Chris; Crystal Vas & Chris Nairn, Power FM, Bega NSW, Grant Broadcasters C Rabbit & Julie Goodwin; Dave Rabbetts & Julie Goodwin, Star 104.5, Gosford NSW, NOVA Entertainment P Galey & Charli; Paul Gale & Charli Robinson, Sea FM, Gold Coast QLD, Southern Cross Austereo P Loz & Todd; Lauren McWhirter & Todd Stevens, Power FM, Nowra NSW, Grant Broadcasters P Mike E & Emma; Michael Etheridge & Emma Chow, The Edge, West Sydney, NSW Australian Radio Network P Flan & Emily Jade for Breakfast; Sean Flanagan & Emily Jade, 102.9 Hot Tomato, Gold Coast QLD, Hot Tomato P Tom & Buckle - Fresh Daily; Tom Lewis & Josh Buckle, K Rock, Geelong VIC, Grant Broadcasters P BEST ENTERTAINMENT/MUSIC PRESENTER Andy Young; Eagle FM, Goulburn NSW, Capital Radio Network C Kris Seabert; Mixx FM, Colac VIC, ACE Radio Broadcasters C Brady Ellis; Magic 89.9, Port Lincoln SA, Grant Broadcasters C Kevin Marsh; 2GZ FM, Orange NSW, Southern Cross Austereo C Christopher Sewell; Star FM, Dubbo NSW, Southern Cross Austereo C Joe Groth; Sea FM, Maroochydore QLD, EON Broadcasting P Dave Rabbetts; Star 104.5, Gosford NSW, NOVA Entertainment P Nikolina Koveska; The Edge, Katoomba NSW, Australian Radio Network P Ross Wallman; Hot FM, Bunbury WA, Southern Cross Austereo P Josh Olek; K Rock, Geelong VIC, Grant Broadcasters P Gordie Waters; KIIS 106.5, Sydney NSW, Australian Radio Network M Chris Beckhouse; Triple M, Sydney NSW, Southern Cross Austereo M Melissa Doyle; smoothfm, Sydney NSW, NOVA Entertainment M Dave Williams; Triple M, Melbourne VIC, Southern Cross Austereo M Tim Blackwell; Nova Network, NOVA Entertainment M Kent ‘Smallzy’ Small; Nova Network, NOVA Entertainment M BEST TALK PRESENTER Kate Vincent-O'Bree; 2BS Gold, Bathurst NSW, Bathurst Broadcasters NM Ardin Beech; 2BS Gold, Bathurst NSW, Bathurst Broadcasters NM Stephen Cenatiempo; 2NM, Muswellbrook NSW, Grant Broadcasters NM Ted Guinea; River1467, Mildura VIC, Grant Broadcasters NM Tim Shaw; 2CC, Canberra ACT, Capital Radio Network P Graeme Day; 2ST, Bowral NSW, Grant Broadcasters P Mark Hyland; Bay 93.9, Geelong VIC, Grant Broadcasters P Dean Mackin; 2HD, Newcastle NSW, Super Radio Network P Brian Carlton; LAFM, Launceston TAS, Grant Broadcasters P Jeremy Cordeaux; FIVEaa, Adelaide SA, NOVA Entertainment M Neil Mitchell; 3AW, Melbourne VIC, Macquarie Media Limited M Chris Smith; 2GB, Sydney NSW, Macquarie Media Limited M Steve Price; 2GB, Sydney NSW, Macquarie Media Limited M Ben Fordham; 2GB, Sydney NSW, Macquarie Media Limited M BEST CURRENT AFFAIRS PRESENTER Tim Shaw; 2CC, Canberra ACT, Capital Radio Network NM Stephen Cenatiempo; 2NM, Muswellbrook NSW, Grant Broadcasters NM Adam Connelly; Power FM, Murray Bridge SA, Grant Broadcasters NM Richard Perno; 2DU, Dubbo NSW, Super Radio Network NM Katie Woolf; Mix 1049, Darwin NT, Grant Broadcasters NM Leon Byner; FIVEaa, Adelaide SA, NOVA Entertainment M Neil Mitchell; 3AW, Melbourne VIC, Macquarie Media Limited M Tom Elliott; 3AW, Melbourne VIC, Macquarie Media Limited M Chris Smith; 2GB, Sydney NSW, Macquarie Media Limited M Ben Fordham; 2GB, Sydney NSW, Macquarie Media Limited M BEST SPORTS PRESENTER Benny Hope; B-Rock, Bathurst NSW, Bathurst Broadcasters NM Nathan Dell; Zinc 96, Gympie QLD, Grant Broadcasters NM Trent Hill; 3YB, Warrnambool VIC, ACE Radio Broadcasters NM Liam Fitzgerald; 3YB & Coast FM, Warrnambool VIC, ACE Radio Broadcasters NM Martin Agatyn; 7AD, Devonport TAS, Grant Broadcasters NM Phil Small;