MEDIA RELEASE EMBARGOED UNTIL 11.59PM 23 AUGUST 2014 Finalists announced for 2014 Commercial Radio Awards Commercial Radio Australia (CRA) today announced finalists in the 26th annual Australian Commercial Radio Awards (ACRAs), which will recognise radio‟s brightest stars from around the country. Last year’s Metropolitan Best On-Air Team FM winners, The Kyle and Jackie O Show (Kyle Sandilands and Jackie Henderson, KIIS 1065, Syd, ARN), who have won four times, are once again up against 2012 winners Jonesy and Amanda (Brendan Jones and Amanda Keller, WSFM, Syd, ARN). Also competing for the title is Rosso On Drive (Tim Ross & Matthew Baseley, KIIS 106.5, Syd & Mix 101.1 FM Melb); Fitzy and Wippa (Nova 96.9 Syd, Nova Entertainment); Kate, Tim & Marty (Kate Ritchie, Tim Blackwell & Marty Sheargold, Nova Network, Nova Entertainment); and Hot Breakfast (Eddie McGuire, Luke Darcy & Mick Molloy, Triple M, Melb, SCA). The Metropolitan Best On-Air Team AM title will be a contest between last year’s two-time winners 3AW Breakfast (Ross Stevenson & John Burns, 3AW, Melb, Fairfax Radio Network) against 3AW Nightline/Remember When (Bruce Mansfield & Phillip Brady, 3AW, Melb, Fairfax Radio); Crunch Time (Anthony Hudson, Dermott Brereton, Robert Walls & Mark Robinson, 1116 SEN, Melb, Pacific Star Network); the George & Paul Show (George Moore & Paul B Kidd, 2UE, Syd, Fairfax Radio Network); and The Continuous Call Team (Ray Hadley, Bob Fulton, Steve Roach & Darryl Brohman, 2GB, Syd, Macquarie Radio Network). This year’s metro finalists for Best Newcomer On-Air include Melissa Doyle (Smooth FM, Syd, Nova Entertainment), Miranda Devine (2GB, Syd, Macquarie Radio Network), Jonathon Moran, Nova Network, Nova Entertainment), Tommy Little (Nova 100, Melb, Nova Entertainment) and Dave Thornton (Fox FM, Melb, SCA). Best Current Affairs Presenter finalists include Neil Mitchell (3AW, Melb, Fairfax Radio Network), Eddie McGuire (Triple M, Melb, SCA), Ray Hadley (2GB, Syd, Macquarie Radio Network) and Ben Fordham (2GB, Syd, Macquarie Radio Network. Other major award categories include: Best News Presenter FM & AM, Best Music Special, Best Sports Presenter, Best Music Presenter, Best Marketing Campaign and Best Digital Radio Format, Long Term, won last year by digital station Buddha Radio (SCA). Regional stations are well represented at the ACRAs with a total of 175 finalists from country, provincial and non-metro stations. Chief executive officer of Commercial Radio Australia, Joan Warner said: “As radio continues to innovate and evolve, the ACRAs remain a highlight on the calendar to recognise industry excellence. Radio colleagues from the smallest to the largest radio stations from around the country gather each year in the spirit of friendly competition. It’s a night to celebrate, be inspired by peers, and be proud of their collective work as an industry.” Entries were received from 260 metropolitan and regional radio stations across Australia. Winners will be announced at a gala black tie event, to be held for the first time at the Melbourne Convention and Entertainment Centre on Saturday, 18 October. About the ACRAs Organised by Commercial Radio Australia on behalf of the radio industry, the national Awards cover 33 categories which 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 with judging panels are comprised of industry members. Winners are announced in each category across three areas: metropolitan, provincial and country commercial radio stations. The ACRAs cap off the National Radio Conference, which will be held the day prior in Melbourne on Friday 17 October. A complete list of the 2014 ACRAs finalists follows. (NB: Hall of Fame announced on the night). 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 #ACRAs2014 Facebook: facebook.com/commercialradioaustralia Instagram: instagram.com/comradioau Media contacts: Melissa Fleming – 0417 499 529 or Vasinee Jordan – 0410 691 161 FINALISTS FOR 2014 AUSTRALIAN COMMERCIAL RADIO AWARDS (ACRAs) Please note: Category Finalists are denoted with the following letters: Country>Provincial>NonMetropolitan>Metropolitan BEST NETWORKED PROGRAM The Classic Cafe; Len Pakot, ACE Radio Broadcasters C OZMADE; Henry James, Grant Broadcasters C Country Today; Sandra Moon, ACE Radio Broadcasters C Workday with Alo Baker; Alo Baker, Southern Cross Austereo C The Noise; Grant Broadcasters P Talking Back the Night; Christian Argenti, Southern Cross Austereo P Soul Sisters; Mel Dee Dzelde, Rebecca Dettman & Jane Donovan, Grant Broadcasters P 20 20 Countdown; Aaron Stevens & Drew Chapman, Grant Broadcasters P Hamish & Andy‟s Happy Hour; Hamish Blake & Andy Lee, Southern Cross Austereo M Fitzy & Wippa‟s Daily Best of; Ryan Fitzgerald & Michael Wipfli, Nova Entertainment M The Ray Hadley Morning Show; Ray Hadley, Macquarie Radio Network M The 3PM Pick Up; Chrissie Swan & Jane Hall, Australian Radio Network M Kate, Tim & Marty; Kate Ritchie, Tim Blackwell & Marty Sheargold, Nova Entertainment M BEST NEWCOMER ON-AIR Ashleigh Blucher; Power FM, Bega NSW, Grant Broadcasters C Kelly Mac; 2CS FM, Coffs Harbour NSW, Southern Cross Austereo C Murray Ryan; Eagle FM, Goulburn NSW, Capital Radio Network C Sarah Miller; Hot FM, Albany WA, Southern Cross Austereo C Mick Newell; 7HO FM, Hobart TAS, Grant Broadcasters P Josh Buckle; K-ROCK, Geelong VIC, Grant Broadcasters P Margie Roser; 2CC, Canberra ACT, Capital Radio Network P Nicholas O‟Hara-Boyd; Sea FM, Gold Coast QLD, Southern Cross Austereo P Melissa Doyle; smoothfm, Sydney NSW, Nova Entertainment M Miranda Devine; 2GB, Sydney NSW, Macquarie Radio Network M Tommy Little; Nova 100, Melbourne VIC, Nova Entertainment M Dave Thornton; Fox FM, Melbourne VIC, Southern Cross Austereo M Jonathon Moran; Nova Network, Nova Entertainment M BEST CURRENT AFFAIRS PRESENTER Mark Parton; 2CC, Canberra ACT, Capital Radio Network NM Luke Bona; 2CC, Canberra ACT, Capital Radio Network NM Sam Hargreaves; 3BO, Bendigo VIC, Southern Cross Austereo NM Stephen Cenatiempo; 2NM, Hunter Valley NSW, Grant Broadcasters NM Neil Mitchell; 3AW, Melbourne VIC, Fairfax Radio Network M Eddie McGuire; Triple M, Melbourne VIC, Southern Cross Austereo M Ben Fordham; 2GB Sydney NSW, Macquarie Radio Network M Ray Hadley; 2GB, Sydney NSW, Macquarie Radio Network M Leon Byner; Fiveaa, Adelaide SA, Nova Entertainment M BEST TALK PRESENTER Craig Huth; 2RE, Taree NSW, Super Radio Network C Anthony Zanos; 2RE, Taree NSW, Super Radio Network C Stephen Cenatiempo; 2NM, Hunter Valley NSW, Grant Broadcasters C Terry Siva; RadioWest, Albany WA, Southern Cross Austereo C Luke Bona; 2CC, Canberra ACT, Capital Radio Network P Mark Parton; 2CC, Canberra ACT, Capital Radio Network P Christian Argenti; Gold FM, Gold Coast QLD, Southern Cross Austereo P Caroline Hutchinson; Mix FM, Maroochydore QLD, EON Broadcasting P Clive Robertson; 2UE, Sydney NSW, Fairfax Radio Network M Tom Elliott; 3AW, Melbourne VIC, Fairfax Radio Network M Neil Mitchell, 3AW, Melbourne VIC, Fairfax Radio Network M Ray Hadley; 2GB, Sydney NSW, Macquarie Radio Network M Ben Fordham; 2GB, Sydney NSW, Macquarie Radio Network M BEST ON-AIR TEAM – METRO FM Jonesy & Amanda; Brendan Jones & Amanda Keller, WSFM, Sydney NSW, Australian Radio Network M The Kyle & Jackie O Show; Kyle Sandilands & Jackie Henderson, KIIS 1065, Sydney NSW, Australian Radio Network M Rosso On Drive; Tim Ross & Matthew Baseley, KIIS 1065 & Mix 101.1, Sydney NSW & Melbourne VIC, Australian Radio Network M Fitzy & Wippa; Ryan Fitzgerald & Michael Wipfli, Nova 96.9, Sydney NSW, Nova Entertainment M Kate, Tim & Marty; Kate Ritchie, Tim Blackwell & Marty Sheargold, Nova Network, Nova Entertainment M Hot Breakfast; Eddie McGuire, Luke Darcy & Mick Molloy, Triple M, Melbourne VIC, Southern Cross Austereo M BEST ON-AIR TEAM – METRO AM Crunch Time; Anthony Hudson, Dermott Brereton, Robert Walls & Mark Robinson, 1116 SEN, Melbourne VIC, Pacific Star Network M The George & Paul Show; George Moore & Paul B Kidd, 2UE, Sydney NSW, Fairfax Radio Network M 3AW Nightline/Remember When; Bruce Mansfield & Philip Brady, 3AW, Melbourne VIC, Fairfax Radio Network M 3AW Breakfast; Ross Stevenson & John Burns, 3AW, Melbourne VIC, Fairfax Radio Network M The Continuous Call Team; Ray Hadley, Bob Fulton, Steve Roach & Darryl Brohman, 2GB, Sydney NSW, Macquarie Radio Network M BEST ON-AIR TEAM COUNTRY & PROVINICIAL Amber & Billo‟s; Amber Wheatland & Michael Billings, Star FM, Mildura VIC, Southern Cross Austereo C Juelz & Jeff; Star FM, Dubbo NSW, Southern Cross Austereo C Mitch & Kellsey; Alex Mitchell & Kellsey Melhuish, Star FM, Dubbo NSW, Southern Cross Austereo C Loz & Jack; Lauren McWhirter & Jack Van der Heyden, Zoo FM, Dubbo NSW, Super Radio Network C EJ & Kel; Elliot Kinsela & Kelly Mac, 2CS FM, Coffs Harbour NSW, Southern Cross Austereo C Mike E & Emma; Mike Etheridge & Emma Chow, The Edge, Sydney NSW, Australian Radio Network P Galey, Matt & Charli; Paul Gale, Matt Acton & Charli Robinson, Sea FM, Gold Coast QLD, Southern Cross Austereo P Breakfast with Tanya Wilks & Steve G; Tanya Wilks & Steve Grahame, KOFM, Newcastle NSW, Southern Cross Austereo P Scotty & Nige; Scott Masters & Nigel Johnson, 104.7, Canberra ACT, ARN/Southern Cross Austereo P Tommy & Candy; Tommy Jackett & Candy Hertz, Star FM, Shepparton VIC, Southern Cross Austereo P BEST ENTERTAINMENT/MUSIC