Macquarie Sports Radio


Macquarie Sports Radio was a short-lived Australian commercial radio network broadcasting to Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth. Owned and operated by Macquarie Media, the network launched on 4 April 2018, replacing Talking Lifestyle. Following the acquisition of Macquarie Media by Nine Entertainment Co., programs outside of live sports commentary were suspended in October 2019, and on 1 February 2020 the network ultimately ceased broadcasting.

History

On 2 March 2018, Radioinfo reported that Talking Lifestyle would cease broadcasting on 30 March, and be replaced by a sports radio format. Macquarie Sports Radio launched on 4 April 2018, with live coverage of the 2018 Commonwealth Games. Reflecting the geographical difference in the popularity of Australian sporting codes, the network broadcast two separate breakfast programs—hosted by John Stanley and Beau Ryan in Sydney and Brisbane, and Tony Leonard, Tony Shaw and Jimmy Bartel in Melbourne and Perth. Other presenters at launch included David Morrow, Tiffany Cherry, Mieke Buchan, Shane McInnes, Sam Stove, David Schwarz and Mark Allen.
The network retained Macquarie Radio's test cricket, Big Bash League and One Day International rights. Coverage of the Australian Football League was broadcast into the northern markets—all games featuring Sydney Swans and Greater Western Sydney Giants were broadcast in Sydney, and all games featuring Brisbane Lions and Gold Coast Suns were broadcast in Brisbane. In Melbourne, the network broadcast National Rugby League matches featuring the Melbourne Storm.
The network's initial ratings performance was poor. In Sydney, the final GfK ratings survey for Talking Lifestyle recorded the breakfast show as reaching 4.4% of all listeners. By the second survey of Macquarie Sports Radio, this figure had fallen to 0.7%. In July, Beau Ryan had departed the Sydney and Brisbane breakfast show, replaced by Mark Riddell.
In January 2019, significant programming changes were announced. The two breakfast shows would be merged into one, presented by Riddell and Mark Levy. On weekends, additional AFL and NRL coverage would be added, sourced from sister stations 3AW, 6PR and 2GB. In August, Macquarie Sports Radio was named the exclusive Australian radio broadcast partner of the English Premier League, syndicating live commentary from Talksport.

Closure

Despite the changes, the network continued to rate poorly. On 29 October, Macquarie Media announced that its sports talk shows would cease production from 1 November 2019. However, the station continued to broadcast live cricket and the Premier League, and on 4 November Macquarie Media announced it would reinstate Schwarz and Allen's drive program.
Following Nine Entertainment Co.'s acquisition of Macquarie Media, in January 2020 it was confirmed the network would cease broadcasting, with each station to revert to its pre–2016 branding. On 2 February 2020, the stations were re-launched as 2UE, 4BH and Magic 1278 with a classic hits music format.

Sports coverage

Macquarie Sports Radio has exclusive and non-exclusive rights to various sports in Australia, although coverage varies by market:
Australian rules football
Cricket
Football
Horse racing
Rugby league
Macquarie Sports Radio was broadcast via 3 full power AM stations.
Call signFrequencyBroadcast areaERP
W		Transmitter coordinatesNotes
2UE954 AMSydney5,000Locally branded as Macquarie Sports Radio 954
3EE1278 AMMelbourne5,000Locally branded as Macquarie Sports Radio 1278
4BH882 AMBrisbane, Queensland5,000Locally branded as Macquarie Sports Radio 882

Each station was simulcast on DAB+ digital radio in their respective markets. Melbourne programming was also heard on digital radio in Perth.