What's New
BY Sarah Patterson April 19, 2024
What's New June 5, 2020
ACE Radio to purchase 1377AM Melbourne from Pacific Star
ACE Radio CEO Mark Taylor
Craig Hutchison’s Pacific Star Network has offloaded 1377AM Melbourne to Regional broadcaster ACE Radio Network for an undisclosed sum.
ACE confirmed the deal includes an associated DAB+ spectrum in Melbourne.
“The addition of a Melbourne radio station to the ACE Radio network is a positive move for the growth and future of our company,” ACE chief executive Mark Taylor said in a statement.
“There will be exciting opportunities offered to our existing staff to be a part of this new Melbourne radio station.
“The acquisition of an extra radio station and the additional advertising revenue will help ACE Radio’s recovery from the COVID-19 crisis now and into the future.”
Taylor also said the network will share more details on the name, format direction and commencement date of the new AM and Stereo DAB+ Melbourne radio station in the near future.
The independent radio operator confirmed the acquisition after SEN announced today that it has purchased 2CH Sydney and three narrowcast license for its SENtrack network.
The purchase of 2CH and three narrowcast licences will set Pacific Star back by around $11.2 million cash, and EON – owners of 2CH – will receive 10 million shares in Pacific Star.
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What's New
BY Sarah Patterson April 19, 2024
Well done, ACE have been circling 3MP for some time and now it is time to strike. I am sure they will make it a successful operation.
What a great opportunity for the new owners ACE, to bring back music on 1377, similar to MYMP or Classic Rock.
As long as ACE Radio are realistic and don’t seek to go head to head with the established FM commercial stations in Melbourne (FOX, MMM, GOLD, NOVA, KIIS, Smooth,etc) 1377AM can be a success if the right format is chosen. Personally I think a 60’s, 70’s and 80’s Jukebox party music format playing all the great classic rock n roll, disco and other pop songs people can dance too with the occasional love song that isn’t too soft or sickly sweet (or anthem songs like “Hey Jude” by The Beatles) would work. Some of these song types would also be getting played across other stations like MMM Classic Rock/MMM Greatest Hits on DAB+ radio, Smooth, Magic 1278, Gold 104.3 and on 3GG AM 531 for anyone listening in Pakenham or the nearby West Gippsland/La Trobe Valley areas…but to have what I suggested may find a steady audience in Melbourne metro for Generation X listeners over 40 years of age like myself and most baby boomers. I wish ACE radio staff best of luck with their new station.
Totally agree. A 60s, 70s, 80s format with the occasional 50s (Buddy Holly, Everly Bros., Chuck Berry etc.) classic thrown in similar to what MYMP were doing when Eddie Olek, John Tamb were there. Maybe have Shawn Cosgrove on breakfast and consider bringing back Geoff Cox with his Saturday Night Jukebox. Magic 1278 are on the right track but tend to ignore much of the 60s music. But what a great moment in the radio world to have our beloved 3MP back (which has a superior signal to 1278) even if it goes by another name. ACE radio’s stock in trade is classic hits so I think we’re in good hands.
I’d love to see 1377 take a classic rock direction with a twist. Rather than playing “top 40” traditional classic rock playlist, such as that on MMM Classic, why not try a more bluesy and singer songwriter approach, such a Mark Knopfler, Chris Hillman, Jason Isbell, Trampled Under Foot, etc. Everyone plays AC/DC, Led Zepplin, Pear Jam etc, but if the playlist is directed at people looking beyond the usual playlist, I think they could find a whole new audience that currently resorts to Spotify to get their music.
Great news for a diversity of media ownership. A rare opportunity and ideal for Ace Radio Network.
Whether they rename it 3MP or start from fresh, this much neglected AM license (with its DAB + allocation on top) has suddenly gone from being the afterthought in an duo with SEN to being a potential jewel in the crown of an expansive statewide network.
Good Luck with the revival of 3MP. If you are looking for an example of how to run a successful format, please listen in to Cruise 1323 in Adelaide. They have it down perfectly and have given the top commercial talk back station a run for its money. All the best.