Bill Caralis has announced that his new digital radio station will bear the unlikely name Gorilla. Gorilla Super Digi will launch very soon on Digital radio and online, adding another station to the growing list of digital radio offerings.
The station name is the brainchild of Caralis, who is the sole owner of the 36 station 2SM Supernetwork, the largest independently owned and operated commercial radio network in NSW.
Caralis has always had a knack of picking “names that stick,” but few would know that he was responsible for convincing Rugby League supremo Peter Moore, to change the name of his then football club the Canterbury Berries to the now very famous Canterbury Bulldogs. Peter Moore was attracted to the name after watching Bill Caralis coach the all conquering, record breaking and undefeated premiership winners, the Marrickville Bulldogs, captained by Bill’s eldest son John.
He also registered the name Supernetwork some 20 years ago foreseeing that one day he would own the largest radio network in NSW and the second largest in Australia. Where did he get the name Super from? Born to Spartan parents Bill says he used to drink and distribute lots of premium branded Super Olive Oil as a youngster and Super was in his mind and registered long before Super League and others came along.
He has always been known to operate outside of the square, be his own man and most definitely a little different from the norm; early indications are that the Gorilla will be no exception.
Caralis says: “All my life I have been wrestling Gorillas in Sydney and they are exhausting me. That’s why I want to launch a new Digital radio station with a format that’s different and encourages the listeners to have plenty of fun with the station when it launches soon… go the Gorilla!”
When Gorilla Super Digi goes to air the Digital radio station will feature a live breakfast show Monday to Friday. It will be broadcast online and on DAB+ Digital radio out of the 2SM Supernetworks Pyrmont studios.
Sponsorship opportunities on the Gorilla are available and several major advertisers are close to signing up for the launch.
2SM is also now on DAB+, streaming online, and on it’s traditional AM frequency, 1269. Caralis is not expected to monkey around with the format of any of his other stations as a result of the new digital brand.
In other digital radio news, ARN has put youth hip hop station The Edge on the digital multiplex in Sydney and plans to also roll it out to other cities in coming weeks. Fairfax Radio plans to introduce music channels when it launches its digital radio offerings next month.