As networks approach the end of the year, some are taking the opportunity to tighten up and restructure internal business units.

ARN has restructured some of its sales functions (see other story) and Southern Cross Austereo has quietly killed off EMU, its Entertainment and Media Unit.
 
Head of Television and EMU General Manager Ben Parsons is set to leave the company and plans to work on some international projects. Director of Flying EMU Grant Tothill has been redeployed to other functions within SCA.
 
Several other staff positions in the small unit have not been filled in the past few months as people moved on to other jobs and any remaining staff who are left after the unit is shut down are expected to be redeployed somewhere else within Austereo.

With SCA’s growth as a converged radio, tv and online media company, the functions of the EMU unit are now being handled within other sections of the company.

The unit was introduced in 2011, with SCA telling radioinfo at the time: Flying EMU will work across the entire company, “maximising all available radio and TV assets to deliver creative entertainment media solutions for clients.” It will also look at developing new ideas for radio, TV, social, online and digital radio to help drive new revenue opportunities.