The new name for the merged Austereo and Southern Cross Media companies is hardly a surprise. It makes sense that the new image combines the original names, because both have strong brand values in the market, making Southern Cross Austereo a logical choice.
To mark the launch of the new company, 200 employees are gathered on the Gold Coast to attend the annual Southern Cross Austereo Conference today.
The new name comes with invigorated brand positioning and a new logo. As well as stills, there is also an animated logo for the company to use on its tv stations.
For advertisers Southern Cross Austereo will now offer integrated solutions and content across a broader range of platforms; national and local radio, regional free-to-air television and digital. The extension of the ‘money can’t buy’ Lady Gaga concert promotion to regional areas is an example of the opportunities the merged group wil be able to offer in future.
Southern Cross Austereo CEO Rhys Holleran is excited about what the merge means for advertisers, with the company now offering 95% reach to all Australians and client alignment with the highest performing regional and metropolitan radio and free to air television station brands and talent.
“Southern Cross Austereo will make media buying across multi-platforms and metropolitan and regional markets even more unified, simplified and streamlined. In terms of our expertise, we now employ 2000 people who are specialists in their field and already they are working together to produce strong results for the company.”
The integration process for the two companies is already well underway on the airwaves, with top rating Today Network radio shows such as Fifi & Jules, Hamish & Andy and Kyle & Jackie O’s Hour of Power successfully merged into the regional Hit Music Network. The company also has a new website.
The new brand and logo “celebrates the uniting of two exciting media entertainment companies” with its creation being led by Southern Cross Austereo’s Head of Marketing and Communications Nikki Clarkson:
“We’ve taken the best of both brands and united them as one, creating a new logo that is familiar yet progressive.
“The colours in the star reflect the spectrum and strength of the entertainment product that Southern Cross Austereo provides and injects a fresh, modern approach to the new entity.”
Each of the colours that appear in the logo represent a sub-brand of the business; Radio, Television, Digital, an Entertainment unit, Research and Sales.
SCM completed its $741 million merger with Austereo in February.
Our insider at the big Gold Coast conference today snapped these pics for radioinfo:
CEO, Rhys Holleran, Director of Entertainment Media Unit, Grant Tothill and Director of Metro Radio, Guy Dobson
NSW Group Content Director, Andrew Very and Head of Content, Craig Bruce
National Sales Director Radio, Cathy Thomas and General Manager Adelaide, James Pederson
Content Director 2Day FM, Derek ‘DB’ Bargwanna and Triple M Sydney Content Director, Jamie Angel
National Executive Producer, Sam Cavanagh and SAFM Content Director, John Bleby
