Certified Legendary Thread 1116 SEN 2025 line up
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Mark Fine was Tony Moclairs guest on todays Friday lunch 1-2 on 3aw
that moclair cake concoction was genious,hes a talent is mark,too witty,too cunning,too aware for the drongoes currently running the station
Fineys segment is on
Between , 35:20 - 1:11:20 , of this podcast
Between , 35:20 - 1:11:20 , of this podcast
'Craig Hutchison torched SEN’s financial state after buying radio network, according to former boss
Herald Sun. November 18, 2023Craig Hutchison turned profitable Melbourne radio station SEN broke by overpaying presenters and going on a wild spending spree, according to his former boss, Graham Mott.
Craig Hutchison has turned a profitable radio station into a bottomless money pit by overpaying presenters and going on a wild spending spree, his former boss claims. The embattled sports reporter turned business owner is furiously trying to put out financial fires at his company which owns the SEN radio station network, the Perth Wildcats and a new netball franchise.
Hutchison’s company lost $9.2 million last year and must find a way to pay out a $28 million Commonwealth Bank loan by August next year. His interest rate was expected to at least double when his current loan expires. And industry sources say he’s paying SEN Mornings host Gerard Whateley more than $500,000 a year, even though he’s delivering half the ratings of the man he replaced, Kevin Bartlett. The Richmond legend was paid only $150,000 a year on SEN.
Bartlett rated 4.7 in 2017 before he was moved out of the slot by Hutchison, while Whateley’s results released this week were 2.4, according to radio ratings analysts GfK. Now, radio veteran Graham Mott, who ran 3AW for more than a decade and SEN for six months before Hutchison took over, has questioned his judgement. “They have assets but they have paid too much for them and when I say too much I mean way too much,” he said.
He said he was referring to Sydney 2CH and Brisbane 4QK and “their other so called assets are stations with very low power that rarely get past the main street of the town; we’re not talking about good assets.” Hutchison paid $11.2 million for 2CH in 2020 – double its $5.5 million price tag when it was previously sold in 2017. He handed over $12 million for Brisbane’s 4KQ in 2022.
Both stations were rebranded as part of the SEN network and switched to a sports format. Hutchison also paid $8.5 million in 2021 for the Perth Wildcats, which this week had a “buy one get one free” ticket offer.
Mott was general manager at Melbourne radio powerhouse 3AW between 1995 and 2008. “I fired Hutchy from 3AW in 2007. His performance on air was appalling. I got rid of him,” he said. Mott took over SEN from former chief executive Barrie Quick before Hutchison formally took over the company in January 2018 following a stock market deal. “I left just before (Hutchy arrived); I saw what it produced, it was well set up,” he said.
“I managed SEN for six months after Barrie left. The business was in very good shape and it had a low cost base. It was making a reasonable profit.”
The Herald Sun sent a detailed list of questions to Hutchison on Thursday, and further questions including details of Mott’s comments on Friday. Mott said the decision to hire Whateley to take over SEN’s mornings slot was ill-advised. “Hutchy got rid of people who were performing and replaced them with higher paid people,” he said. “The station got too cerebral. Gerard Whateley is an accomplished broadcaster but his relationship with the SEN audience isn’t there.” Gerard Whateley was contacted for comment about his wage, and Mott’s comments, while Bartlett, 76, declined to comment.
Hutchison grew up in Warragul in country Victoria. He started his journalism career at the Herald Sun’s sport section and also worked as Channel 7’s Melbourne sports reporter. Hutchison took over as host of Channel 9’s Footy Show after the departure of Garry Lyon. Eddie McGuire ended up coming back to the Footy Show in July 2017, replacing Hutchison. Less than six months later, Hutchison was taking control of SEN. He had signed an exclusive agreement with the AFL for the radio rights in a $10 million deal in 2016 – paying double what they were previously worth.
Hutchison was on good terms with former AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan, and was one of a select few invited to an exclusive leaving party in Chapel Street, Melbourne, during grand final week. McLachlan had been in good spirits, roasting Hutchison at an earlier function in September by making a reference to how many advertisements get crammed into SEN programs.
“The Blues thought it was another wasted year and supporters flooded talkback radio to vent their anger; some of you are here tonight,” McLachlan said. “SEN loved it. Hutchy repackaged all the calls and turned them into individual podcast episodes with 10 different sponsors in each one. “Hutchy is the only man I know who called me once for a private chat and we had to stop for an ad break in the middle of the call.”
He hired Richard Simkiss on a $400,000 a year salary at SEN after he had resigned as the AFL’s commercial manager. Hutchison has also purchased the AFL Record and a new netball franchise he has dubbed the Melbourne Mavericks. The netball side will replace the Collingwood netball team, which was linked to the powerhouse AFL club. Collingwood was losing more than $1 million a year on the netball team before it walked away, even though it was able to save costs by using some of the football club’s facilities and administration.
Hutchison said he was unable to respond to a detailed list of questions directly, however said he would have more announcements soon. He also sent out a letter to all staff this week, which was leaked to this masthead, playing down stories about the state of the company’s finances. “These reports highlighted our recent expansion of the national radio footprint, which will better serve our clients and improve our audience reach,” he told staff. “Naturally, this investment incurred significant upfront operational costs and accordingly were reflected in the reported results. “While we’re not immune from some of the macro-economic pressures such as increased inflation or interest rate rises … we’re aware of those and continue to manage the business.”
Hutchison has been a polarising figure in the media, with his business interests followed closely. Mott said the “chickens were coming home to roost”. “If you, over a period of time, make enemies in the media they don’t forget and they cheer like it’s New Year’s Eve when you fall down,” he said.
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One thing I reckon is that, even if there are heaps of sports mad Aussies, there not sports mad enough to listen to a 24-hour sport station. I know blokes who are massively into footy and cricket, but they barely even know what SEN is. Watching a bit of Footy Classified or On The Couch, and listening to some of 3aw on the way home from a game is enough for them
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- May 22, 2006
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Ouch.
The Golden Glenferrie
Norm Smith Medallist
Geraldo hates the unwashed filth. 500k for his waffling. My god
but he unearthed margaret,karen and John Setka,surely those accomplishments have made it all worth it,wouldnt you say craig ?
- May 22, 2006
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When he says "very low power that rarely get past the main street of the town", is he referring to those stations' reception (transmittors)? Because I know that in Perth, once you get a few kilometres out of the city or pass under a bridge, SEN just fades out and becomes a crackling mess. I thought it would be better in Sydney & Brisbane given that they were existing radio assets? Actually, he says "other assets" - so I am assuming he's taking about Perth, Adelaide, Tassie.
Perth Wildcats for $8.5 million seems cheap compared to a couple of radio stations for $23 million that are rating <1. Although the Wildcats have had their worst seasons in living memory since Hutchy bought them.
- Jun 14, 2017
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What does Mott propose, employing KB and deadwood like Kevin Hillier up until they are in a retirement home, and beyond, having Mai Lin try and set up the Codec whilst looking for Kev's teeth ? 
Come on. And in terms of live sport, how is Mott's old baby AW going nowadays? How about commenting on that you w***er
Come on. And in terms of live sport, how is Mott's old baby AW going nowadays? How about commenting on that you w***er
Low transmitting power.
Some of the narrowcast frequencies Hutchy purchased are limited to either 1 watt of transmission power (if located in a residential area) or 10 watts of transmission power (if located in a non-residential area).
Other frequencies are on the X-band (1611, 1620 or 1629 AM) which are limited to 400 watts, and can suffer from interference (i.e. 1611am's frequency in Melbourne - owned by UCB - was clear in Melbourne's west, but was drowned out by 1620am in Melbourne's east)
Is that you Craig?What does Mott propose, employing KB and deadwood like Kevin Hillier up until they are in a retirement home, and beyond, having Mai Lin try and set up the Codec whilst looking for Kev's teeth ?
- May 22, 2006
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Hutchy said this morning that he expects Tom Morris will continue with a role at SEN next year.
Will be interesting to see how those discussions play out.
Will be interesting to see how those discussions play out.
I didn't get the sense SEN was ever in great shape. KB's time was up. I think what Hutchy has set up is great but probably not sustainable.
I hope they work though it, it is a large employer and gives alot of new people opportunities.
I'd rather live radio than a comedian going in to a FM station and pre recording a week's worth of shows in a few hours.
I hope they work though it, it is a large employer and gives alot of new people opportunities.
I'd rather live radio than a comedian going in to a FM station and pre recording a week's worth of shows in a few hours.
gonzothekid
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- Jul 22, 2021
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To be fair, Mott’s comments are quite fair and reasonable criticism.
Whether people like KB or not, he resonated with his audience, engaged with them fairly well especially if they spewed out rubbish. Not to mention covering many different sports.
Mondays is all but unlistenable especially during the season with Kingy essentially taking over just reading off Champion Data numbers.
Biggest problem is Hutchy is trying to grow the business from what it seems is for the sake of growing it without any sort of plan of action
Whether people like KB or not, he resonated with his audience, engaged with them fairly well especially if they spewed out rubbish. Not to mention covering many different sports.
Mondays is all but unlistenable especially during the season with Kingy essentially taking over just reading off Champion Data numbers.
Biggest problem is Hutchy is trying to grow the business from what it seems is for the sake of growing it without any sort of plan of action
That is a balanced and fair post
Kevin Hillier has lost the plot so i wouldn't worry about him . KB's wife is not well so he wouldn't be back either . What would Wayne be on ? GW is a w anker of the highest order and half a Mill ffs ! . De Stoop and Edmund have been good fill ins and they have the same content without getting massive $'sWhat does Mott propose, employing KB and deadwood like Kevin Hillier up until they are in a retirement home, and beyond, having Mai Lin try and set up the Codec whilst looking for Kev's teeth ?
Yes, I can't remember who or what station, but someone suggested recently that KB's wife is in bad shape
peternorth
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- May 6, 2005
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how about interview/segment replays during the day/night?
- Jun 29, 2014
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I don’t know. Hillier is pretty good on his podcast with Finey and Brian mannix…
I’d lov to know what Hutchy pays his great mate pickers and wouldn’t surprise if he has that old duck Margaret on a retainer as well… does he still give it the morning sweetheart?
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He has lost the plot believe me , have ssen him a few times at my local making a #### out of himself .
Sounds like Hutchy is the new age Alan Bond.
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