Gary Roberts (radio broadcaster)

Gary Phillip Roberts AM (born 31 March 1952) is managing director of Perth, Western Australia, radio station 96FM (call sign: 6NOW) having joined it 12 months after leaving the helm of rival Perth radio station Nova 93.7[1]. He started his radio career in the late 1960s at 3AW in Melbourne. He spent nine years on air with a number of stations including 5AD in Adelaide, 2UW in Sydney and 6KY in Perth before moving into programming. As a programme director, he programmed four stations to No 1 in their respective markets including a record run of 34 consecutive No 1 surveys with 96FM, which he launched in 1980. He was general manager of 96FM from 1984 to 1992 when he left to take over the same role at 94.5FM in Perth.

Gary Roberts
Born
Gary Phillip Roberts

(1952-03-31) 31 March 1952
Australia
OccupationBroadcaster
Years active1969–present
Spouse(s)Wendy
ChildrenMatthew Roberts, Erin Roberts

Roberts and his team quickly transformed 94.5FM (now MIX 94.5) from a poor No 5 to a strong No 1 in the Perth marketplace. In August 1993, 94.5FM purchased PMFM (now 92.9) from Kerry Packer, and Roberts was appointed managing director of both stations. Under his guidance, 92.9 and MIX 94.5 dominated the Perth radio market being the No 1 and No 2 stations while Roberts was in charge.

In 1997, Austereo purchased 92.9 and MIX 94.5 for $100,000,000 and Roberts remained as managing director.[2] Roberts was a director of the peak radio industry body for eight years, including three years as chairman of Commercial Radio Australia. This is the industry association for commercial radio representing the interests of 235 member stations nationally, including the major networks of Southern Cross Austereo, Australian Radio Network, Nova Entertainment, Fairfax and Macquarie.[3]

In 2002, Roberts resigned as managing director of Austereo Perth and after a brief holiday in Italy, accepted the role of managing director of Perth's first new commercial FM radio station in 22 years, Nova 93.7.[4]

Nova 93.7 was launched on 5 December 2002 and in its first survey in 2003, was No 1 with its core demographics. Today, Nova 93.7 is Number 1 overall and has more listeners than any other Perth radio station in history with a record of over 600,000 each week and is No 1 Under 40, Under 50 and Under 60. In April 2018, it was announced that Roberts had resigned from that role effective from the beginning of July 2018.[5].#

The launch of the Nova Network across Australia was one of the most successful brands launched in Australian radio history.[6] Roberts in now CEO of Digital Investments Pty Ltd.

In the 2020 Australia Day Honours, Roberts was appointed Member of the Order of Australia for "significant service to broadcast media, particularly to radio".[7][8]

References
  1. Wilson, Zanda (9 April 2019). "Gary Roberts returns to 96FM as managing director". RadioToday. Archived from the original on 26 June 2019. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
  2. Reading, John (September 1997). "Business as usual for radio stations says Gary Roberts l". Campaign Brief.
  3. Radio Australia, Commercial (October 2002). "Media Releases l". CRA Website. Archived from the original on 9 March 2010.
  4. Rheem, Peter (20 June 2003). "Nova Disrupts Perth Radio Market BandT". BandT. Archived from the original on 30 November 2005.
  5. Smith, Sean (21 April 2018). "Nova 93.7's Gary Roberts over but not out". Perth Now.
  6. Thompson, Hayley (1 December 2009). "New part owner of Nova 93.7, Lachlan Murdoch, to visit Perth l". Perth Now.
  7. "Gary Phillip Roberts". honours.pmc.gov.au. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  8. Steger, Aarah (25 January 2020). "Australia Day Honours". Sunday Times.
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