Takeover bids for Nine Radio are due today, Mumbrella understands, with a number of potential suitors ready to lob their offers.

Nine Radio consists of four talk-back stations on the AM dial — 2GB in Sydney, 3AW in Melbourne, 4BC in Brisbane, and 6PR in Perth — and has reportedly received interest from over a dozen interested buyers.

In September, following the sale of Domain, Nine boss Matt Stanton confirmed the company had fielded “a number of unsolicited offers” for its radio network, and said it is undertaking a strategic review into the assets.

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Among the reported suitors is a consortium of buyers led by advertising guru John Singleton, who held a 32.2% stake in Macquarie Media, which he sold to Nine in 2019 for $80m. The Australian has reported numerous times that Singleton’s offer to Nine was between $25m-$30m.

Australian Digital Holdings, which James Packer has a financial interest in, reportedly made a bid last month that valued Nine’s radio arm at $42m, while it is understood that Sports Entertainment Network and Global Traffic Network, parent company of Australian Traffic Network, were teaming up for a bid. This may prove difficult, given that Peter Tonagh is chair of both Nine and GTN.

John Singleton is looking at taking over Nine Radio

This has been quite a transitional year for Nine’s radio division.

In January, Nine split into three consumer-focused divisions: streaming and broadcast; publishing; and marketplaces. Nine Radio falls under the streaming and broadcasting arm, led by former Foxtel executive Amanda Laing.

Nine’s director of audio sales Ashley Earnshaw announced in May he would be stepping down at the end of June, after making the “tough decision to leave a business that is primed for growth”. He joined Nova as the network’s new group commercial director.

In July, Nine reshaped its sales operation within audio, with Brian Gallagher, former chair of Boomtown and chief sales officer at Southern Cross Austereo, joining as Nine’s commercial director of audio.

Bolster’s head of media Jonathan Mandel (previously head of digital at SCA’s Listnr) joined Nine Audio as national head of digital sales in late September. Rick Lenarcic, former national head of direct sales, moved into head of sales operations.

Brian Gallagher

Amanda Unwin was appointed of as Sydney sales director, longtime SCA executive Christine Lester joined Nine Audio as Melbourne sales director in mid-August, while Michael Graham was added as Brisbane sales director in the same month, coming across from Car Expert, where he held a commercial leadership role.

Noel Quick, former group business director at Nine Perth, transitioned to sales director of Nine Audio at the start of October.

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