| Broadcast Operations Group | |
| Type: | Private company |
| Location Country: | Australia |
| Key People: | Bill Caralis |
| Industry: | Broadcast radio |
Broadcast Operations Group is an Australian media company, operating radio stations across various centres across regional New South Wales and Queensland, Australia. Branded as the Super Radio Network, stations carry one of two formats – a news talk and classic hits format based at 2SM Sydney; and a hot adult contemporary format based at New FM Newcastle.
In June 2019, the Group acquired 2BS and B-Rock FM in Bathurst from local proprietors Ron and Stephanie Camplin. 2BS immediately replaced its broadcast of The Ray Hadley Morning Show with The John Laws Show, syndicated from 2SM.[1]
On 19 July 2024, founder and owner Bill Caralis died as a result of a heart attack at the age of 81.[2]
As of, Broadcast Operations Group operates 42 radio stations. 22 of these stations form their AM network, mostly broadcast on AM radio and featuring local news, music and syndicated talkback programming.
A further 16 stations form the FM network, broadcast mainly on FM radio with adult contemporary music and syndicated programming:
In addition, the Group broadcasts four stations on DAB+ digital radio in Sydney, alongside simulcasting 2SM:
The BOG was cited in several instances during a Senate Inquiry into Regional Radio. There had been concerns raised as to loss of localism due to networking of radio stations. Bill Caralis was asked to appear several times at various hearings around the country, but never attended.http://www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/cita/regional_radio/radioreport.html
In October 2009, Broadcast Operations Group was named by the ABC's Media Watch program for failing to provide sufficient local content as stipulated by ACMA licence conditions. Media Watch identified three stations; 2HC Coffs Harbour, 2EL Orange and Radio 531 Port Macquarie, which all took the Grant Goldman breakfast show feed out of 2SM in Sydney and failed to meet local content conditions. In response to enquiries by Media Watch, Caralis stated that he believed local news, weather and community announcements played during the Grant Goldman program was sufficient to meet ACMA's licence conditions. As a result, ACMA launched an investigation into the matter. As of November 2009, this investigation was ongoing, however, as of 30 November 2009, the three aforementioned stations commenced broadcasting a three-hour locally produced program from 12 pm weekdays.[3]
Broadcast Operations Group has often been accused of a reluctance to pay experienced staff to cut operating costs.[4]
In September 2009, Broadcast Operations Group was found to have underpaid a journalist and has been ordered to make a $10,000 back payment. The journalist, who was studying communications at a Gold Coast university, worked part-time over a two-year period in the newsroom for Tweed Heads radio station Radio 97 was graded as a cadet. The Fair Work Ombudsman found that the Journalist was performing tasks that would normally be given to a Grade 1, Band 1 journalist under the Commercial Radio Journalists Award.