Veteran sports broadcaster Francis Leach has been appointed sports editor at The New Daily.

B and T reported that Leach accepted the job on account of being a long-time reader of the website. He brings up to 30 years’ experience of covering sports to the table, which includes hosting ABC Grandstand and shows over on SEN 1116.

“Francis has a depth of experience, insight and peripheral understanding that is hard to find in sports journalism. We are thrilled he’s coming on board to challenge our readers to think differently about the sports they love,” said The New Daily managing director/publisher Paul Hamra.

South Australia’s sporting community will have their own dose of the latest sports news, with Sports Entertainment Network’s new station, SEN SA 1629.

Scheduled to go live on December 6, 2018, SEN SA offers round-the-clock sports updates. One of the headliner shows to be covered that day will be the India-Australia Test cricket match at the Adelaide Oval. The station will also broadcast all 59 Big Bash games.

SEN chief cricket commentator Gerard Whateley is already onboard for the cricket broadcast. Port Adelaide ace Kane Cornes will host a breakfast show, with a co-host to be announced soon.   

“South Australia is a parochial state and 1629 SEN SA will deliver thousands of hours of local content each year across all sports. That’s content made in Adelaide for South Australians… Around 40,000 South Australians are already 1116 SEN listeners remotely, so a 24-7 sports talk station for SA was the natural extension,” said Pacific Star Netw

James Taylor has been officially confirmed as SBS’ new managing director, after over two weeks in an acting capacity.

SBS board chairman Dr Bulent Hass Dellal said Taylor landed the position due to his media experience and in-depth knowledge of the network, from operations to finance. He was also lauded for developing strong relations with the executive panel and the network’s production teams, especially in important projects.

Taylor joined the company in 2012 as head of corporate finance but was promoted to CFO the following year. He was appointed acting MD in the wake of Michael Ebeid’s departure this month. He had been previously employed by Deloitte Australia, BT, and ABC, where he served seven years as corporate development chief.

“With the continually changing face of modern Australia, and in a landscape of polarised views and debate, the value of an independent and trusted public broadcaster committed to helping Australians understand each other bette

Sam Cavanagh has wrapped up 16 years of service at Southern Cross Austereo (SCA).

The executive producer of Triple M show Kennedy Molloy said he was leaving to take up a job in the advertising industry. He is currently on service leave until January 2019, when he is expected to stay for one more week and make the transition.

Cavanagh is well-known for working his way up the ladder at SCA. He started with taking calls on The Tracey and Matt Show and became executive producer for The Shebang with Marty and Fifi and The Hamish & Andy Show, before launching Kennedy Molloy. He also worked as SCA’s national EP, training other aspiring producers.

“We could not have wished for a better EP to help launch Kennedy Molloy and we wish Sam all the very best in his new adventure,” said hosts Mick Molloy and Jane Kennedy.

SCA-Melbourne GM Dave Cameron said Cavanagh had always stepped up to bring out the potential of everybody he works with.

The major players in Australia’s radio industry will work together for developing the podcast scene.

Commercial Radio Australia CEO Joan Warner said at the Radio Alive national conference that all commercial broadcasters, ABC, and SBS have agreed to join a Podcast Working Group. The new body will design and implement a full blueprint for the podcasting industry, with various mechanisms in place to cover podcasting elements such as content creation, market research, and audience engagement.

NOVA Entertainment CEO Cath O’Connor will helm the new group.

The announcement came off the heels of Edison Research’s Infinite Dial Australia report earlier this year, which tagged 13% of Australians as tuning into podcasts during a certain week prior.

“Australia's multicultural communities continue to embrace SBS's language podcast services, delivering rapid growth in consumption. We welcome the opportunity to collaborate with the broader radio industry to provid

Bauer Media GM of publishing for fashion, luxury, food, and home Fiorella di Santo has given her notice.

Bauer Media ANZ CEO Paul Dykzeul said she will step down at the end of the month. He also praised her for her efforts to help Bauer Media acquire magazines Inside Out and Country Style, and website Homelife.com.au, from NewsCorp Australia.

Di Santo had been at Bauer for the past two years, joining up as director of sales and landing the publishing GM job during the reorganisation after the closure of BauerWorks.

“I’ve enjoyed my time at Bauer, working on beautiful brands and learning from some of the most creative and talented people in the industry. Having been involved in the homes title acquisition from News and part of the team that celebrated key milestones such as Australian House and Garden’s 70th birthday and Harper’s BAZAAR’s 20th anniversary has been a real highlight. Now feels like the right time to do other things. I wish the Bauer team

Michael Mason has ended his time with ABC as its regional and local content director.

The executive said in a staff email that he is leaving behind a successful 34-year career when the resignation takes effect in December 2018 and wants to “pass the baton” to a new leader. He however stressed that his departure is not connected with that of former managing director Michelle Guthrie and chairman Justin Milne. 

Mason is a seasoned figure within ABC, particularly in the radio division. He was manager of ABC Local Radio in Canberra from 1994 to 1997 then rose to the national managership of ABC Local Radio and group program director at ABC Radio from 2000 to 2011. He served as ABC Radio director then transitioned to the content directorship under the recent company reorganisation.

ABC specialist content chief Judith Whelan is appointed acting regional and local content director pending a permanent selection in the coming weeks. Acting ABC managing director David Anderson