Nova 96.9 this week celebrates it’s 15th birthday! Mediaweek covered the launch of Nova in detail in April 2001.
DMG Radio chief executive Paul Thompson was featured as Person of the Week for one of many times he has been profiled in the publication. He was questioned about the wisdom of paying $150m for the Sydney licence and then another $10m in startup costs. “I thought it was a full price,” he said.
Elsewhere in the magazine we had what was, back then, a rare photo feature. But with such a good-looking launch team, we couldn’t ignore them and their launch T-shirts.
A very youthful Merrick and Rosso were the spearhead hosting breakfast. The rest of the team on-air included Matt Thomas, Corey Layton, Biance Dye, Dave Rabbetts, Kip Wightman and Ugly Phil.
The news team, also donning T-shirts, included David Eccleston, Monique Dews, Andrew Martin, Virginia Dew, Katrina Blowers and Mandy Wicks. Sharing management duties with Thompson back then were GM Larry Bruce and group PD Dean Buchanan.
Look closely and you will TEN teenage entertainment reporter Angela Bishop with Rosso.
Happy birthday, Nova.
