Midwest Radio Network

Midwest Radio Network is an Australian media company whose origins lie in regional commercial radio broadcasting in Lithgow, New South Wales. The business was established on 7 June 1938 under the name Lithgow Broadcasters Pty Ltd after receiving approval to establish a radio service in the Lithgow area. Its first station, 2LT, began broadcasting in July 1939 as part of the Macquarie Central Western Network. The station was developed for a regional audience west of Sydney and became the company’s central operating asset for much of its early history. The company’s launch was preceded by substantial construction work at Bowenfels, including the building of a studio and transmission facilities. The installation of the original aerial mast encountered serious technical problems when a pulley failure caused the partly completed structure to buckle and collapse. A replacement mast was subsequently erected, with assistance from Lithgow State Mine manager and future Lithgow mayor Bob Fullagar. 2LT was officially opened on 2 July 1939 by Australian Minister for Customs J. N. Lawson. During the 1940s and 1950s, 2LT served as both a commercial broadcaster and a local information channel. It carried news services, emergency warnings, community appeals, sporting coverage and public-interest announcements. The station operated during a period when broadcasting was closely regulated by the Australian government. In 1940, authorities restricted the station’s ability to broadcast remarks by two Western Mining Federation members during a national coal strike, requiring prior approval of scripts relating to industrial matters. The episode reflected the political and wartime pressures affecting Australian radio at the time. Ownership changed several times. The company was initially associated with Western Newspapers Pty Ltd. In the 1970s it was acquired by Transcontinental Broadcasting Company Limited, which was purchased by Broadcast Investments Pty Limited in 1979. Later in 1979, Lithgow Broadcasters was transferred to interests associated with John McEvoy of the Metro Hotels group. The company adopted the name Midwest Radio Network Pty Ltd on 21 June 1984. In 1986, Midwest became a major shareholder in Midwest Radio Limited, a newly created Australian Securities Exchange-listed company into which radio interests were transferred. Midwest Radio Limited pursued a broader regional and international broadcasting strategy during the 1980s and 1990s, including investments connected with radio stations in New Zealand and FM operations in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Bahrain. Midwest Radio Network also expanded its local radio offering in 1996 by launching the FM station Kiss FM alongside 2LT. The relationship with Midwest Radio Limited changed after the listed company was absorbed through a reverse takeover involving Unitel. The public company was later renamed Media Corporation Australia Limited. Following these changes, Midwest Radio Network reduced its involvement with the listed company’s radio assets and increasingly concentrated on online news portals and other digital media activities. Media Corporation Australia entered liquidation in 2006 and asked Midwest Radio Network to appoint a receiver for associated radio assets. After unsuccessful attempts to sell the stations, Midwest terminated the receivership in 2010 and resumed control of the broadcasting operations. The company’s broadcasting activities have included technical and coverage initiatives intended to improve reception in the Lithgow and Blue Mountains areas. In 2008, the Australian Communications and Media Authority proposed variations to the technical specifications of the company’s stations that would have enabled more residents in the Blue Mountains to receive its services. Midwest’s radio operations have also received industry recognition, including a 1997 Rawards award for a 2LT road-safety campaign. The broader business has combined traditional regional radio wi…

Midwest Radio Network began as Lithgow Broadcasters Pty Ltd on 7 June 1938, when the company received approval to establish the 2LT radio service in Lithgow, New South Wales. The original proposal included a possible ten-year lease to the Professional Radio Employees Institute, which would have made the station an unusual union-owned broadcasting venture, but that arrangement did not proceed. The company instead built its own facilities, including a studio at Bowenfels and a transmission mast. Construction of the first mast was delayed by an accident in which a pulley failure caused the partly erected structure to collapse. A replacement mast was built and installed with assistance from Bob Fullagar, then manager of the Lithgow State Mine and later mayor of Lithgow. 2LT commenced broadcasting in July 1939 and was formally opened on 2 July by J. N. Lawson, the federal Minister for Customs. It initially operated as part of the Macquarie Central Western Network. The station quickly became an important local communications channel. In addition to regular entertainment programming, it provided news, public warnings, appeals and community announcements. Six months after launch, the station was threatened by bushfires but escaped damage. During the Second World War, it operated under the constraints of government broadcasting policy. In May 1940, the Postmaster-General barred two Western Mining Federation members from speaking on the station without prior script approval and extended the restriction to certain industrial commentary by the station itself. The order occurred during a major coal strike centred on the Lithgow region and reflected official concerns about wartime production, industrial unrest and alleged communist influence. From 1942, 2LT received news through an arrangement between the Australian Broadcasting Commission and the Federation of Commercial Broadcasters. A proposed commercial news service relayed from 2GB and arranged with The Sydney Morning Herald was later subject to government intervention, with the authorities seeking to preserve the existing ABC news arrangement. The station also participated in nationally networked sporting broadcasts, including a large 1946 boxing hookup, and supported charitable and emergency initiatives such as the Food for Britain appeal, flood-relief collections and bushfire volunteer mobilisation. Ownership evolved alongside the consolidation of Australian media. The company was initially a subsidiary of Western Newspapers Pty Ltd. By the early 1950s, its ownership was linked to Mirror Pictorial Assets and the UK-based Mirror Newspaper Group. Legislation passed in 1952 restricted foreign control of Australian radio stations, leading Mirror to reduce its holding in Midwest and several other stations. Associated Television and John Fairfax later became connected with the company’s ownership. In the 1970s, Midwest was acquired by Transcontinental Broadcasting Company Limited, which was purchased by Broadcast Investments Pty Limited in 1979. Later that year the business was transferred to interests associated with John McEvoy and the Metro Hotels group. The corporate name changed to Midwest Radio Network Pty Ltd in June 1984. In 1986, its radio interests were placed into Midwest Radio Limited, a newly formed company listed on the Australian Securities Exchange. The public company pursued a wider broadcasting strategy, including interests in regional New Zealand radio and FM projects in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Bahrain. Midwest Radio Network expanded its local service base in 1996 by launching Kiss FM alongside 2LT. The listed company was later involved in a reverse takeover by Unitel, whose assets included interests in regional Australian stations. The transaction closed in 2002 and the public entity was renamed Media Corporation Australia Limited. Midwest Radio Network subsequently reduced its connection with the listed company and focused more heavily on online news portals. When Media Corporation Australia entered liquidation in 2006, Midwest was asked to appoint a receiver for radio assets. The stations were marketed without finding buyers, and Midwest ended the receivership in January 2010, taking back control. The company also pursued improvements to its transmission footprint. In 2008, the Australian Communications and Media Authority proposed technical specification changes that would have improved access to the services in parts of the Blue Mountains. Midwest’s community role continued through local campaigns and programming. A 2LT road-safety initiative won a 1997 Rawards community-project award, while presenter Jennifer Menchin received two Australian Commercial Radio Awards in 2011. The business is identified with a combination of regional radio broadcasting and digital news publishing.

1. 2010Midwest resumes control of radio assets

   Midwest terminates the receivership and takes back control of the broadcasting stations.

   Source
2. 2006Media Corporation Australia enters liquidation

   The company enters liquidation and associated radio assets are placed under receivership.

   Source
3. 2002Public company is renamed Media Corporation Australia

   Following Unitel’s reverse takeover, the listed company changes its name to Media Corporation Australia Limited.

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4. 1996Kiss FM launches

   A new FM service begins operating alongside 2LT.

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5. 1986Midwest Radio Limited is created

   Radio interests are transferred into a newly established ASX-listed public company in which Midwest Radio Network is a major shareholder.

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6. 1984Corporate name changes to Midwest Radio Network

   Lithgow Broadcasters Pty Ltd adopts the Midwest Radio Network Pty Ltd name.

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7. 19392LT begins broadcasting

   The company’s first station begins service in July as part of the Macquarie Central Western Network and is officially opened on 2 July.

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8. 1938Lithgow Broadcasters is founded

   Lithgow Broadcasters Pty Ltd is established on 7 June and receives a licence to develop the 2LT service.

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A regional Australian media operator combining local commercial radio, community information, news and digital publishing, with a core presence in and around Lithgow and the western New South Wales market.

• 2LTAM commercial radio station1939

  2LT is Midwest Radio Network’s original radio service. Established after the company received its 1938 licence, the station began broadcasting in 1939 from the Lithgow area. Over its history it has carried local programming, news, talk, entertainment, emergency information, public appeals, sporting broadcasts and advertising for audiences in western New South Wales.

• Kiss FMFM commercial radio station1996

  Kiss FM was introduced in 1996 as an FM service operating alongside 2LT. It was designed to cover a broadly similar regional area while extending Midwest’s service mix beyond its established AM operation.

• Digital news portalsDigital media

  Midwest Radio Network developed newspaper-style online news portals as its business shifted toward digital media during the 2000s. The portals complemented the company’s regional broadcasting activities and represented a move beyond conventional radio operations.

• 1997900 2LT Road Safety Campaign

  Lithgow · New South Wales

  2LT conducted a road-safety campaign as a major community project.

  Outcome. The campaign won the Single Major Specific Community Project category at the 1997 Rawards.

  Source
• 1954North Coast flood-relief appeal

  New South Wales

  2LT joined 2GB in an appeal for clothing for communities affected by flooding on the New South Wales north coast.

  Outcome. The source does not state the quantity of clothing collected.

  Source
• 1946Food for Britain appeal

  New South Wales

  2LT supported a statewide appeal to collect food for the post-war Food for Britain Fund.

  Outcome. The source records the station’s participation but does not provide a fundraising total.

  Source

• 2010Resume control of broadcasting assetsStrategy

  Media Corporation Australia had entered liquidation and no purchaser emerged for the stations placed under receivership.

  What changed. Midwest Radio Network terminated the receivership and took back control of the broadcasting assets.

  Aftermath. The radio operations returned to Midwest’s control.

  Source
• 2001Separate from Midwest Radio Limited’s changing corporate structureM&A

  Midwest Radio Limited became involved in a reverse takeover by Unitel, whose assets included interests in regional Australian radio.

  What changed. Midwest Radio Network cut most of its connections with the listed company and concentrated more on online news portals.

  Aftermath. The public company was renamed Media Corporation Australia in 2002, while Midwest later resumed control of radio assets after the company’s liquidation.

  Source
• 1996Launch Kiss FMProduct launch

  Midwest sought to add an FM service alongside its established AM station.

  What changed. Kiss FM began operating in conjunction with 2LT.

  Aftermath. The company offered both AM and FM services to a similar regional coverage area.

  Source
• 1986Transfer radio interests to Midwest Radio LimitedStrategy

  The company sought a broader corporate structure for its radio holdings.

  What changed. Radio interests were transferred to a new ASX-listed company, with Midwest retaining a major shareholding.

  Aftermath. The listed company pursued regional and international broadcasting ventures during the following years.

  Source
• 1938Develop the 2LT station independentlyOther

  A proposal for the Professional Radio Employees Institute to lease the licence and build the station did not proceed.

  What changed. Lithgow Broadcasters proceeded with construction of its own studio and transmission facilities.

  Aftermath. 2LT began broadcasting in 1939.

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• 2011Jennifer Menchin wins two Australian Commercial Radio Awards

  Midwest presenter Jennifer Menchin received the Best News Presenter and Best Talk Presenter awards at the Australian Commercial Radio Awards.

  Other
  Source
• 2010Midwest resumes control of broadcasting assets

  Midwest Radio Network terminated the receivership of Media Corporation Australia’s broadcasting assets and resumed control of the radio stations.

  Other
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• 2006Media Corporation Australia enters liquidation

  Media Corporation Australia went into liquidation and asked Midwest Radio Network to appoint a receiver for associated radio assets. The stations were offered for sale but no buyer emerged.

  Bankruptcy
  Source
• 19972LT receives a national community-project award

  The station won the Single Major Specific Community Project category at the Rawards for a road-safety campaign.

  Campaign
  Source
• 1996Kiss FM launches

  Midwest Radio Network established the Kiss FM service to operate alongside 2LT and serve a broadly similar regional coverage area.

  Product launch
  Source
• 1986Midwest Radio Limited is established and listed

  Midwest’s radio interests were transferred into a new public company, Midwest Radio Limited, in which Midwest Radio Network became a major shareholder.

  M&AOther
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• 1984Midwest Radio Network changes its corporate name

  Lithgow Broadcasters Pty Ltd adopted the name Midwest Radio Network Pty Ltd on 21 June 1984.

  Other
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• 19462LT joins major Australian boxing broadcast

  2LT participated in a nationwide network of 25 stations carrying a boxing match, described at the time as the largest Australian radio hookup of its kind.

  Other
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• 1940Government restricts 2LT industrial broadcasts

  During a national coal strike and wartime industrial dispute, the Postmaster-General restricted broadcasts by two Western Mining Federation members and required prior approval for certain industrial commentary.

  RegulationOther
  Source
• 19392LT officially begins broadcasting

  The company’s Lithgow station, 2LT, was officially opened on 2 July 1939 after construction of its studio and transmission facilities.

  Other
  Source

1. Midwest Radio Network