After a period of ‘intense cancellations’, HT&E CEO Ciaran Davis is looking at green shoots
Following Australian Radio Network (ARN) parent company HT&E’s results presentation yesterday shares rose 0.18 points to $1.39. Mumbrella’s Hannah Blackiston spoke with CEO Ciaran Davis to find out what investors liked about the presentation and what he sees for the rest of 2020.
Putting aside the cliches of the year (unprecedented anyone?), nobody was expected excellent results from media companies in 2020. A quick glance over the Standard Media Index (SMI) figures which measure agency ad spend would tell you it’s been a tough four months.
Ciaran Davis, CEO of ARN parent company Here, There & Everywhere (HT&E) says March was a time of ‘intense cancellations’ and that the industry took it upon themselves to educate marketers that lockdowns would not mean the death of radio.
“Radio listening overall grew by 7% – mornings, afternoons, breakfast, drive were all up. People wanted some form of normality, they wanted that sense of community and connection that you can only get on radio. For us, having a great stock of talent across the country and some very engaged audiences that grew was an important part of the story we’re now telling,” he said.
