What Nova Entertainment does

Nova Entertainment is Australia's leading independent audio entertainment business, operating a national multi-platform audio network that spans FM radio, DAB+ digital radio, podcasts, live events, connected TV, and in-store audio. Founded in 1996 and headquartered in Pyrmont, Sydney, the company owns and operates five metro FM stations (Nova 96.9 Sydney, Nova 100 Melbourne, Nova 106.9 Brisbane, Nova 919 Adelaide, Nova 93.7 Perth) together with Smooth FM, FIVEAA, Star 104.5, and Coles Radio, and distributes them via the proprietary Nova Player across mobile (iOS/Android), CarPlay, and Smart TVs (Google TV and Android TV) — making it the only Australian commercial radio network with Smart TV apps. Beyond broadcast, Nova runs Nova Podcasts (a network of original shows and exclusive publisher partnerships), Nova's Red Room (an intimate live music brand featuring 320+ international and local artists since 2012 and an international Global Tour), the exp. live events business unit, and the Nova Retail Network (an in-store audio channel). The company employs 101-250 staff across offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, and Gosford.

Nova is an advertising-supported media business. Revenue is generated across four streams: audio advertising on the FM/DAB+ radio network, podcast sponsorships and branded content (handled in part by the CREATE branded entertainment division), live event sponsorships (Nova's Red Room, Nova's Skyline Sessions, Global Tour), and programmatic retail media via the Magnite-powered Nova Retail Network. Pricing is quote-based and negotiated directly with brand advertisers through a dedicated sales organization, including roles such as Group Commercial Director, Digital Commercial Director, and National Commercial Strategy Director. Nova serves two primary customer groups: enterprise brand advertisers seeking scaled, brand-safe access to Australian metro audiences across premium audio environments, and Australian metro radio listeners consuming content across FM, DAB+, mobile, Smart TV, and podcast platforms.

Recent strategic activity is concentrated on expanding the digital and podcast footprint through exclusive Australian partnerships with FlightStory (Diary of a CEO), Mentored Studios (Mark Bouris), Schwartz Media (7am), Fear & Greed, JOHNS Media, and AIIMS Creator Hub, while simultaneously broadening distribution surfaces through Smart TV apps, the Magnite-powered Nova Retail Network, and the CTV Plus partnership with Samba TV. The company has also invested in national show lineup refreshes across its breakfast and drive dayparts in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane.

Name

Nova Entertainment

Legal name

Nova Entertainment Pty Ltd

Website

https://novaentertainment.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Nova Entertainment operates Australia's leading independent audio entertainment business, running a national multi-platform network of metro FM radio stations, a podcast network, premium live events, and digital audio platforms serving Australian metro listeners and enterprise brand advertisers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Audio Broadcasting and Advertising

NAICS

Record Production and Distribution (51225), Music Publishers (512230)

SIC

Television Broadcasting Stations (4833), Retail-Radio, Tv & Consumer Electronics Stores (5731)

akta.pro primary industry

Music & Audio Streaming Platforms (BPAMAJAC)

Keywords

• Commercial radio broadcasting
• Audio advertising sales
• Podcast network publishing
• Digital audio streaming
• Live music events

Headquarters

HQ city

Pyrmont

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations

Revenue model

1. Audio Advertising (Radio): Nova Entertainment's primary revenue stream is audio advertising sold across its radio network spanning five metro markets (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth). Advertising packages include breakfast shows, drive shows, and national program sponsorships.
2. Podcast Advertising and Sponsorships: The Nova Podcast Network generates advertising revenue through host-read sponsorships, branded content integrations, and programmatic podcast advertising across its extensive portfolio of original and partner podcasts.
3. Live Event Sponsorships and Brand Activations: Nova's Red Room events, Nova's Skyline Sessions, and Nova's Red Room Global Tour generate sponsorship revenue from brand partners including Expedia, Maybelline New York, and VEGEMITE. Events feature exclusive artist performances with branded integration opportunities.
4. Retail Media / In-Store Audio (Nova Retail Network): Through the partnership with Magnite, Nova Entertainment enables programmatic advertising across the Nova Retail Network, an in-store audio network reaching millions of shoppers nationwide at the point of purchase.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels9 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Nova Entertainment operates a national Australian audio entertainment platform that produces, broadcasts, and monetizes radio, podcasts, live music events, and digital audio content across five metro FM markets, DAB+, mobile, Smart TV, and CarPlay. Its primary sellable offering is advertising inventory (on-air, podcast, event sponsorship, programmatic retail, and connected TV) sold to brand advertisers seeking reach into Australian metro audiences. The company also operates in-store audio for Coles supermarkets and runs Nova's Red Room, a premium live music brand.

Product overview

NOVA Entertainment is Australia's leading independent audio entertainment business operating a multi-platform audio network. The core offering includes the Nova Network (five metro radio stations), Smooth FM Network, FIVEAA, Star 104.5, and Coles Radio. Digital products include Nova Podcasts (featuring original shows and publisher partnerships), Nova's Red Room (premium live music experiences), and the Nova Player app (mobile and Smart TV). The company also operates exp. for live events and the Nova Retail Network for in-store audio advertising. The portfolio spans live radio, on-demand streaming, podcasts, live music events, retail media, and connected TV advertising.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Nova: National radio network featuring contemporary hits and breakfast/drive shows
• smoothFM
• FIVEAA
• Star 104.5
• Nova Podcasts
• Nova's Red Room
• Coles Radio
• exp.

Products and services

• Nova Network Australia's most listened-to metro radio network broadcasting across five major metro markets with hit music, entertainment programming, and national breakfast/drive shows; advertising inventory sold to brand advertisers.
• Smooth FM Network Easy-listening music radio network targeting a mature audience with contemporary easy listening content; advertising inventory sold to brand advertisers.
• FIVEAA

Quantifiable outcome

• 4+ million Australians tune in to Nova every week
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• MagnitecoreTechnology or Integration · 11 March 2026Nova Entertainment partnered with Magnite to enable programmatic advertising across the Nova Retail Network, one of Australia's largest in-store audio networks reaching millions of shoppers nationwide. The collaboration enables advertisers to access premium digital audio inventory programmatically at the point of purchase, leveraging programmatic buying and automated activation across audio channels in retail environments.
• IMAA (Independent Media Agencies Australia)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 11 March 2026The Independent Media Agencies Australia (IMAA) hosted its first Fast.Future.Present event in Perth on 23 April, with Nova Entertainment serving as the event partner. Mark Byrne of Headspring delivered a keynote on AI's impact on media agencies. The event was held at Pan Pacific Perth.
• FlightStory (Steven Bartlett)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 July 2025Nova Entertainment secured an exclusive Australian partnership with FlightStory, making it the exclusive Australian brand partner for The Diary of a CEO (the world's second-biggest interview podcast with 25M followers and 60M monthly listens globally) and the broader FlightStory podcast portfolio. All FlightStory podcasts and presenters are now accessible to Australian advertisers through Nova. This is Steven Bartlett's first regional partnership as FlightStory independently scales globally.
• Mentored Studios (Mark Bouris)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 July 2025Nova Podcasts partnered with Mentored Studios, the podcast platform founded by entrepreneur Mark Bouris AM, on flagship podcasts including Straight Talk, Project 100, The Mentor, Property Insights, and Off the Record with Buzz & Webby. Nova is committed to scaling the reach and commercial impact of all Mentored shows as part of its premium podcast offering.
• QT MelbourneminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 2 July 2025Nova Network launched Nova's Skyline Sessions at Rooftop at QT in partnership with QT Melbourne, turning the hotel's iconic rooftop into a live performance space across four weekends in July and August, featuring emerging and established Australian talent including Lachie Gill, Jem Cassar-Daley, Chris Lanzon, and Sam McGovern. Entry was free and open to the public.
• Maybelline New YorkcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 3 April 2025Maybelline New York partnered with Nova's Red Room for a series of exclusive performances celebrating female Australian artists, kicking off with Kita Alexander. The partnership includes Maybelline brand activations, product sampling, and exclusive content at Nova's Red Room events, celebrating confidence, creativity, and self-expression.
• AIIMS Creator HubminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 March 2025Nova Podcasts partnered with AIIMS Creator Hub, the team behind the MAFS Funny podcast which achieved over 1 million downloads in its first month and became Australia's #1 TV & Film podcast. This adds to Nova's growing portfolio of premium entertainment titles.
• ExpediaflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 10 March 2025Expedia is the title sponsor of Nova's Red Room Global Tour Powered by Expedia, a multi-city international tour featuring performances from Gracie Abrams, Dean Lewis, and Post Malone across Sydney, Auckland, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas. The partnership provides Nova listeners with money-can't-buy concert experiences as part of a travel adventure package. Expedia leverages Nova's audio reach to connect with Australian travellers.
• JOHNS Media (Matty Johns)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 February 2025NOVA Entertainment entered an exclusive commercial partnership with JOHNS MEDIA, uniting all of Matty Johns' podcast projects under the Nova Podcasts network. This includes Backstage with Cooper & Matty Johns, The Johns Family Podcast, and The Matty Johns Podcast. The partnership brings expert sports insights and entertaining family storytelling to Nova's podcast audience.
• Fear & GreedcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 February 2025NOVA Entertainment renewed its partnership with Fear & Greed, Australia's leading business news podcast network, building on a relationship going back to 2020. The network features three podcasts: Fear and Greed Business News, Fast Five, and How Do They Afford That?. Nova represents Fear & Greed's advertising inventory in Australia.
• Schwartz MediacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 February 2025Nova Entertainment partnered with Schwartz Media, publisher of the 7am daily news podcast (one of Australia's leading daily news podcasts), strengthening Nova's position as a premier destination for news and current affairs podcast content. The partnership involves Nova serving as the exclusive Australian sales representative for Schwartz Media's podcast titles.
• VEGEMITEminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 19 January 2025Nova Entertainment partnered with VEGEMITE and The Wiggles to celebrate the launch of a new version of the classic 'Happy Little Vegemites' jingle. The collaboration included a Nova's Red Room Studio Session with The Wiggles, filmed at The Lady Hampshire in Sydney and promoted across Nova's digital platforms.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Southern Cross Austereo: SCA operates the Hit Network and Triple M across Australian metro and regional markets and is the other principal commercial radio competitor to Nova. Comparable on broadcast scale, podcast network (including the LiSTNR platform), and digital audio distribution.
• ARN Media: ARN Media (formerly Australian Radio Network) is Australia's other major commercial radio broadcaster operating the KIIS and Pure Gold networks across metro markets. Direct head-to-head competitor to Nova in metro radio ad sales, with overlapping podcasts, digital audio, and talent-driven live events.

Regional players

• Bauer Media Group: Australia and Europe-focused media company with radio (Bauer Radio Australia) and publishing/podcast assets. Direct competitor in Australian commercial radio and an audio content partner/competitor in podcasts.

Emerging players

• Spotify: Global audio streaming leader in music and podcasts. Direct competitor for podcast advertising dollars and on-demand audio listening time, and increasingly for exclusive podcast IP (e.g., the kind of deals Steven Bartlett could eventually sign globally).
• Wondery / Amazon Podcasts: Major podcast network owned by Amazon, focused on premium podcast content and host-read advertising. Competitor for premium podcast IP and a potential threat if it deepens direct deals with global podcasters like Steven Bartlett.

Broad incumbents

• Audacy: US-based multi-platform audio entertainment company combining broadcast radio, streaming, and podcasting. Highly comparable business model: monetizes premium audio inventory across broadcast, digital, and live events.
• Seven West Media: Diversified Australian media company with broadcast TV, digital, and publishing assets. Competes with Nova for advertiser dollars in Australia and increasingly in CTV and digital audio adjacencies.
• Nine Entertainment: Major Australian media company spanning TV, publishing, and digital. Indirect competitor for Australian advertising budgets and a likely counter-bidder on premium audio/podcast IP and live event sponsorships.
• iHeartMedia: Largest US radio broadcaster, also operating iHeartRadio streaming and a major podcast network. Comparable in combining traditional radio scale with digital audio streaming, programmatic advertising, and live event properties.
• SiriusXM: Subscription and ad-supported audio entertainment company combining satellite radio, streaming (Pandora), and podcasts. Comparable mix of subscription-style audio consumption and advertiser-funded inventory.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/NovaEntAU
• Xx.com/NovaEntAU
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dmg-radio-australia

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Nova Entertainment