Blyton Group
Blyton Group is an Australian media and entertainment company. The company primarily operates in the radio industry under their subsidiary Capital Radio Network and owns hospitality, service and entertainment businesses in New South Wales.
Type | Privately held company |
---|---|
Industry | Radio broadcasting, hospitality |
Founder | Kevin Blyton |
Headquarters | , Australia |
Area served | Australia |
Key people | Kevin Blyton, Josh Elliot |
Divisions | Radio, Snow Resorts, Airport, Theme Park |
Subsidiaries | Capital Radio Network |
History
The company was started by Kevin Blyton who first acquired a radio station 2XL (now XLFM) in the Snowy Mountains and has since grown the radio network and expanded into hospitality. With the exception of XLFM, Snow FM and 3GG, all radio stations are operated as a 50/50 joint-venture with Grant Broadcasters.
The current CEO of Blyton Group is Josh Elliot.[1] Former radio host with Capital Radio Network, Andrew Dunkerley, served as Operations Manager until his departure in July 2020.[2]
In 2020, Blyton Group announced a 10 year master-plan for continued development of their Charlotte Pass Snow Resort, beginning with an upgraded chair lift.[3]
Radio Network
Operating under the name Capital Radio Network,[4] the Blyton Group wholly owns three radio stations and has a joint venture with Grant Broadcasters for the remaining stations. The radio network operates in 5 locations across Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia. The Snowy Mountains radio station organised the automated music for the Blyton Group's Magic Mountain amusement park speakers.
Joint venture with Grant Broadcasters
- Australian Capital Territory
- New South Wales
- Southern Tablelands[7]
- Snowy Mountains
- Perth, Western Australia
- 6iX
- X Digital
- Kix Country
- MyDAB Perth
Former stations
In the 1990s, Kevin Blyton held a 40% stake in Newcastle's NXFM.[8]
Outside of buying and selling stations in the same stations/territories as current stations, he has also held stations in Tasmania and owned Q92fm in Queenstown, New Zealand which he purchased in 1992.
Hospitality and services
Blyton Group operates two snow resorts in the New South Wales Snowy Mountains region. The two resorts are Charlotte Pass Snow Resort[9] and Selwyn Snow Resort.[10]
The company also has multiple hotels as a part of their operations in the region:
- Kosciuszko Chalet Hotel, Charlotte Pass
- Lucy Lodge, Charlotte Pass
- Stillwell Hotel, Charlotte Pass
- Selwyn Accommodation Centre, Selwyn Snow Fields
In the 2019-2020 Australian summer bushfires, the Selwyn Snow Resort burned down,[11] the Blyton Group has committed to rebuilding.[12]
In addition to the resorts and hotels, the Blyton Group owns the Snowy Mountains Airport Corporation, which operates Cooma Airport[13] and as a part of their Charlotte Pass resort, operate an over-snow bus service[14] linking the village to Perisher Valley.
Entertainment
Group also operates the movie theatres in the Snowy Mountains townships of Jindabyne and Cooma. In Merimbula, New South Wales, the Blyton Group have the Magic Mountain amusement park.[15]
References
- "Andrew Dunkerley departs Blyton Group & Capital Radio Network". Radio Today. 1 July 2020. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
- "Andrew Dunkerley Leaving Blyton Group". RadioInfo. 29 June 2020. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
- "New Chair for Charlotte Pass". Snowy Mountains Magazine. 6 July 2020. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
- "Capital Radio Network Stations". Radio Alive. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
- "3GG Finally Sold". Radio Info. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
- "DAB+ digital radio goes live in Canberra". Radio Today. 18 July 2019. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
- "Capital Radio Network continues to roll out ZETTA Digital Playout System". newmedia.com.au. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
- "The History of Newcastle Radio Stations". www.soundworld.com.au. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
- "10-year $10 million investment announced for Charlotte Pass ski area - Australasian Leisure Management". www.ausleisure.com.au. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
- "News - Selwyn Sale Media Release". Ski Forum. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
- "Ski resort completely destroyed by bushfires". www.abc.net.au. 6 January 2020. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
- Quinn, Katie (16 May 2020). "Selwyn developing design for new resort". Tumut and Adelong Times. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
- "REX to Commence Services to the Snowy Mountains". www.perisher.com.au. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
- "Oversnow". Charlotte Pass Snow Resort. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
- "Contact Magic Mountain". Magic Mountain Merimbula. Retrieved 18 August 2020.