Better Homes and Gardens® Launches National Radio Show... Popular magazine brand now conquers print, online, TV and radio

18 Sep 2008

One of Australia’s most recognised and trusted lifestyle brands, Better Homes and Gardens®, will hit national airwaves this Saturday with the launch of an exciting new weekly radio programme.

The result of a new partnership between mcm entertainment (mcm) and Pacific Magazines, the move to radio sees Better Homes and Gardens become one of the only multi-platform brands of its type currently available in the country.

Set to be a radio highlight of the week, each two-hour show will feature a wealth of inspiring ideas, informative advice and unique hints and tips to help Australians make their home and their home life better each week.

Johanna Griggs and Fast Ed (a.k.a Ed Halmagyi) will host the fast-moving, entertaining show, along with guest experts such as Rob Palmer (DIY), Dora Papas (Decorating and Craft), Adam Woodhams (Gardening) and Dr Alister Webster (Pets).

The Better Homes and Gardens radio show will air every weekend on MIX FM across Australia’s capital cities and on 97.3 Brisbane, plus an extensive network of regional radio stations.

“We envisage the new radio show will become ‘appointment listening’ every weekend, in households nationwide. Better Homes and Gardens is a trusted and inspiring source of information and we’re confident that this move to radio won’t disappoint,” said Dave Carter, mcm’s General Manager - Adult Brands.

“The extension of the popular brand to radio also reinforces mcm’s cross media-strategy: to offer entertainment to consumers via every possible media platform, making programmes like this more accessible to consumers than ever before.”

Better Homes and Gardens and its much loved experts, insights and advice are currently available via its monthly glossy magazine, popular television show, website, (www.bhg.com.au) and now on radio each week.

For those that miss the radio show, podcasts will be made available to download from the website.

Julia Zaetta, Editor of Better Homes and Gardens magazine, said having a single brand across four different platforms not only provides consumers with more choice than ever before, but makes content extremely accessible.

“Listening to Better Homes and Gardens radio show will be as exciting as reading Better Homes and Gardens magazine, and watching Better Homes and Gardens TV show – all with the added pleasure of hearing feel-good favourites as well. It’s another wonderful way to enjoy everything Better Homes and Gardens has to offer, to all of us that love our home and home life,” she said.

As well as good news for fans, the extension of the brand offers fresh opportunities for advertisers.

“This is an exciting extension of the Better Homes and Gardens brand offering fantastic new sponsorship opportunities for clients, including integrated programme credits and advertorials, as well as integration with Better Homes and Gardens magazine, online and television properties,” says Donna Hodges, Sales Director of Homemaker titles at Pacific Magazines.

mcm has already secured integrated sponsorship commitments from NAB and Sensis’ Yellow Directory for the programme. Additional sponsors will be announced shortly.

ends

Note to editors:
The weekly radio programme will air Saturday mornings from on 7am on MIX 106.5 Sydney, MIX 101.1 Melbourne and 97.3 Brisbane, from 8am on MIX 102.3 Adelaide, Sunday mornings from 6am on MIX 94.5 Perth, as well as on stations regionally.

Radio hosts Johanna Griggs and Ed Halmagyi currently present the Better
Homes and Gardens television show on Seven, along with Rob Palmer, DIY and
renovating expert.

Better Homes and Gardens radio show’s Dora Papas is the magazine’s Deputy
Editor and Decorating Editor, and Adam Woodhams is Assistant Gardening Editor.

Dr Alister Webster is one of Australia’s leading vets and pet experts.

mcm entertainment:
Amy Whittaker
Burson-Marsteller
02 9928 1522
Amy.Whittaker@bm.com

Pacific Magazines:
Julia Zaetta, Editor
02 9464 2649 (Jo Palmer, Assistant)
Jo.Palmer@Pacificmags.com.au

Donna Hodges, Sales Director Better Homes and Gardens Homemaker Titles
02 9464 3309
Donna.Hodges@Pacificmags.com.au