Smoothfm’s Glenn Daniel praises NOVA’s COVID-19 response

Former Editor & Content Director

Sydney’s smoothfm Breakfast co-host Glenn Daniel believes COVID-19, despite all its tragedies, has changed radio for the better, with greater flexibility, more productivity and improved technological innovation.

In particular, he praised smoothfm’s owner NOVA Entertainment for being prepared for the pandemic, enabling on-air talent to shift to working from home without missing a beat.

“It certainly changed broadcasting, that’s for sure,” he said of COVID-19 in Tucker Media’s 2020 Re-Vision podcast.

“We had some very skilled technicians at NOVA Entertainment, which owns smoothfm and, unbeknownst to us, they did some planning in January after the first word came through about the possibility of an epidemic.

“And by March, when we really had to take action [and] Scott Morrison was making announcements, our guys came to us and said ‘Do you want to broadcast from home tomorrow?’… And they got the gear, and they had everyone set up… It was amazing.”

He said the change had a minimal impact, if anything, on his smoothfm Breakfast show with Bogart Torelli because they actually work out of different studios anyway, with Daniel on level five and his co-host on level three of the NOVA Entertainment Sydney studios. Plus, he said, the technology was seamless.

“The other thing that struck me is just [how far] technology’s come,” he added. “I was astounded in many ways that it worked so well and so quickly and straight away… And we didn’t miss a beat in that period.”

Given the choice between being in the studio and working from home, Daniel said he’d ultimately choose the studio, to help him separate work and home life, however he noted the evolution of flexible work and alternatives forced by COVID-19 had benefited the radio industry.

“I don’t think we’re going back, in that sense that there will be flexibility, some people will still work in the office, but I think the change is now going to be permanent, and we’ll work it out…..I just think it’s a positive. I think amidst all the negatives of COVID-19, particularly what we’re seeing overseas – it’s tragic – Australia’s management has been good, significantly better than most other parts of the world. And I think what’s come from that is a realisation that we can do things better than we used to, and we don’t have to keep going back to the old ways,” he said.

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anthony maroon
13 Jan 2021 - 5:49 pm

Glenn has been around long enough to comment . I really enjoyed reading this article .
The man has had a lot of success and enjoys a great reputation . Lets here more from the Glen Daniels of the world and less from the young gal who is now the sidekick on breakfast because she came 3rd on Big Brother .

Chris
14 Jan 2021 - 9:07 am

One of the best newsreaders I have heard.

I think he has a few siblings in radio. Would love to see a story on the Daniels family!

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