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Keith Ashton 1944—2008 REMEMBERING THE MAN WHO INVENTED NARROWCAST RADIO |
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This is the simple biography of a media-man who went from being the youngest newsreader on Australian Television, to the man who created more Radio Licenses than any other person in Australian History. He invented Narrowcast Broadcasting and is a person well known to the broadcasting Industry.
Keith came from Newcastle, that well-spring of Talent on the East Coast of NSW, Australia. At Age 14 at Lambton (scene of flooding in June 2007) he was noted for his superior verbal reasoning and was shifted to classes for more advanced students. He then won the debating championships of NSW. This lead to his becoming the youngest Radio Announcer (Aged 14 years) in Australia. Youth was never a barrier and his early income came as well from Rock Dances at Tyrell Hall and Town Hall in Newcastle as he made his mark on Newy youth culture.
Seeing his potential, Channel 3 (now NBN) made Keith the youngest Newsreader on Australian Television with him reading the 6 pm news in its early days.
Television experience followed at Channel 8 Mt. Isa, ABC Television and Channel 8 Lismore.
Approached by John Brennan of 2SM he was hired as the last "Good Guy" for 2SM Sydney.
Adventure then beckoned and Keith went to work for Pirate Radio Station RADIO HAURAKI. According to Media People in New Zealand at the time his contributions helped change the future of NZ Broadcasting, bringing in the modern era and making possible the promotion of kiwi music and the promotion of many artists. David Gapes the founder of Hauraki writing a reference for his travels described him as a "gifted colorful broadcaster".
The Pirate Radio ship Caroline gave Keith more adventure, before Abe Nathan signed him as a DJ on the Peace ship traveling to Israel, providing a Pop Music starved population with an alternative to Wagner being broadcast from Jordan with a very powerful Transmitter.
London and the swinging' Sixties saw Keith accepting a key DJ position at Capital Radio after Richard Attenborough found Keith's sense of Humor to his liking. At Capital Keith worked with Kenny Everett and Michael Aspel on the same frequency formerly used by pirate broadcaster Radio Caroline. London’s first private station had the distinction of being the first IBA station to employ an ex pirate radio DJ offshore-DJ-with-a-difference;
Whilst with Capital he also gained many new advertisers for the new station. Don Stevens an English DJ said of Keith " he was bloody good at selling, I have never met anyone like him since. He could sell you the use of your own legs, and then arrange a tax if you walk on Sabbath...yep...they broke the mould with Keith".
Returning to Australia Keith worked again for Color Radio in Brisbane. During this time he was given the ANZAC of the Year Award by the RSL in 1971 for his community service.
On returning to his home town of Newcastle, he established the 'Z' Youth Station at 538 Hunter Street and was the first to promote Dance music on Radio. A small scale experiment which lead Keith to effectively invent Narrowcast Broadcasting, which now has 1,000 licenses countrywide and has given a voice to many. He entered into partnership with the Labor Council of NSW (2KY) which enabled him to establish the ZFM Radio Network. Up to his passing Keith was still a valued part of ZFM.
Keith described the establishment of Narrowcasting as a process of winning and losing in terms of regulation:
He said " They gave us a paltry 1 Watt and a regulation regime which a restricted aerial height . Sure. We got commercials... A WIN, but we were restricted in carrying news . In the beginning only bridging music was allowed and a repeating 2 Hour Tape. But we tested Country, Dance, Ethnic, Christian, and school , We tested suburban with music and news but failed. In the beginning FANNS was our industry narrowcast association which I was an active member of. Since then we had had 2 other organizations and due to CBAA and CRA opposition nothing much had been achieved.
Out of over a hundred licenses I got 64 on the air but as I supported the use it or lose it I divested these to other owners.
So I was never greedy.
When I decided to sell the ABA didn't even have a form to do it.
I also operated and supplied programs to 3 High power 5Kw Station’s at Newcastle, Wollongong and Broken Hill; also one 400 watt service on narrowband (2AM Sydney 1620). Until the ABA complained about me playing Australian oldies 24/7 on 2AM I reached a 7 in the survey but then I had to switch to ethnic to avoid prosecution. The Late Ken Birch gave me the old 2MG transmitter. Max and the Boys at 2KY all helped and the mast at Homebush was the old 2EA Stick."
Keith also realized the potential of the internet to reach an audience and began the MATILDA SEARCH ENGINE which attracted record traffic. MATILDA was later offered $14 million dollars for a direct buy-out.
More recently Keith became officially blind (he describes it as "like seeing through a snow storm") due to complications from a life long battles with diabetes. Despite the setbacks, he became a member and advisor to 2NBC in Sydney gaining for them a , news feed and local news service.
Keith retired at 63 to live in Fairfield in Sydney still managing the website Aussieseek.com and involving himself with new Radio and TV Station License Applications and doing what he had always done--creating opportunities for others and embracing new media ideas.
Throughout his career Keith has worked in Australian and overseas radio. Like all effective radio personalities he has his fans and his detractors;
" That's the way I liked it..." He said " Its a sure shot for impact"
"You become very employable.. and that's not a downer"
and " If you have a reasonable Voice you can work most anywhere and young people aspiring to enter the radio industry should remember its a cool way to see the world"
He started in Radio on Dec 5 1953 at 2KO Newcastle, then worked at:
2NX-2NM , 2HD , 2RE , 2CH , 2DU , 2MG , 2WG , Beach Radio Newcastle (Nobby's Beach one summer in the early 70's) , 2WN-ABC , 8DN , 4LM (Sold Advertising in Tennant creek to Townsville) , 4BH , 4BK-AK , Full Commercial NZBC (Sponsored by Chemists Guild) , 3BO , 1RPH , 2AM X Band 1620 Sydney- sold to 2KY , 2MW , 2TM ,1XH ,2HH ,2ZW ,Hauraki (Pirate Radio Ship Auckland) ,Radio i ,Radio Otago ,Radio Waikato 1XW ,5AD ,2SM ,6PM ,7HO ,Capital Radio London ( We plugged Rock and Roll I gave you all the best Years of my life to the Top of the UK Chart) We=me,Rice,aspel,Everett) ,Radio Caroline (Pirate Radio Ship) , Kol Ha Shalom - Israel (pirate Radio Ship Tel Aviv) ,owned and ran 150 narrowcast LPON stations (sold to 2KY) ,ABC TV ,NBN TV ,RTN8 TV ( Brennan saw me on TV there and rang me to join the Good Guys on 2SM) ,ZFM ,Radio Cronulla ,Racing Radio Broken Hill and dozens of LPONS , Big Country Radio, 2NBC
Keith was inducted as a Life Member of IARBA on 1st July 2007. He died suddenly on Friday 21st June 2008.
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Keith at the ABC |
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Keith at Radio Capitol |
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Radio Hauraki’s first radio ship |
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The Voice of Peace |
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Another promotional shot of Keith at Capitol Radio |
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ZFM launches in Newcastle |
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Keith is remembered by his friend Sean Ison:
I met Keith in the middle nineties working at his new project “ZFM Dance Radio” in Newcastle—a 1 watt LPON that went on to grab a whopping 10 points from the local radio market in the next survey. Whilst this was the first time on air for many of the young presenters who owe Keith their start in broadcasting, as he and I had been at it on and off for a number of years (although Keith a lot longer than I!) Keith and I struck up an immediate friendship that came from a common love of radio. Keith had worked extensively in pirate radio, in which I had had a few youthful adventures as a teenager and this kept us talking for hours and hours. As we both came from a Geordie heritage we also found that we had a very similar sense of humor so we were often laughing whilst those around us looked somewhat puzzled!
Whilst, as with any strong friendship (some common friends will recall that he and I had our ups and downs over the years!) Keith was the type of guy that the odd argument now and then only made your friendship stronger. Unlike so many people in the business, he didn’t hold grudges and he’d rather help you than hinder you.
The years I spent working with Keith have been some the happiest times I have spent in the radio industry in Australia and I will sadly miss working with him and in particular his friendship. I have learned a lot from him; professional skills now generally not available to be learnt at any price in a rapidly changing media landscape. He came from an era of broadcasting where real personalities ruled the airwaves as radio was still king. The achievements of his life still stagger me, as they did the first day he showed me his tattered scrap book of memories after I’d asked many times—Keith would never brag of his achievements in radio, he was the true quiet achiever.
Whilst I read daily of icons like John Laws, there have been no broadcasters quite like Keith. None who have had the diversity of experiences and the willingness to embrace and pioneer new forms of media. A passionate believer in free speech, Keith always believed that the media should be something with as much diversity and variety of ownership as possible. The last months of his life were spent tirelessly lobbying the government to open up DAB Radio to an increased number of operators.
I will miss you Keith and the jokes we shared each day—I am expecting to hear mysterious music in the air soon because you have convinced god to let you open a new station in heaven.
Keith is remembered by his friend James (JJ) Exton:
I lived with Keith until the end and you can say one thing. It Was Never Boring ! Fighting with the cat to keep it away from the bird was Keith’s favourite past time , finding the remote to the TV was always a challenge even though it was sitting right next to him or fighting off the dreaded viruses, replacing the mice and hard drives on his computers (he killed them with stunning regularity) but most of all I'll miss his understanding, steadfast and tangible friendship.
I'll see you mate.................but not for a while. Both Drinks Keitha.
Keith is remembered by his niece Naomi:
I wanted to send in my own piece on Keith Ashton I Guess from a different perspective. You see Keith was my Uncle and he was a very wise man who would give the shirt off his back if it meant someone less fortunate needed it more than him. As a kid I was constantly in awe of all the many different ideas he had from newspapers to local radio stations….he always had big dreams. He was also the best riddle teller…I can remember one Easter searching for two whole days for $10 hidden in our house and guided by only Uncle Keith’s cryptic clues. I loved his wit his intellect and the way he was a fighter for the oppressed and vilified. Both he and I shared the gift of the gab so when Christmas at mum’s was on and we both made it we could talk Philosophy for hours. He always believed you could do anything if you put your mind to it. He will be missed especially by my mum Carole as he was her only living brother. There is a time for each of us and so sad that he had to leave so soon.
So rest in peace..Cheers Naomi
Keith is remembered by Don Stevens of the famous Radio Caroline:
Great to see Keith is acknowledged by his peers. He deserves a spot in the Sun, certainly one of Australia's better exports he made positive contributions in radio markets that lacked enterprise or originality. Keith made a difference, injecting enthusiasm and fresh ideas into these markets, creating fertile ground for onward progress
Keith is remembered by David McKenzie:
I am indeed sorry to hear of Keith Ashton’ s passing. Keith and myself were responsible for Beach Radio in the early 70's at Newcastle Beaches, I haven't seen him for many years. He was great on NBN news till that ended which was when we were mates building Beach Radio. He was also a 2HD good guy till just before Beach Radio. Keith had a terrific voice and good script writing ability. At the time I knew Keith when all these things were happening in the early 70's he was also selling and production writing advertisements for his sales at NBN television.
Keith is remembered by Nick Weare:
I worked with Keith at several Great radio stations, including 7HO (Gidday to Nick Weare I remember you well mate) in the late 60's , Then at 1ZH Hamilton new Zealand, Then at radio I Auckland to do the Radio revolution. I was always hired at first because we had similar styles. Keith was a truly Gifted Broadcaster, and inspired many up and coming Jocks in those Halcyon days. I was totally in awe of him. We did become great mates. I did a tribute to Keith on my show on Monday on New Zealand's Solid Gold Network and was inundated with calls from people who recalled the Good Egg as he called himself in those days. I was saddened to hear of Keith’s passing and myself and Lyn McNammara who also worked with Keith have been recalling some of his amazing pranks and colorful life style which at time bordered on shall we say the somewhat bizarre.
Good Egg we miss you
Keith is remembered by his old boss at NRN 10 Coffs Harbour Tom Warne (now Programme Consultant to News Corporation Stations Europe and Network Ten Australia):
I vividly recall employing Keith in November 1965 as an announcer and newsreader at NRN. Our News Editor John Sheppard and I were enormously impressed by the mature voice of this 20 year old announcer from 2RE Taree. His appearance on camera was very authoritative. I seem to recall he told me he was connected to the famous Ashton Family of Ashton's Circus fame. Show business must have been in the blood! He was only with us for a short time and I'm not surprised that he went on to bigger and better things in his career.
I very was sad to read of Keith's passing this month.
Keith is remembered by John Wright secretary of the Australian Radio DX Club:
I have just learnt today of the passing of my friend Keith Ashton. My name is John Wright, and I am the secretary of the Australian Radio DX Club. I got involved with Keith when he had 2AM at Caringbah, and also involved with the Matilda search engine. A terrific person, a DXer, interested in how far the 2AM 1620 signals could be heard! Well around the world Keith! I still have letters and reception reports which the club use to reply to those listeners who wanted the old audience card known as a QSL card. Only in the past couple of months did he suggested getting a shortwave transmitter on the lower bands. The friends that he made within our club, will be saddened by his passing. Keith any myself shared also a nemesis, diabetes. He was a great and knowledgeable man. Sadly missed by his mate Johno.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO CONTRIBUTE A DEDICATION TO KEITH TO BE PLACED HERE PLEASE EMAIL IT TO ryan.maguire [ AT] australiandigitalradio.com.
(Please also feel free to attach any relevant photographs you might have.) |
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Keith’s Days at NRN 10 Coffs Harbour (Thanks to Tom Warne for the scans) |
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Keith at 20 |
