Nine CEO Hugh Marks flags more changes at Macquarie Media

Nine boss Hugh Marks is looking to make more changes at newly acquired Macquarie Media.

Hugh Marks says there are more changes to come at Macquaire Media. Picture: Gary Ramage

Nine Entertainment boss Hugh Marks is looking to make further changes at newly acquired Macquarie Media following the recent axing of Macquarie Sports Radio's talk shows.

In a note to Macquarie Media staff on Monday, Mr Marks acknowledged that recent events had "led to some uncertainty within the business", and thanked them for their patience.

"We are working hard to align these two businesses to capitalise on the benefits of the transaction (such as aligning both sales teams, particularly from an agency perspective) but there are still some decisions, such as whether there will be relocations in some states, to be resolved,” he said.

READ MORE: Radio boss ready to handle Jones, Hadley

"We will continue to communicate with you as decisions are made," Mr Marks said in the note, seen by The Australian.

Mr Marks, who is taking a bet on Karl Stefanovic by returning him to the troubled Today breakfast show next year, faces a big job rebuilding Macquarie Media, which has lost more than 80 advertisers following inflammatory comments by breakfast host Alan Jones about New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Arden.

2GB and 4BC mornings host Ray Hadley is also facing legal action over the alleged bullying and harassment of a former colleague.

Nine inherited a 54.5 per cent stake in Macquarie Media after its $4 billion merger with Fairfax Media in December, and tabled a $1.46 a share cash offer in August for the remaining shares. Despite vocal opposition from influential fund manager Geoff Wilson, Macquarie Media's major shareholders, ad veteran John Singleton and investor Mark Carnegie sold their stakes to Nine, paving the way for the deal to be completed last Friday.

Mr Marks said Macquarie's radio stations needed to have "distinctive voices".

"Our stations of 2GB, 3AW, 4BC and 6PR need to be there for their communities as it is their ability to connect with their audiences and help drive the agenda in each city that helps ensures they are an integral part of the daily lives of their listeners," he said.

Mr Marks is visiting 2GB offices in Sydney on Monday and 3AW offices in Melbourne on Wednesday to answer questions and to introduce Nine's senior leadership team, including new radio boss Tom Malone.

Mr Malone told The Australian in an interview that he would focus on serving audiences the right content, while controlling spending.

The talk shows on Macquarie Sports Radio, which broadcasts on Sydney on 954AM, Melbourne’s 1278AM and Brisbane’s 882AM, were axed last month due to poor ratings. The station, which was launched last year in April, also broadcasts a string of sports, including international cricket, AFL and rugby league.