Fred Botica
Encyclopedia
Fred Botica is a radio announcer in Perth, Australia
on Mix 94.5
.
Botica was born in New Zealand
, and began his radio career in December 1969 on Radio Hauraki
,
to which he returned in 1973 after a couple of years working at Radio 1XX in Whakatane
. In 1976, he again left Radio Hauraki to work at Melbourne's 3KZ
, a stint that lasted only 6 months. Botica returning once again to Radio Hauraki as breakfast presenter and program director, where he remained (apart from a short sojourn at 1ZM) until late 1982. At this time, he started work at 89FM, the first commercial FM radio station in Auckland.
Botica immigrated to Perth from New Zealand in 1986,
and started work with Channel 7 Perth
as their voiceover artist, and with 96fm
as a breakfast radio announcer. During his time at 96fm, he performed the Australia Day skyshow
voiceovers. In 1993, 96fm was bought by Village Roadshow and was renamed "Triple M
". Staff at the station opposed the changes which were to occur with this purchase; as a consequence, Botica along with his sidekick Captain Paul shifted to 94.5 during 1992.
Since then Botica led Mix 94.5's breakfast team to the highest rating in Perth with Botica's Bunch, although in recent years the breakfast slot has been beaten on a few occasions by ABC 720
's Eoin Cameron
. Botica is reputed to command an annual salary of $250,000.
Botica is notoriously camera-shy, and in all publicity and advertising for his radio show, his face is always obscured.
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
on Mix 94.5
Mix 94.5
MIX 94.5 is a commercial music radio station owned by Austereo in Perth, Western Australia.The station originally began as 6KY, beginning broadcasting on 23 October 1941 and would eventually end up at the frequency 1206 kHz. On 1 June 1991, 6KY became one of two Perth radio stations to convert...
.
Botica was born in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, and began his radio career in December 1969 on Radio Hauraki
Radio Hauraki
Radio Hauraki is a New Zealand radio network, specialising in album-oriented rock and classic rock. It was the first private commercial radio station of the modern broadcasting era in New Zealand and operated illegally from 1966-1970 to break the monopoly held by the government...
,
to which he returned in 1973 after a couple of years working at Radio 1XX in Whakatane
Whakatane
Whakatane is a town in the eastern Bay of Plenty Region, in the North Island of New Zealand, and is the seat of the Bay of Plenty Regional Council. Whakatane is 90 km east of Tauranga and 89 km north-east of Rotorua, at the mouth of the Whakatane River.The town has a population of , with...
. In 1976, he again left Radio Hauraki to work at Melbourne's 3KZ
3KZ
Gold 104.3 is a radio station broadcasting in Melbourne, Australia. Gold 104.3 is part of the Australian Radio Classic Hits Network and broadcasts on the 104.3 MHz frequency.- History :...
, a stint that lasted only 6 months. Botica returning once again to Radio Hauraki as breakfast presenter and program director, where he remained (apart from a short sojourn at 1ZM) until late 1982. At this time, he started work at 89FM, the first commercial FM radio station in Auckland.
Botica immigrated to Perth from New Zealand in 1986,
and started work with Channel 7 Perth
TVW-7
TVW is a television station broadcasting in Perth, Western Australia, wholly owned by the Seven Network. It was the first television station in Western Australia, commencing service on 16 October 1959. It broadcasts analogue on VHF 7 and digital on VHF 6 from Bickley located in the Perth Hills...
as their voiceover artist, and with 96fm
96FM
96FM can refer to:* Cork's 96FM, a Radio station in Cork, Ireland* 96fm , a Radio station in Perth, Western Australia...
as a breakfast radio announcer. During his time at 96fm, he performed the Australia Day skyshow
Lotterywest Skyworks
The City of Perth Skyworks is a fireworks show that is held over the section of the Swan River in Perth, Western Australia known as Perth Water. It is held every Australia Day on the 26th of January....
voiceovers. In 1993, 96fm was bought by Village Roadshow and was renamed "Triple M
Triple M
The Triple M Network is an active rock radio network in Australia owned by media company Austereo, who also own the Today Network.- History :...
". Staff at the station opposed the changes which were to occur with this purchase; as a consequence, Botica along with his sidekick Captain Paul shifted to 94.5 during 1992.
Since then Botica led Mix 94.5's breakfast team to the highest rating in Perth with Botica's Bunch, although in recent years the breakfast slot has been beaten on a few occasions by ABC 720
720 ABC Perth
720 ABC Perth is a radio station located in Perth, Western Australia broadcasting on 720 kHz on the AM band. The station is a member of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's ABC Local Radio network.-History:...
's Eoin Cameron
Eoin Cameron
Eoin Harrap Cameron is a popular radio personality in Perth, Western Australia. He currently works the ABC's Perth local station 720 ABC Perth breakfast show, regularly receiving top ratings for the most popular breakfast radio show....
. Botica is reputed to command an annual salary of $250,000.
Botica is notoriously camera-shy, and in all publicity and advertising for his radio show, his face is always obscured.