Bill Caralis, the owner of the Broadcast Operations Group (branded as Super Radio Network), died on July 19. He was 81 years old.
Caralis turned his back on property development and liquor retailing in 1982 and moved to Tweed Heads where he commenced buying regional radio stations in NSW including Radio 97 (formerly 2MW). He returned to Sydney in 2000, after buying 2SM from former INXS manager Chris Murphy for $8.25 million in late 1999. As of 12 July 2024, Broadcast Operations Group operates 42 radio stations. 22 of these stations form their AM network, mostly broadcast on AM Radio.
Caralis was born in Sparta, Greece in 1942 and moved to Australia in 1945. He left school in his early teens to work in his father’s fruit and vegetable business at the Sydney markets and stayed there until 1956. In the early 1960s, he got into property development, building a shopping centre in the Sydney suburb of Marrickville. He later set up Camperdown Cellars, selling it in 1982.
He was very private and refused interviews or attending radio industry events. 2024 marked his 60th wedding anniversary to his wife Pamela.
The family has issued this press release to the staff.
SUPER NETWORK RADIO STAFF ANNOUNCEMENT
Bill Caralis, our Founder, Chairman and Managing Director, and a giant of the radio industry in Australia, passed away on Friday 19th July 2024.
Pam Caralis, John Caralis, Despina Priala (nee Caralis) and George Caralis advise with great sadness and pain that their beloved Husband, Dad, leader and lifelong inspiration passed away at Pindara Hospital on Friday afternoon last week.
Whilst unexpected and a shock to us all, and although we are suffering great pain and grief, the reality is this sad eventuality is one the Family has prepared for over the years and had a succession plan in place for. In terms of that Plan, Despina Priala (nee Caralis) and George Caralis will immediately assume the role of Joint Managing Directors of all companies and entities within the Super Radio Network group.
Due to Bill’s incredible business acumen, foresight, and careful forward planning he left the Super Radio Network in a formidable financial position, highly profitable, well capitalised, and debt free. The Caralis Family is committed to a “business as usual” approach for the Super Radio Network, with no plans to change anything operationally, and in particular day to day operations will continue this week and in future weeks no different to how they have in the past. Despite Bill C being no longer with us in your day-to-day business activities and tasks you should barely notice any changes.
Robyn Maclean who has been with Bill C as his right-hand person in the Boardroom for more than 30 years will continue in her general management role reporting daily to Despina and George so as per usual access to key decision makers, ownership, and the Managing Directors will be exclusively through Robyn.
For those of you who knew Bill C you would know all that he would want now is for the business to continue as per normal and for everyone to get on with doing their jobs as well as they can and with a minimum of fuss. That is what the Family asks of you now.
As you can appreciate, we are grieving the sudden loss of our beloved Dad, and with Mum having serious health problems of her own, we need time and space to attend to Family matters, so for the moment we ask for our privacy, and we will announce funeral details as soon as possible. In the meantime, please let’s all honour Dad’s legacy by getting back to business as usual.
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