The way Australians listen to audio content has changed – and so has the way it is produced
Producing some of the best radio and podcasts in Australia
The way Australians listen to audio content has changed – and so has the way it is produced
Producing some of the best radio and podcasts in Australia requires every element of the studio to function seamlessly – and that includes the presenter and guest seating, which has to be comfortable, adaptable, ergonomically designed and incredibly durable.
Something for everyone
Southern Cross Austereo (SCA) is one of Australia’s leading media companies reaching more than 95% of the Australian population through its radio, television, and digital assets including the Triple M and Hit network brands.
That’s a lot of content created by a lot of presenters, producers and support staff, plus a lot of guests, including the who’s who of Aussie sports, politics and social circles. With new studios recently launched in the Sydney location, the need for a high-spec, dependable seating solution sent office manager Tierney Seto looking for the best way to keep presenters comfy, the studios looking great and the budget in check. The first piece of good news for Tierney, who contacted Alex Zander after flipping over one of the existing office chairs and finding the brand on the underside, was that the chairs already in the studios could be serviced rather than replaced. That was great news from both a sustainability and budget standpoint, and it meant staff could keep the chairs they already preferred. “People get very attached to their chairs!” she says.
New additions
The new studios to support SCA’s LiSTNR app are minimalist spaces – a table, some chairs and a couple of microphones are pretty much all that are in the room. So the new chairs for the new spaces needed to look good, as well as enabling guests and presenters to sit at the right height for the mics, and feel comfortable and supported so they could focus on the conversation.
Alex Zanda provided three different models which were extensively tested by about five producers. All the chairs are designed and manufactured in Australia to very high engineering standards. The whole Alex Zanda range is designed with user wellbeing in mind and includes features for spinal alignment and support, easy adjustability and breathable, highly resilient mesh fabric that both looks great and maintains its shape over time.
The production crew settled on Sirocco chairs which Alex Zanda was happy to customise for the team.
“In the studio they don’t want to think about their chair. We have a lot of high talent guests and we need a chair that is comfortable for them to sit in because the last thing they want to think about is their chair!”
The fitout
In all, SCA had 19 chairs refurbished, which included assessing each chair and refreshing gas lift cylinders and replacing wheels and tilt mechanisms where necessary, along with a general deep clean.
They also chose four new Alya task stools, to go with several already in the office, and ordered 48 Sirocco chairs.
Alya is perfect for staff who work at higher tables or need extra height to be positioned perfectly in front of the microphone, while the Sirocco offers medium or high back options in an ergonomic design that keeps staff comfortable and well supported.
After 17 years in the studio space, Tierney says the team has been through a lot of chairs.
“Alex Zanda chairs are the most trusted, they last the longest, and they’re the most comfortable.”
Watch the full video here:
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