GLENN RIDGE, MANAGING DIRECTOR


Glenn was born and bred in Adelaide. After leaving school he studied and worked as an engineering draftsman for the South Australian Housing Trust for five years, when he realised he wanted to do something he enjoyed, and decided to give radio a go.

At 22, he enrolled in the 5KA Radio School, and nine months later he started his media career as an announcer at Bendigo's 3CV. In just ten months he progressed from the night shift to breakfast and mornings, and took on the role of Studio and Program Manager, positions he also held at 3TR Traralgon and 3BO Bendigo where he remained until 1985.

Glenn first became involved in television in 1980, when he joined TV8 (now Southern Cross Broadcasting) in Central Victoria as the Host and Producer of a weekly one hour music video show titled Breezin. In 1985 he left both his radio career and commitments at TV8 to further his television pursuits with full time employment at BTV6 Ballarat (now WIN TV).

In 1984 Glenn formed his own production company 'Q Media Group'. From 1985 to 1989 he produced and presented numerous programs and specials, which included:

  • Over 200 Six's Super Saturday Show - a weekly 3 live hour cartoon show
  • Over 200 Off The Record - a 90 minute live music video show.
  • Over 175 Kids Only - a weekly 30 minute live children's magazine show.
  • 12 half hour Kids Only specials on subjects including 'Life Education Centres', 'Tall Ships', 'The Grampians' and 'Bushfires' (awarded a Certificate of High Commendation by the CFA in 1989).

In 1986, one of the Kids Only specials based on 'Summer Safety' won a Logie award for the 'Most Outstanding Contribution by a Regional Television Station'. This was the first and only Logie to have been won by BTV6.

In both 1986 and 1987, Glenn was awarded a Certificate of Commendation by the Television Society of Australia at the Penguin Awards, and in 1988 The National Jaycees announced him as one of their Most Outstanding Young Australians.

In 1989 Glenn left BTV6 and regional television in general, to further develop the independent activities of Q Media Group.

Then in April 1991, in what many saw as a surprise announcement, Glenn joined Jo Bailey as the new hosts of the Nine Networks prime time quiz show Sale of the Century, taking over from Tony Barber and Alyce Platt. He held this role for 11 years making him the longest serving host of Sale of the Century.

Since its inception, Glenn and Q Media Group has fully funded and produced 12 documentaries and produced two one hour television programs, Falcon GT - 30 Years of the Legend and Ford Australia - 75 Years. All of these were hosted by Glenn and aired on the National Nine Network.

Glenn is also Executive Producer and presenter of The Car Show and The Boat Show, both broadcast on the National Nine Network.

A trained scuba diving instructor, his hobbies include golf, tennis, riding motor bikes, sky diving and heading off 4 wheel driving expeditions all over our great, vast country. He also has a keen interest in motor racing and regularly competes in off-road races including the Targa Tasmania.

 

back