Today Network shifts target with new lineup

Broadcaster Southern Cross Austereo (SCA) has announced the return of popular duo Hamish Blake and Andy Lee in the 2DayFM Drive slot and Dan Debuf and Maz Compton into the breakfast slot.

Hamish and Andy have been in talks with the network since rounding up their Logie-winning Gap Year comedy series, with media speculating on their agreed deal for weeks now. Craig Bruce, SCA’s Head of Content, told TMN the rumoured seven figure deal reported on by the Daily Telegraph was hugely incorrect.

“We talked to Hamish & Andy two months ago. They had told us right from the start that they had wanted to get through the Gap Year and then sit down and think about what they wanted to do next,” Bruce told TMN. “Thankfully, that was getting back into radio full time.”

Hamish and Andy’s new weekday show won’t start until July 2015, with current Breaky host Jules Lund filling the 4-6pm slot until then; after which, he will move into his own 6-7pm slot. Bruce couldn’t be specific about Hamish and Andy’s contract’s terms but said the rumoured six-month term was “ridiculous.”

According to Mumbrella, Hamish and Andy are also developing a new TV project with Channel Nine.

Following Sophie Monk’s exit from the breakfast slot two weeks ago 2Day has announced its duo Dan & Maz – who signed on with SCA for Drive two years ago – to replace Monk, Lund, Merrick Watts and Mel B.

“Let’s be honest it’s been a difficult year for 2DayFM Breakfast and Sophie just felt as though she couldn’t do the hours and deal with the scrutiny of dealing with Breakfast moving forward,” Bruce told TMN. “But that doesn’t mean she won’t be doing radio or certainly doing radio with us.”

The change-up positions 2Day as a more youth-oriented station, something the network had been toying with since top rating duo Kyle and Jackie O left for KIIS FM twelve months ago. After their departure at the beginning of year 2DayFM Breakfast ratings took a large hit, plunging from first to last place in the FM market.

“We’ve had very, very positive audience research on [Dan and Maz] and certainly in the Sydney market the propensity to trial this show is very, very high,” said Bruce. “It’s going to be a young, fresh – really the only commercial breakfast – show in this market having a genuinely authentic conversation with its under 40 listeners.

“If you look at Sydney it’s got some great shows; Amanda and Jonesy are a great show, the Grill Team are a great show, Kyle and Jackie O are excellent, but they’re all older shows, hosted by older people. They’re all in their mid to late 40s and there’s no crime against that,” he added. “[…] But we think there is an opportunity for a next generation show for this market.”

Despite Lund handing the reins to Hamish and Andy in July and no official word on Merrick Watts’ plans, Bruce told TMN SCA has plans to announce the aforementioned full-time show for Lund with his co-host and the full-time show for Watts in the coming days.