News October 27, 2015

Watts claims SCA fired Kyle & Jackie O; heritage airplay not a gender issue; 2UE flags major changes

’SCA made the decision to cut Kyle & Jackie O’

On Friday, Merrick Watts, Jules Lund, Sophie Monk and Mel B appeared on The Today Show to reveal the new 2Day FM breakfast show.

When asked why it took four people to replace two, Merrick replied; “Well to be completely fair Kyle is the size of three. Oh come on, am I the first person to make that joke?”

Now Watts has spoken to The Sunday Telegraph, saying: “I just have this Pavlovian response to tease Kyle when I hear his name. That came off the back of those photos from his holidays in Fiji. I just saw those pictures and I thought, wow… the guy is obese. He is morbidly obese.

“And you know, it’s not great for him. And look… nothing I said today is anything he wouldn’t admit himself.”

Merrick also revealed why Kyle & Jackie O left 2Day. He commented: “(Kyle and Jackie O) didn’t make the decision. SCA made the decision they weren’t going to go with them again. It was their call and Kyle and Jackie O can put any sort of spin on it that they like. But I know from my dealings with SCA management that that was the case.”

This led to a response from Kyle’s manager, Andrew Hawkins, who told The Telegraph: “They are the reigning No. 1 show for 52 straight surveys in a row. As far as I know, the only one who was fired was Merrick Watts, when Triple M sacked him from his drive show at the end of last year. Wild claims like this are only a cheap mechanism to get some attention and somehow make himself seem relevant.”

Bargwanna to program KIIS

In what was clearly a completely coincidental piece of timing, just minutes after the confirmation of the new 2Day Breakfast show, ARN revealed the production staff who will work on the Kyle & Jackie O show on KIIS in 2014.

In a widely expected move, Sandilands close friend Derek Bargwanna, will become Content Director of KIIS1065 replacing the departed Ryan Rathbone.

Simon Greally crosses from 2Day as Executive Producer, Dan Bozykowski will join as Audio Producer, and current 1065 producers Minnie Cummins and Abigail Benaud will stay with 1065 and join the new show.

Heritage airplay is not a gender issue

Commercial Radio is often an easy target for criticism: airplay for Australian music, support for new music, day-parting, online streaming royalties.

Some of that criticism is fair, and some is not. The most recent criticism comes courtesy of Tina Arena, who has a new album out. Arena has stated that the Australian music industry is biased against females, who have to work harder than males to achieve success.

The Battle of the Sydney FM Breakfast shows – who will be the winners and losers in 2014 ?

by former Austereo CEO Brad March

Southern Cross Austereo have announced their new 2DAY breakfast show. It’s nothing terribly new or clever, but strong casting. The show is a Crew/Zoo format similar to The Panel, The Project and The View from television. And that’s a smart move as it’s a departure from the male/female duo, so it’s clearly differentiated from Kyle and Jackie O – as well as from the rest of the Sydney Breakfast market.

Carle exits Triple M Adelaide

Ali Carle has been axed from the ’Hot Breakfast’ show on Triple M Adelaide: Warren Tredrea, Jon Blake, Dale Lewis and Carle.

Carle, who originally moved to Triple M as part of the ’Kim, Ali and Dzelde’ show from Mix 102.3, will be replaced by current Sea FM Hobart Breakfast announcer and former Adelaide Crow Nick Gill.

Gill has only been in Hobart briefly, following a stint in Cairns, and returns to his hometown of Adelaide for 2014.

Glenn Robbins, Dave O’Neil join ABC for summer

ABC Local Radio has announced a new summer show hosted by Glenn Robbins and Dave O’Neil called Now I’ll Have to Kill You. The show is described as a panel show of competitive vulnerability, where the guest with the most revealing confession will win the game.

2UE flags major changes

Following a disastrous 2013, a major shakeup is being tipped for 2UE for 2014, with the station currently running teasers saying; “a new 2UE is coming in January 2014”.

The station was relaunched in January 2013, however the ratings performance through the year has gone backwards, with Survey 8 culminating in the lowest ratings in 2UE’s history.

Group Content Director Clarke Forbes has confirmed change is imminent, saying the station will undergo ’significant lineup changes’ in 2014.

Radio most engaging on Facebook

Radio has come out on top as being the most engaging industry on Facebook in 2013, narrowly beating TV shows, as reported in the Annual Facebook Performance Report.

The data was analysed from January 1 to December 1 and showed Hamish & Andy having the most fans of anyone else in radio (3rd overall). The only other radio entry in the Top 30 for fans being triple j at #18.

See all the graphs and stats.

Hear Nova 100’s new breakfast show

It’s never a good idea to judge a brand new show early on in its development (and we definitely won’t be doing that).

But, with the soft launch of Nova 100’s new breakfast show Meshel & Tommy last Tuesday, we thought you would like to hear how it sounds by putting an hour of their show here for you to check out.

dmg’s Group PD Paul Jackson told us, “We’re very focused on Meshel and Tommy next year and you might be aware they started today and were sounding terrific. They’re just bedding in this side of Christmas and then they’ll be back early in the new year.”

Survey 8 results

The results from the 8th (and final) metro survey of 2013 were released last Tuesday. It’s the end of an era for Nielsen after 66 years of supplying radio audience measurement to the industry. Next year GfK will takeover.

See the Survey 8 analysis and washup from SCA’s Craig Bruce, ARN’s Duncan Campbell and dmg’s Paul Jackson.

MOVES

Sarah Levett has left the breakfast show on NEW FM and will be replaced with former NXFM host Kim Bauer.

ABC 720 Perth has confirmed that John McGlue will host drive in 2014, replacing Russell Woolf.

2HD’s Meryl Swanson, whose program is made in Newcastle but is also networked to 2SM and into much of NSW and QLD has resigned.

Hot FM and RadioWest in WA has a new Content Director in Katrina Tibbits.

Mark Wiggett has been appointed as Content Director for 104.7 and Mix 106.3 in Canberra.

In a number of changes at Fox FM; Dan Anstey will anchor the Fifi and Dave Breakfast show, Kerri Jones moves from Drive to become EP, whilst Sonder Novak-Booth becomes Senior Producer for the show. On the National Drive show, Leon Sjogren becomes EP, and Carly Humby becomes Senior Producer.

Mark Collier, Director of the Radio Division at AFTRS, is leaving the school after 4 and a half years.

Steve G’s KOFM drive co-host Kristen Henry is moving to Canberra to do breakfast at Mix with Rod Cuddihy.

Alex Flack, who recently left 92.9, will anchor and EP the new KOFM breakfast show.

KOFM’s new breakfast show for 2014 will be Tanya Wilks and Steve G.

Matt Tilley and Joe Hildebrand will be the new Triple M drive show in 2014.

READ MORE

JOBS

Fairfax Radio Network has a vacancy for an Agency Sales Account Manager based in Sydney

SCA are looking for a Content Coordinator with Mix 94.5 in Perth

SCA has a vacancy for a Breakfast Announcer for SEA FM in Rockhampton

3BAFM/Power FM are looking for an On-Air Personality/Imaging Producer

Grant Broadcasters has a vacancy for a qualified Airtime Traffic Clerk in Maroochydore