The last day of 2023 radio ratings [survey wraps tomorrow] and the arrival of summer is always exciting. The FM teams around the country have extra spring in their step with the anticipation of six weeks leave.
AM radio continues with most broadcasters on for at least another week. Except for 3AW’s Neil Mitchell, who is out of here today.
Nova summer schedule
At Nova, Sydney Fitzy and Wippa promised a massive show with Coldplay tickets and Dr Chris Brown and Isla Fisher in addition to the usual Nova 969 Friday mayhem.
In Melbourne, Nova’s Ben, Liam and Belle revealed research showed much of the audience don’t actually know their names! Something to work on for 2024.
Taking over Nova summer breakfast for two weeks from December 4 is Smallzy and his team led by the award-winning Zach La Cava. He will broadcast into all markets except Perth.
Smallzy and Zach La Cava
From December 15, Nova breakfast will be piloted by workday host Mel Tracina until the regular shows return mid-January.
Smallzy’s Surgery will become Shazam Summer Nights hosted by Nova’s Maddy Rowe and Aaron Rich.
At Smooth FM Melbourne, Mike Perso continues in breakfast for an extra few weeks, while in Sydney the show will be fronted by Byron Webb with help from Ron Wilson.
ARN summer plans
There has been excitement at ARN of course as the company plans to reshape the commercial radio sector. The ARN summer programming plan is simple though:
The KIIS network’s Late Night with Zach and Dom becomes Summer Drive with Zach and Dom.
Expect summer breakfast shows in Sydney and Melbourne to maybe be a mix of music and Kyle and Jackie O highlights.
At KIIS 101.1 is wasn’t only the last show of the year for Jase and Lauren…it was their last show ever. They have been swept aside by the force that is Kyle and Jackie O who will take on Melbourne next year.
Jase and Lauren capped a final week by programming all the music on their final show. The morning kicked off with Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes with (I’ve Had) The Time of My Life. The second tune was a surprise package though – a farewell rap from the production team who joined the hosts in the KIIS studio.
At WSFM Jonesy and Amanda pushed The Magnificent Seven towards 6.30am today with the producers worried it may not wrap by the end of the first half hour. “What’s coming up,” asked Jonesy. “Is the world going to end if we don’t play Fleetwood Mac?”
The ever-reliable Phil O’Neil will be fronting WSFM’s Ugly Phil-in’s Metamusil and More Of it Show.
It’s not Xmas without Ugly Phil
Xmas fever at SCA, despite the predator
Triple M stations were today offering listeners Foo Fighters tickets, and on some shows, Christmas hams.
In Melbourne, Loren and Troy Ellis were again joined by Lehmo as management bravely continue to call the program The Marty Sheargold Show. With a brawl over who will own the station in 2024, just what shows are called and who will host them seems a minor detail!
A network summer show at Triple M for two weeks will be hosted by Harley Breen, Candice Warner and Tom Tilley who are joining forces each weekday morning from 6-9am for Triple M’s Summer Breakfast show.
The program runs from 4 to 15 December in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and streamed live on the LiSTNR app, with a promise of two entertaining weeks of radio comedy, sport and news.
Rallying the troops at Triple M is head of metro content Matthew O’Reilly who said: “We are thrilled to bring Candice, Harley and Tom back together for another innings of Summer Breakfast. They are the perfect combination of sport, comedy and news and therefore the perfect choice to kick off summer for our listeners on a range of our Triple M metro stations.”
No one knows what will become of the Hit Network in 2024 with an ownership brawl still to play out. Meantime the staff are soldiering on.
From Monday, 4 December the Hit Network will start the day with The Jimmy & Nath Show (pictured above), Hamish & Andy podcast highlights in drive, and then nights with Seany B and special return celebrations for Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve.
Head of Hit metro content and 101.9 The Fox content director Amanda Lee said: “As we wrap another fantastic year, there’s no slowing down for the Hit Network; in fact we are just starting to heat things up with our summer programming.
“It’s so exciting to have Jimmy and Nath on national breakfast radio and we know everyone will love to hear even more from them over the next few weeks. Likewise, we’re always proud to bring the Hamish & Andy podcast back to radio for our listeners and it is fantastic to welcome back Seany B and Nic Kelly for the night-time shift. With this amazing line-up, summer can’t come quick enough!”