There have been a number of significant changes to metro radio shows for 2021. Most attention will again be focussed on Hit Network’s 2Day FM in Sydney, where yet another breakfast show will debut.
It was a year of massive change for SCA’s Hit Network – there will also be a line-up change for Fox breakfast in Melbourne. Hit Network stations reverted to former names in Brisbane (B105) and Adelaide (SAFM) and Mix 94.5 became a Hit Network station in Perth.
2Day FM confirms plan H for breakfast: Hughesy, Ed and Erin
SCA has announced a new breakfast show for Sydney – The 2DayFM Morning Crew with Hughesy, Ed and Erin Molan – kicking off Monday 18 January 2021.
It’s a bit tired to continually harp on about SCA’s unsuccessful attempts at replacing Kyle and Jackie O at 2Day FM, but it’s hard to avoid as the station reveals its ninth breakfast team in nine years.
Hughesy and Ed already have a drive show nationally on the Hit Network and will move to Sydney breakfast next year.
Joining the line-up is Erin Molan, a polished media performer and ACRA winning broadcaster from 2GB who will bolster the duo with her news nous and good-humoured approach to life.
Dave Hughes is one of the biggest names in Australian comedy and his easy, laconic style disguises one of the nation’s sharpest comedic minds. His unflinching honesty connects him to audiences from all walks of life, evident through his prolific career across radio, TV and live stand-up comedy. He will be hoping some of that magic attracts an audience in Sydney. Hughesy’s successful TV shows, The Masked Singer and Hughesy, We Have a Problem make him one of Australia’s most loved national personalities.
Ed Kavalee has also forged a radio career of his own with roles on both Hit and Triple M, including the seminal Get This with Tony Martin. A regular on Network 10’s Have You Been Paying Attention?, Russell Crowe recently remarked that Ed is ‘funny as sh*t’. Gladiatorial high praise indeed. SCA shares that opinion as he has now been part of the three recent 2Day breakfast shows.
Molan has hosted multiple sports shows for the Nine Network and is the weekend sports presenter on Sydney’s number one news bulletin. She earned admiration for her informative and empathic broadcasting on 2GB and 4BC this summer during some of the worst bushfires the nation has experienced and will bring an extra layer of lively to Hughesy and Ed.
Dave Hughes said: “My inbox is already full of DM’s from Sydney real estate agents. Look, I can’t buy all of them but I’ll have a crack! Until then I will be staying in Kyle Sandilands’ pool house. In all seriousness, I have a ball working with Ed and I’m super pumped to be working with Erin. This is going to be a blast. From 10am every day you will find me at the Bondi outdoor gym busting shirtless workouts until my manboobs get rock hard!”
Ed Kavalee added: “I’m fired up to continue working with Hughesy and excited about teaming up with Erin. We have a show ready to roll that I know will deliver the fun Sydney needs in 2021.”
Erin Molan said: “To be trusted with this role is a huge honour and I can’t wait to embark on this new adventure with two of Australia’s comedy greats. Anyone who has listened to me on radio or watched me on TV over the past few years would be surprised that I’ve been brought into the fold as the ‘sensible one’. I was equally as amused and made sure to sign very quickly before anyone discovers I’m anything but…”
SCA chief content officer Dave Cameron said: “We’re lucky to have a brilliantly hilarious and established show sitting in our fold that Sydney already knows and loves and is ready to hit the ground running in 2021. Hughesy had the number one drive show in Sydney for many years and collectively the crew are all trusted, strong performers in our target market.
“In bringing back a headline breakfast show again to 2Day, it was critical for us to deliver the combination of established chemistry, familiarity, existing high passion for our talent, deep breakfast radio experience and, most importantly, a show focussed completely on Sydney every morning. The 2DayFM Morning Crew with Hughesy, Ed and Erin will bring a clever wit with a show that’s already at the top of its game. We can’t wait to make strong inroads and get 2Day pumping again.”
Head of the Hit Network Gemma Fordham added: “Hughesy and Ed have a chemistry and shorthand that can’t be faked, and our listeners connect to their candour about their lives, kids, relationships and pop culture. Erin is an impressive broadcaster who possesses the rare mix of fun and clout. We will continue to build on a roster of regular guests to bring the 2DayFM Morning Crew to life and we know Sydney will be excited by this show in 2021 – a genuinely funny show to start the day, alongside our emotive ‘feel great’ music format.”
The 2DayFM Morning Crew with Hughesy, Ed and Erin can be heard from 6am to 9am on Monday 18 January 2021.
In addition, an hour of Hughesy, Ed and Erin’s show will be broadcast nationally across the Hit Network at 6pm.
SCA to use statewide breakfast shows for Hit Network regional stations
SCA has announced the introduction of statewide breakfast shows across its national Hit network of regional stations from Monday 24 August. The total number of Hit Network regional breakfast radio shows who will broadcast their final programs tomorrow is believed to be 19.
The Hit Network stations in Western Australia have already adopted this approach with a statewide breakfast show airing weekdays. This will be repeated by NSW, Victoria, Queensland and South Australia.
In NSW from Hit101.3 Central Coast, the Gawndy & Ash Pollard breakfast show with Daniel Gawned and Ash Pollard, will be heard across the majority of regional NSW-based Hit stations.
In Victoria from Hit104.9 in Albury, the Tim & Jess breakfast show with Tim Bolch and Jess Pantou will expand to be on air across all regional Victorian Hit stations.
In Queensland, the Cliffo & Gabi breakfast show with Guy Clifton and Gabi Elgood will now be heard statewide and broadcast from Hit103.1 Townsville.
In South Australia, the new SAFM Adelaide breakfast show, Bec, Cosi & Lehmo with Rebecca Morse, Andrew Costello and Anthony Lehmann will be heard on the recently rebranded SAFM in Mount Gambier.
Hit in regional Western Australia continues to broadcast the statewide Allan & Michelle breakfast show with Allan Aldsworth and Michelle Anderson.
SCA chief content officer, Dave Cameron, said: “SCA has adapted to the challenges presented by the COVID-19 environment and will deliver a different programming model across our Hit regional network. The changes will mean that unfortunately a number of our local breakfast shows will be impacted, and we would like to thank our dedicated and talented people who are affected today by this new approach. We are actively looking for redeployment opportunities for some of these roles, however, sadly some of our people will be leaving SCA.
“The new model brings listeners quality state breakfast shows for Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia that deliver on our new content strategy of fun, entertaining breakfast shows overlaying our broader pop music format nationally. These state-based shows will complement our current breakfast shows in Newcastle, the Gold Coast and Hobart, which will remain unchanged.
“In addition, we will now return to local morning announcers across a majority of our regional Hit stations, which were previously nationally networked. This will continue to ensure that we maintain our commitment to broadcast the best local, state and national content that matters to our listeners.
“SCA’s national Triple M network of stations will continue to remain dedicated to everything local by broadcasting our existing locally based and focussed breakfast shows across our 38 regional Triple M communities.”
ARN hires Adelaide sports star to replace Jodie Oddy on Mix 102.3 breakfast
ARN has announced the launch of Mix 102.3’s new show Erin Phillips & Soda for Breakfast.
From January 2021, Mark ‘Soda’ Soderstrom will team up with Adelaide sporting legend Erin Phillips for a brand-new kind of breakfast show bringing good-hearted fun to listeners every morning.
Of today’s announcement Mark ‘Soda’ Soderstrom said, “I am super excited to welcome Erin to our Mix breakfast team. There is much more to this down to earth mum of three than just snapping goals and sinking three pointers and I know our fantastic friends of the show will welcome Erin’s enthusiasm and cheekiness.”
Of joining Mix 102.3 Erin Phillips said, “I’m incredibly excited to join Soda and the Mix102.3 team. I really enjoy working in radio and to be on-air in the city I love is something I’m extremely grateful for. I can’t wait to have a lot of fun with Soda and plenty of laughs with our listeners.”
Of the new show, ARN’s chief content officer Duncan Campbell said, “This is a contemporary new direction for the breakfast show in Adelaide and we know audiences are going to embrace this exciting change. When we needed to find a new co-host for the show, it made sense to consider people who have been part of the show over the years. Erin and Soda have great energy and we saw really positive engagement from the Mix audience when she was on air. Erin is a great addition to the breakfast show – she is one of Adelaide’s most loved sports people, she loves footy, knows all about the juggle of work and family, and she is passionate about supporting the community. Erin and Soda are going to take the Mix breakfast show into the future and we are all looking forward to hearing them on air in January 2021.”
Phillips is a two-time Premiership captain for the AFLW Adelaide Crows and Australian sporting superstar with a remarkable professional career in both basketball and football. She is currently co-captain of the Adelaide Crows AFLW team and has taken the side to premierships in 2017 and 2019. Phillips is an Olympic Silver Medallist in basketball from the 2008 Beijing Games and in 2006 won Australia’s only ever gold Medal at the basketball world championships. She has also won twin WNBA titles. Phillips is married to Tracy and they have three children – four-year-old twins Brooklyn and Blake, and 16-month-old Drew.
Marty Sheargold returns to Triple M and breakfast radio
SCA has confirmed The Marty Sheargold Show will be Triple M Melbourne’s new FM breakfast show in 2021 alongside a 3-4pm syndication on Triple M’s 49 stations across the country.
Marty Sheargold was the driving force behind the number one national afternoon show he helmed on Nova, but will now embrace the opportunity to host his own FM breakfast radio show for Melburnians.
Sheargold began his radio career at Triple M 17 years ago. Sheargold has previously worked the breakfast shift in Adelaide at SAFM, in Brisbane for Nova and in Sydney for Triple M alongside Fifi Box and Paul Murray.
Sheargold said: “Firstly I’d like to congratulate The Hot Breakfast on an amazing run. They are all incredibly talented, highly regarded people in the radio business and I wish Eddie, Luke and Rosie continued success with whatever they choose to do next. I’m honoured to be returning home to Triple M, the brand that kick started my radio career. To be given the opportunity to have my own show at a network I consider the backbone of FM radio is a true privilege. It is the job you hope for, but fear may never happen. Triple M has entrusted Melbourne breakfast to me, and I want to make the absolute most of the faith they have placed in me. Then retire. Talk to you in January!”
SCA chief content officer, Dave Cameron, said: “Getting Marty Sheargold back on Triple M in 2021 just made the world feel a little bit right again. Melbourne at breakfast, and Australia in the afternoon, is about to experience one of this country’s finest comedians and broadcasters with a show guaranteed to be unlike any other. There is only one Marty Sheargold and there is only one home of rock, sport and comedy. We are so excited to welcome home The Marty Sheargold Show to Triple M and SCA. 2021 cannot come quick enough.”
Triple M head of content, Mike Fitzpatrick, said: “When you’re creating a show with one host you need a unique performer who cares about, and understands, the medium. Marty’s style and attitude fits hand in glove with the Triple M brand and we’re stoked to have him back where it all began. He’s also asked me to ensure I use the term ‘prodigal son returns’ in any quote I give to the press, so there it is.”
The Marty Sheargold Show on Triple M starts Monday 18 January at 6am in Melbourne and will be heard every afternoon around the country from 3-4pm before Kennedy Molloy from 4-6pm.
ABC RN brings in 2021 with a new Saturday afternoon show
Broadcaster and podcaster Marc Fennell will host a new Saturday afternoon show on Australia’s national ideas network Radio National in 2021.
The Weekend with Marc Fennell will air from 30 January from 1-3 pm and will feature an eclectic range of RN content, from existing programs such as Earshot, seasonal drama such as RN Fictions and new ABC podcasts like Days Like These. It will also broadcast interview highlights from the preceding week across the network.
“The Weekend with Marc Fennell is an exciting development for the network,” said RN’s manager, Cath Dwyer. “Its flexible format will allow us to feature short-run content and weekly highlights from RN’s hugely diverse schedule, while remaining true to our commitment to thoughtful, intelligent and surprising audio content.”
“Every time you flick on The Weekend, trust that we’ll bring you Australia’s best conversations, biggest ideas and wildest adventures” added Marc Fennell. “It’s going to be a blast sharing the finest ABC audio storytelling with audiences each Saturday.”
Fennell will continue to present Download This Show, RN’s weekly guide to the world of media, culture and technology.
The Weekend with Marc Fennell will also provide a broadcast launch for exciting new content from ABC Audio Studios, such as the new science comedy show The Pop Test. The 30-minute quiz pits a panel of three guests together, rather than against each other, to answer questions on a wide range of science-themed content such as The Atom, Space Travel and Evolution.
The Pop Test is created and presented by Andy Matthews and Al Tremblay Birchall, two of the writing minds behind Shaun Micallef’s Mad As Hell, and will feature guest appearances from Kate McCartney, Kate McLennan, Nazeem Hussain, Alan Duffy and others.
Popular weekly ethics program The Minefield, hosted by Waleed Aly and Scott Stephens, will see in the new year with a refreshed, hour-long format.
Weekend Life Matters and the weekly World Docos will not return in 2021, to make way for new content in the schedule. Life Matters continues each weekday from 9-10am and RN will continue to feature a range of acclaimed international documentary content in different timeslots.
Bryce & Ebony take over triple j national breakfast in 2021
triple j has announced Bryce & Ebony will take over triple j breakfast in January 2021.
Hailing from Moranbah via Woy Woy, 26-year-old Bryce Mills got his start in community radio, presenting on 2SER.
Mills later jumped at the chance to helm the triple j front desk in 2018, answering phones and stuffing marketing material into Unearthed High and Hottest 100 envelopes, unbeknownst to everyone that within two years he would be triple j’s go-to presenter, regularly filling in on peak triple j shows like breakfast, drive, mornings and lunch, while also hosting triple j weekend arvos in 2020.
In addition to radio, you can also catch Mills on his weekly podcast God Is Dead, which unpacks the worst offerings from the internet and pop culture, Channel 10’s Unpacked series, roasting episodes of The Bachelor and The Bachelorette, or via his own social media docu-reality satire videos which have amassed over a million views. As a comedian, he’s soldout multiple shows at the Sydney Comedy and Sydney Fringe Festival, as well as appeared at events like Secret Garden Festival.
Co-hosting triple j Brekkie is 25-year-old hip hop and dance aficionado Ebony Boadu. Born and bred in Western Sydney, Boadu’s obsession with music led her to hosting spots on FBi, SBS and MTV, before joining triple j in 2019 to sound track your Saturday nights on triple j’s House Party. In that time, her fast-growing popularity also saw her pick up peak fill in shifts on triple j breakfast, drive, nights and the Hip Hop Show.
Boadu is also an accomplished DJ, having played sets at all major festivals, like Splendour In The Grass and Falls Festival, as well as supporting the likes of Stormzy and Leikeli47, in addition to her own headline tours.
The pair replace Sally & Erica who announced they were leaving the public broadcaster earlier this month.