Brisbane 4BC took a brutal hit when it misplaced 4 hosts within the house of two weeks amid its newest rankings massacre, however experiences recommend the job cuts aren’t over but.
9 Radio star Sofie Formica is at the moment on depart from her afternoon present, with hypothesis flying her seat behind the mic could also be gone when she returns.
TV reporter Michelle Tapper has been filling in for the veteran Queensland presenter, 53, and inner information suggests she could also be a greater match for the job, reported The Australian’s Media Diary.
In response to experiences leaked to the publication a couple of weeks in the past, the 9 Information Brisbane star has exceeded expectations whereas overlaying Formica’s job at 4BC.
In the meantime, Formica, who hosted Queensland’s The Nice South East for nearly 20 years, has raked within the lowest rankings among the many key daytime 4BC exhibits, with different low performing hosts getting the axe in current weeks.
However the reality behind this hypothesis stays unclear as Formica is slated to characterize 4BC on the panel at 9News Queensland’s first leaders’ debate on October 3.
Premier Steven Miles and Liberal Nationwide Occasion chief David Crisafulli will face off forward of the Queensland election, with Formica seated on the panel with 9’s state political editor Tim Arvier and Brisbane Instances editor Sean Parnell.
Every day Mail Australia have contacted 9 for remark.
9 Radio star Sofie Formica, 53, (pictured) is at the moment on depart from her afternoon present with hypothesis flying her seat behind the mic could also be gone when she returns
It comes simply days after experiences another popular journalist is set to replace Brisbane 4BC’s breakfast team on the finish of the month after three of 9’s largest breakfast radio stars had been fired from the job.
Peter Fegan is ready to host the morning program from September 30 as trio Laurel Edwards, Gary Clare and Mark Hine were phased out on Friday, September 13.
An inner workers e mail confirmed that Fegan, who at the moment hosts 4BC Weekends, might be within the chair for the breakfast present till December.
The e-mail learn: ‘From Monday, September 30, Peter Fegan will take care of the Breakfast timeslot till the top of the yr – earlier than we wrap up the 2024 Survey Interval on Friday, December 13.’
The message to workers appeared to recommend that listeners can stay up for additional shake-ups on the station for on air presenters.
TV reporter Michelle Tapper has been filling in for the veteran Queensland presenter and inner information suggests she could also be a greater match for the job, reported Diary on Sunday
Nevertheless, the publication experiences that Fegan has instructed insiders he has the gig secured, although this has not been confirmed.
Edwards, Clare and Hine’s axing got here days after Every day Mail Australia revealed bosses on the embattled community had been ‘sharpening their knives’.
The trio – family names within the Sunshine State – had been unveiled to a lot fanfare in 2022 because the station switched to a basic hits format on the early morning present.
They claimed a powerful 11.8 per cent viewers share – and third place – on debut within the Queensland capital’s fiercely contested breakfast radio contest.
However the choice to steer the station away from conventional talkback in favour of ‘gentle leisure’ – in stark distinction to its profitable sister shops 2GB in Sydney, 3AW in Melbourne and Perth’s 6PR – has alienated listeners and finally proved a catastrophe.
Edwards, Clare and Hine’s rankings have been in terminal decline, with their present ending a humiliating final place within the newest survey, with an alarming 4.3 per cent viewers share.
In response to experiences leaked to the publication a couple of weeks in the past, the 9 Information Brisbane star has exceeded expectations whereas overlaying Formica’s job at 4BC
The trio’s departure was made official three days after Daily Mail Australia revealed they faced the chop.
Greg Byrnes, Head of Content material for 9 Radio, stated on Friday afternoon that the community had ‘determined to take a brand new method to breakfast’.
‘Their loyal listeners, and all of us at 4BC, will miss them enormously, however we’ll be sending them off in a method worthy of their exceptional careers,’ Mr Byres added.
Their closing day on air might be in a couple of days time on Friday, 27 September.
It comes after drive host Peter Gleeson and breakfast newsreader Steve Barker also resigned early final week within the wake of Every day Mail Australia’s story about looming job cuts.
Barker had been a key fixture of the Brisbane newsroom since becoming a member of the community, amassing a prestigious New York Festivals Radio award for his heartfelt protection of the Queen’s demise final yr.
9 Radio execs additionally took the axe to its Brisbane talkback breakfast radio present stars Laurel Edwards, Gary Clare and Mark Hine following a disastrous rankings collapse
Effectively-placed sources inside 4BC revealed the community was now planning an unprecedented overhaul of its presenting line-up because it reverts to a hard-hitting talkback focus and desperately tries to lure again truant listeners.
They stated the transfer got here as a humbling admission that the station’s leisure experiment had failed.
‘We have to blow the entire place up and begin once more – and we have to do it now,’ one senior 4BC insider instructed Every day Mail Australia.
‘We’re bleeding rankings and advert cash each single day in the mean time. 2GB and 3AW are flying. Even 6PR is making a comeback.
‘However 4BC is an absolute trainwreck and it is all been led to by poor selections at breakfast.’
Widespread 4BC newsreader Steve Barker and veteran journalist Peter Gleeson have additionally resigned from 9 Radio’s Brisbane station
There are even fears the station’s rankings free fall may see native programming scrapped totally, after mother or father firm 9 Leisure introduced plans to chop $50million from underlying prices this monetary yr.
‘Workers are very nervous the station goes to return to the unhealthy outdated days of Sydney programming on 4BC,’ one insider.
‘In these powerful financial occasions it would not shock anybody if administration made that call.
‘It could be the mistaken choice – and a shortsighted one – however at this stage something is feasible.’