Adelaide radio moves: Who’s hosting what in 2022
Is Ali Clarke really going to Mix – and who’s joining her? Or is another breakfast host on the move? We explore Adelaide radio’s behind-the-scenes rumblings ahead of 2022.
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Is Ali Clarke really going to Mix? Could another breakfast host be on the move? And who’s hosting your favourite radio shows in the New Year? Here’s everything you need to know about South Australian radio as we begin 2022.
MIX 102.3
In
Ali Clarke?
Shaun Sandilands (executive producer)
Out
Thom Lion (producer)
Rachael Nell (producer)
Breakfast: Back on January 17.
Mark Soderstrom’s decision to quit Mix 102.3 has paved the way for Ali Clarke to join a new-look breakfast show, with insiders predicting an announcement is just days away.
After eight years on the early morning program, Soderstrom decided to pull the pin last month following a sharp drop in ratings this year.
Starting 2021 in first place on the FM dial, Soda’s show with Crows AFLW superstar Erin Phillips lost almost two share points by the final survey, finishing well behind Triple M in the timeslot.
The ratings fall followed the duo’s mysterious disappearance from the airwaves in March, in which management declared Soderstrom was unwell despite the TV sports presenter still appearing on Channel 7 Adelaide.
Mix had also long been Adelaide’s favourite station but by the final ratings for the year, released last month, it had been replaced by ABC Adelaide.
If Clarke is unveiled as the new face of Mix’s breakfast show, as expected, it would be a huge coup for the station. But who will join her on the early morning shift?
Phillips has been confirmed as a starter – in some capacity – while fans of ex-Nova brekkie host Shane Lowe will be pleased to hear he’s likely to remain as anchor of the early morning program, with an expanded on-air role.
Former Nova presenter Jarrod Walsh’s name keeps coming up as a potential offsider for Clarke, but the popular sports MC hosed down those rumours.
“The whispers are 100 per cent incorrect … I’ve literally not spoken to anyone at Mix, nor Ali Clarke. I’m really balanced in my life right now and haven’t thought about radio,” he said.
Brisbane’s Shaun Sandilands has been appointed the brekkie program’s new executive producer, following a couple of notable departures behind-the-scenes.
Who knows what else will happen but all will be revealed very soon – stay tuned.
ABC
Out
Ali Clarke
In
(TBC)
Clarke’s resignation last month has opened up a spot on Aunty’s popular breakfast program, a coveted position – even if it’s not quite as lucrative as similar roles on commercial stations.
Clarke will be a huge loss for the ABC, after dominating the radio ratings in 2021, winning seven out of eight surveys including the final one by almost five share points.
It’s understood ABC Adelaide management were “blindsided” by Clarke’s decision to leave, and now they’ve been left scrambling to find a suitable replacement.
Spence Denny is an obvious contender, given his years of experience and role as regular fill-in for presenters on leave.
Denny’s colleagues, afternoons presenter Sonya Feldhoff and mornings host David Bevan, could also be among the options.
Longtime journalist Feldhoff previously hosted the FIVEaa breakfast show in the 1990s, and has also worked as producer on Matt Abraham and Bevan’s ABC breakfast program.
Former Channel 7 news presenter Jessica Adamson would have to be a frontrunner, following her successful fill-in stint for Jodie Oddy at Mix at the end of 2019.
It’s understood the award-winning journalist, who was let go by Seven in June 2020, was under strong consideration for the full-time gig at Mix, though she wasn’t interested in the role, which eventually went to with Phillips.
Adamson told The Advertiser she was “flattered” by the suggestion but is focused on her media business in 2022.
ABC drivetime presenter Jules Schiller will surely be sounded out as well, given his profile as a former Nova brekkie host and impressive ratings, including No. 2 in his timeslot.
ABC management said they will make a breakfast announcement “as soon as they can”.
TRIPLE M
In
Laura O’Callaghan
Breakfast: Mark Ricciuto, Chris Dittmar and Laura O’Callaghan, back on January 17.
Drivetime: Bernie Vince, Greg Blewett and Andrew Jarman, back on January 17.
It was triumphant year for Triple M breakfast duo Mark Ricciuto and Chris Dittmar, who started the year in sixth place but jumped up to third overall and first on the FM band by 2021’s final ratings survey.
Along the way, they added a third presenter, Laura O’Callaghan, in November, and the former Fresh FM host gave the show a much-needed female presence in the timeslot.
It’s understood Dittmar re-signed for another year in December, after taking some time to ponder a three-year offer from a rival AM station.
It looks to be a smart call by the veteran broadcaster who’s been on the breakfast program alongside Roo since 2014, after the pair made the move from drivetime.
Speaking of the drivetime slot, Triple M’s Rush Hour trio in SA, Bernie Vince, Greg Blewett and Andrew Jarman, will be moving to an expanded 4-6pm timeslot next year.
The boys take over from Mick Molloy, who revealed in November that he was leaving the network.
It’s part of Triple’s all-local strategy for the late afternoon shift, which will put further pressure on FIVEaa’s sports show.
In the battle of the drivetime sports shows, FIVEaa with Stephen Rowe started the year on top but by the final survey, had slipped 1.6 share points behind Triple M in the 4-7pm shift.
NOVA 919
In
Andy Ruzgar (producer)
Out
Nick Marwe (producer)
Breakfast: Ben Harvey and Liam Stapleton, back on January 17.
Drivetime: Kate, Tim and Joel, back on January 17.
It’s steady as she goes at Nova, which enjoyed a solid year thanks to young duo Ben and Liam.
The creative pair kayaked to Kangaroo Island, scaled new heights as a human billboard and broadcast their morning show from a glass box in Rundle Mall for a week to raise awareness for mental health during a busy 2021.
The stunts helped them hold third spot on the FM dial in the competitive timeslot, and the hardworking former Triple J duo haven’t taken much of a break, also hosting Nova’s summer breakfast program.
Behind the scenes, Ben and Liam bid farewell to longtime executive producer Nick Marwe and will welcome FIVEaa’s Andy Ruzgar in the role next month.
After a successful launch in August, the Jodie Oddy Show on Saturday mornings, with Max Burford and Tiff Money, will also return in 2022.
FIVEaa
In
Jade Robran
Out
Andy Ruzgar
Breakfast: David Penberthy and Will Goodings, back on January 17.
Drivetime: Rowey’s Sports Show, back on January 17.
Consistency was the name of the game for breakfast pair David Penberthy and Will Goodings, who finished no worse than second in the timeslot in all eight surveys, including a win in survey four.
Popular presenter Jade Robran made a full-time return to the AM talkback station in November, taking over afternoons from radio legend Tony Pilkington. Pilko will stay on as an announcer at FIVEaa in 2022.
Robran is no stranger to the airwaves, having presented FIVEaa’s afternoon program in 2017 before moving to Melbourne, where her hubby Ben Williams’ AFL player management business Players Ink was based.
“FIVEaa and I have always had an understanding that I would return if and when the timing was right for both of us,” she said, adding Ben would run Players Ink from Adelaide.
“We feel incredibly lucky to call Adelaide home.”
SAFM
Breakfast: Bec, Cosi and Lehmo, back on January 13.
Drivetime: Carrie and Tommy, back on January 17.
The big-name breakfast trio of Rebecca Morse, Andrew ‘Cosi’ Costello and Anthony ‘Lehmo’ Lehmann couldn’t make much headway in the ratings in 2021 – but they’ll have another 12 months to climb the ladder.
The team have signed on for another year, which will be the fourth for Bec and Cosi, and the second full year for funnyman Lehmo.
Interestingly, Southern Cross Austereo’s (SCA) chief content officer Dave Cameron admitted in June that SAFM was suffering after changing their name to hit107 in 2014. The Adelaide station reverted back to SAFM in 2020.
“We changed that brand for seven years, and it was confusing for the audience here in Adelaide,” Cameron told Radio Today. “The hit107 brand did not resonate with the market.”
It’s good to see the program being given some time to slowly turn things around.
SEN SA
Breakfast: Kane and Hayesy on January 24.
There’s been some rumours of a move across to an AM rival but Kane Cornes is locked into SEN and their SA breakfast show with co-host Andrew Hayes for at least another year.
Rather than a switch across town, The Advertiser understands Cornes is looking for more opportunities with the station in Melbourne, to go with his growing list of TV commitments including Footy Classified.
There’s also been some suggestion Hayes might be in the running for a role alongside Clarke at Mix – stay tuned for more news on that one.
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