Revealed: Why Beau Ryan quit Macquarie Sports Radio to be Kyle Sandilands’ replacement on KIIS FM

THE NRL funnyman is back at KIIS after just three months at Macquarie Sports Radio where contract negotiations turned sour, leaving the star “grossly unhappy” with management.

BEAU Ryan appeared on KIIS FM earlier this week, filling in for Kyle Sandilands, but the appearance had AM radio listeners scratching their heads.

The former NRL player had been co-hosting breakfast with John Stanley on Macquarie Sports Radio since it rebranded from Talking Lifestyle three months ago, (known as 2UE prior to that) but finished up at the struggling station on July 20.

Macquarie Sports Radio co-hosts John Stanley and Beau Ryan. Picture: Macquarie Media

BEAU RYAN’S BEAUTIFUL GESTURE TO DYING FAN

A source told The Daily Telegraph Ryan had become “grossly unhappy” with Macquarie Media management — which also oversees Sydney’s number one rating station 2GB.

“The money was rubbish and he wasn’t being paid his market value”, the source said.

“They tried to low ball him at a management level”.

Macquarie Media CEO Adam Lang. Picture: Jono Searle.

Ryan was on a noncommittal rolling contract at Macquarie Media and was keen to continue hosting his own show in the cutthroat breakfast radio slot, but made the switch back to KIIS after the FM station apparently offered him “more money for less work”.

Exciting News - I’ve been given the opportunity to host the breakfast sports show on @MacquarieSport with my great mate @riddell009. 5.30am until 9am starting Monday. Lots of laughs and some sport along the way. Tune in and join in the fun. You’ve never heard sport like this

— Mark Levy (@marklevy2gb) July 27, 2018

It’s believed Ryan will be paid more to fill-in for Sandilands and contribute celebrity segments for the Kyle and Jackie O Show, than he was being paid to host a full-time breakfast show on Macquarie Sports Radio — a station which rates a lowly 0.8% but has the financial backing of the media-powerhouse that is Macquarie Media.

Sandilands denies that Ryan was “poached” by KIIS, telling 2GB radio this afternoon that the NRL Footy Show contributor reached out to him for advice.

“Beau wasn’t having a fun time and I said to him, ‘You have to love what you do’,” he said.

Ryan has returning to his casual fill-in role on the Kyle and Jackie O show. Picture Mike Batterham

SAM DASTYARI’S DEAL WITH KYLE AND JACKIE O

A source also said the former Cronulla player was also uncomfortable with Stanley as a co-host, and found the rigours of the AM talkback segment “tough”, despite wanting to persevere with the show.

Ryan was the marquee signing for the rebranded station but rarely made it known to his hundreds of thousands of social media followers that he was hosting a radio show.

Beau Ryan has exited his breakfast show on Macquarie Sports Radio. Picture: Mark Calleja

Mark “Piggy” Riddell has taken over the hosting reigns alongside Mark Levy.

Long time 2GB broadcaster Mark Levy today announced he’s taking over from Ryan, and will begin permanently hosting the show from Monday alongside former Parramatta Eels star Mark ‘Piggy’ Riddell.

Both announcers are regular co-hosts on 2GB’s weekend NRL show ‘The Continuous Call Team’, while Levy can also be heard filling in for Ray Hadley on his weekday morning program during non-ratings periods.

Mark Riddell, Darryl Brohman, Mark Levy and David Morrow. Picture: Macquarie Media

Levy said via social media that he will continue broadcasting on 2GB on the weekends while hosting breakfast on Macquarie Sports Radio.

When approached by The Daily Telegraph, Beau Ryan declined to comment.

Originally published as Revealed: Why Beau Ryan quit Macquarie Sports Radio to be Kyle Sandilands’ replacement on KIIS FM