Big Sports Breakfast shake-up as Terry Kennedy leaves morning show
There’s been a shake-up at Sky Sports Radio’s Big Sports Breakfast with long-time host Terry Kennedy stepping down after 18 years and amid struggling ratings.
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Sky Sports Radio dropped a bombshell on Thursday with long-serving Big Sports Breakfast host Terry Kennedy stepping aside.
Kennedy made the announcement on-air alongside regular co-host and rugby league great Laurie Daley.
His last day behind the microphone will be Friday, when he will farewell the show after 18 years at the helm.
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There have been rumblings around the show’s future for months. At one point the Big Sports Breakfast’s radio ratings had slumped to just 0.3.
Ironically, in the most recent survey Sky Sports Radio registered a rise of 0.5, taking its ratings to 1.6, ahead of rival station Macquarie Sports Radio on 1.3.
While Kennedy was adamant it was his decision to move on, station insiders have told The Daily Telegraph that management had been discussing the veteran host’s position for some time.
“After 18 long years, I can’t believe it, 18 years I’ve done the program, I’ve decided to get the alarm clock and hurl it straight out the window,” Kennedy told listeners.
“It’s been fantastic but just thinking ‘I’ve had enough. It’s time for me to move on’. I’ve achieved so many things that I wanted with the program and time for everybody to move on.”
Discussions have already turned to who could replace Kennedy in the early morning slot, with weekend host Jimmy Smith an early contender.
Kennedy started on the show in 2003 with Richard Freedman and enjoyed immediate success, before being paired up with former Test cricketer Michael Slater in 2008.
Daley joined the breakfast program two years ago, shortly after finishing up as NSW Origin coach.
“I enjoyed it so much. I mean who doesn’t want to talk about sport for a living?” Kennedy said, despite describing the early morning alarm as a “dagger through the heart”.
“It’s an absolute privilege and pleasure and it’s been that way the entire time.
It comes after The Daily Telegraph columnist Phil Rothfield last December predicted the station would have some big decisions to make around the show’s future after it had fallen behind Macquarie Sports Radio’s breakfast show, hosted by Mark Levy and former NRL player Mark Riddell.
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Co-host Daley paid tribute to Kennedy as being a “massive part of this show”.
“I know you’ve been thinking about this decision for a while,” Daley said.
“When I first started you were telling me about how difficult it is to get up every morning.
“I’ve only been here two years so I can understand your decision. Eighteen years is a very loing time.
“You can be very proud of what you’ve been able to achieve on this program.
Originally published as Big Sports Breakfast shake-up as Terry Kennedy leaves morning show