Brisbane drivetime show axed, in a blow for local radio
Local radio has suffered a blow with the announcement on Friday that The Rush Hour – one of FM’s last Brisbane-based drivetime shows – has been cancelled.
The show, hosted by Leisel Jones, Liam Flanagan and Ben “Dobbo” Dobbin on Triple M, will be replaced by an extended syndication of The Marty Sheargold Show, based in Melbourne.
News of The Rush Hour’s axing comes on the back of positive ratings, with the show earning third place in Brisbane’s drive slot in the most recent GfK ratings survey. Nova 106.9 had the strongest ratings, followed by B105.
The Marty Sheargold Show will replace Triple M’s locally hosted drivetime show, The Rush Hour, next year. Credit: Triple M
Speaking on air, Jones described the news as personally “devastating”.
“It’s something that we’ve been really proud of here at The Rush Hour and what we’ve built, and all about local stories.”
In a statement, Triple M thanked the show’s hosts, while spruiking The Marty Sheargold Show as an exciting “bonus” for drivetime listeners in Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Sydney, as well as regional markets from 2025.
“The new Triple M line-up for 2025 marks the end of the Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth Rush Hour shows,” the statement said.
“These shows have featured an exceptional group of broadcasters, and Triple M acknowledges the hard work and commitment the teams have dedicated over several years.”
The network described Sheargold as “one of Australia’s funniest comedians, with a whip-smart sense of humour and an enviable radio and TV career”.
“We know how much listeners nationally love hearing him in the afternoon already. To now get an extended version of The Marty Sheargold Show for our NSW and Queensland listeners is hugely exciting,” Southern Cross Austereo chief content officer Dave Cameron said.
As entertaining as Sheargold may be, it’s a huge loss for local listeners used to hearing issues and experiences they can resonate with from Brisbane-based hosts – the ultimate value of locally made and produced content.
The show’s axing, part of a wider reshuffle within the network, likely reflects the financial pressures commercial stations are facing across the country, with ad revenue down, despite growth in digital audio revenue.
A report from Commercial Radio and Audio released in February showed annual broadcast radio ad revenue fell 4 per cent last year from $701 million in 2022 to $673 million in 2023.
Triple M’s decision might save the network money in the short term, but as other commercial stations have learnt, transplanting shows to an interstate audience can quickly backfire – as was the case with The Kyle and Jackie O Show.
The Sydney-based KIIS FM breakfast duo entered the Melbourne market in April under a $200 million, 10-year contract as part of a plan to nationalise the show.
But their attempts to crack the Victorian market proved challenging, with listeners seemingly rejecting the shock appeal that has won Kyle Sandilands and Jackie Henderson a loyal following in Sydney.
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