Five possible line ups if Alan Jones leaves 2GB Radio
Alan Jones has been at the helm of 2GB Radio for decades but with contract negotiations still up the air, the station’s parent company Macquarie Media may be forced into a reshuffle of the line up. HERE ARE FIVE POSSIBLE SCENARIOS.
Alan Jones’ future with 2GB radio is still up in the air and it’s no secret that his possible departure would cause a major change to the station’s line up.
The Daily Telegraph revealed today that parent company Macquarie Media is making contingency plans should contract negotiations with the breakfast host fall through, with nights presenter Steve Price the frontrunner for the coveted timeslot.
2GB is taking advantage of the non-ratings period to trial a handful of famous faces on drive this week as Ben Fordham holidays with his family in Hawaii.
Breakfast newsreader Natalie Peters will anchor the show alongside Erin Molan from 3-5pm before the sports reporter dashes off to Willoughby to present Channel 9’s 6pm news.
Peters will then be joined by Sunrise newsreader Edwina Bartholomew from 5-6pm on Monday to Thursday while former Nova personality Merrick Watts will co-host the full three hours on Good Friday.
Ray Hadley is also taking the week off after a month in the headlines for bullying accusations from current and former staff. He is replaced by much-loved former 2UE host John Stanley.
This week’s changing line up presents an interesting look at the potential future of Sydney’s number one radio station. Here are The Daily Telegraph’s five possible line up options should Jones walk away.
SCENARIO ONE:
BREAKFAST: Steve Price
MORNINGS: Ray Hadley
AFTERNOONS: Chris Smith
DRIVE: Ben Fordham
MONEY NEWS: Ross Greenwood
NIGHTS: John Stanley
In the event of Alan Jones leaving the station, this appears to be the most likely line up. Steve Price enjoys huge ratings in his nights timeslot and his presenting style and views are seen to closely mirror Jones’.
A shift to breakfast would easily allow for 2GB’s go-to fill in John Stanley to move into nights while the rest of the line up goes untouched.
SCENARIO TWO:
BREAKFAST: Ben Fordham
MORNINGS: Steve Price
AFTERNOONS: Chris Smith
DRIVE: Karl and Peter Stefanovic with Edwina Bartholemew
MONEY NEWS: Ross Greenwood
NIGHTS: Michael McLaren
A senior 2GB executive told The Daily Telegraph that ongoing drama surrounding Hadley could mean Macquarie Media’s majority shareholder Channel 9 is forced to take action and stand down the shock jock. In this scenario, Steve Price would take over Hadley’s mornings show with Ben Fordham propelled into breakfast.
The availability of the Stefanovic brothers presents an interesting possibility for the drive home. Karl Stefanovic built up a rapport with listeners in 2015 when he filled in for Fordham and is said to be interested in a stint in radio. His brother Peter is also on the lookout for a full-time role following his departure from Nine while Bartholomew, who formerly worked in the 2GB newsroom, will be behind the microphone in that timeslot this week.
Overnight host Michael McLaren who is Price’s back up would make the easy jump to nights but Price played down the industry rumours when contacted over the weekend.
“I’m very happy doing nights and working on The Project so I don’t really have time to shift to mornings,” he said.
SCENARIO THREE:
BREAKFAST: Ray Hadley
MORNINGS: Ben Fordham
AFTERNOONS: Chris Smith
DRIVE: Mark Levy
MONEY NEWS: Ross Greenwood
NIGHTS: Steve Price
Scenario three is also very likely considering the power of Hadley in the 2GB corridors.
If Macquarie Media management ignores bullying complaints against the broadcaster and Channel 9 doesn’t step in, the station would execute its original plan of putting Hadley in breakfast.
Ben Fordham would then be heard from 9am to maintain the strong morning ratings while regular fill-in Mark Levy would take up the drive shift. Levy is currently heard on the Continuous Call Team on 2GB weekends and in breakfast on 2GB’s sister station Macquarie Sports Radio, but with the station battling plummeting ratings and 2GB struggling with a lack of capable fill-ins a jump back to 873 AM wouldn’t be impossible.
SCENARIO FOUR:
BREAKFAST: Steve Price
MORNINGS: Ray Hadley
AFTERNOONS: Karl Stefanovic
DRIVE: Ben Fordham
MONEY NEWS: Ross Greenwood
NIGHTS: Chris Smith
The addition of Karl Stefanovic in afternoons could be a ratings winner for 2GB which has traditionally struggled to maintain listeners after the breakfast-mornings drop off, despite Chris Smith regularly winning the ratings between 12-3pm.
SCENARIO FIVE:
BREAKFAST: Steve Price
MORNINGS: Ben Fordham
AFTERNOONS: Natalie Peters and Erin Molan
DRIVE: Merrick Watts
MONEY NEWS: Ross Greenwood
NIGHTS: Michael McLaren
Scenario five also presents a line up without Hadley and Jones and again puts Steve Price in breakfast.
Natalie Peters and Erin Molan, who teamed up regularly over the summer and will be heard together in drive this week, are placed in afternoons to bring a much needed female presence to the main line up while Merrick Watts tackles drive.
The Daily Telegraph understands Watts is gunning for a permanent role at 2GB and underwent a secret trial for management a few months ago. The former FM radio host is currently hosting the Police Tape podcast.
Let us know your preferred line up in the comments below.
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