Alan Jones signs new two-year contract with 2GB

Alan Jones has re-signed with 2GB in a two-year deal that keeps him on his $4 million a year salary. But the agreement was finally settled after months of increasingly hostile talks.

• Alan Jones handed contract breach by 2GB management
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Australia’s talk back king Alan Jones has re-signed with 2GB in a two-year deal that keeps him on his $4 million a year salary until his 80th birthday.

The deal was announced today by 2GB owner Macquarie Media after protracted contract negotiations between Jones and 2GB chief executive Adam Lang had stalled.

Lang is understood to have attempted to add stringent new conditions on Jones’ contract including cutting his staff of eight.

“Alan would not agree to that under any circumstances,” a 2GB insider told The Daily Telegraph.

Alan Jones leaves his apartment building on Tuesday evening. Picture: Jeremy Piper

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After months of increasingly hostile talks Macquarie Media chairman Russell Tate took over and entered into fresh negotiations with Jones close friend, thoroughbred horse breeder John Messara.

After the deal was signed Mr Tate enthused: “Over his already extraordinary radio career, Alan has dominated Sydney radio with 218 ratings survey wins, including 15 consecutive years at Number 1 on 2GB — an unprecedented achievement.

“All of us at Macquarie are delighted that we will continue along for the ride with one of the Australian media’s most outstanding performers.”

Alan Jones celebrates 2GB’s ten years as Sydney's number one radio station. Picture: John Feder

It is understood Mr Lang’s tough new contract conditions were swept off the table. The landing of the deal in just a few weeks, when earlier talks had dragged on for months, has brought Mr Lang’s handling of the issue under close scrutiny.

The signing of a new contract with Jones had been in question after he was found to have defamed the Wagner family in Queensland last September, which cost $3.7 million in damages.

Part of that bill was covered by the withholding of a $1.4 million bonus for Jones.

Other hosts signing with the station have had a $50,000 defamation indemnity limit added to their contracts. It is not known if this was a contributing factor in the problems between the shock jock and the station.

Morning host Ray Hadley is also understood to have been offered Jones breakfast slot when his contract expired. Hadley, who has had problems with staff allegations of bullying this year, has just signed a new five year contract and is said to be happy to wait.

Alan Jones has signed a $4m a year contract. Picture: Jeremy Piper

A key player in pushing for the contract to be re-signed has been ad-man John Singleton, who owns 32 per cent of the station and is looking to sell his share to Macquarie’s major shareholder, Nine.

Nine’s chairman Peter Costello and chief executive Hugh Marks have made it clear that they want Jones at the microphone for another two years. In real terms, Jones signing makes Singleton’s stake worth $100 million.

Jones told the Daily Telegraph he was glad the long negotiation was over. “It is obviously a relief, it has been a very public affair and I have always taken the view the dignified thing is to say nothing.

“Russell Tate and I have had very amicable discussions and it has been handled successfully.”

He said he had asked for a two year contract and that its length was no reflection of his age. “We are as old as we feel. I don’t think I have ever had long term contracts,” he said. “It was what I asked for and what I got.

“Now it is business as usual and we get on with the job.”

FULL STATEMENT FROM MACQUARIE MEDIA

The new contract will see Alan Jones working at 2GB until he is 80. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Macquarie Media Limited today announced that it has re-signed Alan Jones, the host of its 2GB Sydney and 4BC Brisbane breakfast radio programs, to a new two-year contract which will commence on July 1st 2019 at the conclusion of his current contract.

In announcing the signing, MML Chairman Russell Tate said he was very pleased that Jones would continue to be an integral part of the Macquarie on-air team for at least another two years.

Mr. Tate commented that “Over his already extraordinary radio career, Alan has dominated Sydney radio with 218 ratings survey wins, including 15 consecutive years at Number 1 on 2GB — an unprecedented achievement.

And with Alan’s current ratings share of the Sydney radio audience amongst the highest it has ever been, his dominance shows no sign of slowing down.

All of us at Macquarie are delighted that we will continue along for the ride with one of the Australian media’s most outstanding performers.”