Radio king Alan Jones eyes career switch as contract nears ends

EXCLUSIVE: Broadcast king Alan Jones could walk away from his top-rating breakfast program from Wednesday with contract talks appearing stalled over his future.

EXCLUSIVE: Broadcast king Alan Jones could walk away from his top-rating breakfast program from Wednesday with contract talks appearing stalled over his future.

Jones has been approached and has had conversations with several entities, including Sky News, about possible career options if the radio king decides not to continue with 2GB.

He already has a weekly show on Sky.

Alan Jones (right) with fellow SCG board member Tony Shepherd. Picture: John Feder/The Australian

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The Saturday Telegraph understands that legal clauses in Jones’ contract meant that his employer, Macquarie Media, had one month to respond to an expression of interest from Jones to continue negotiations.

That time frame ends on Wednesday, after which Jones is considered a free agent.

The contract officially has another three months to run but if Macquarie Media does respond to Jones by Wednesday, negotiations can continue.

Jones refused to comment when contacted.

Macquarie Radio CEO Adam Lang said he would not confirm “speculation” about Jones’ future.

“We won’t be commenting on a negotiation that is in progress,” Mr Lang said.

Alan Jones at the funeral of Billy J Smith on Friday. Picture: AAP Image/John Gass

Supporters of the radio veteran — who has been critical to 2GB’s ratings success since 2002 — feel he has been treated disrespectfully by management.

Jones’ forensic interview this week with NSW Labor leader Michael Daley shifted the course of the state election, with Mr Daley declaring he would sack Jones and his fellow colleagues from the SCG Trust board if elected.

In trying to make a point to Jones, Mr Daley resorted to misspeaking and falsely accusing the Trust of ripping sprinklers out at Sydney Football Stadium “under the cover of darkness”.

As well as agenda-setting interviews, Jones is the undisputed king of Sydney radio, having won more than 200 surveys.

This has not come without controversies, most recently last year when he was made to apologise to Opera House boss Louise Herron after a fiery exchange.

But his ratings have always dominated.

When Jones was off air due to ill health from late 2016 to early 2017, ratings for his program slumped from 16.9 per cent of the market share to 12.9.

In this time, Ray Hadley pulled a double shift and covered for Jones.

The latest ratings survey has Jones finishing 2018 with a 16.5 per cent market share of the market, well ahead of his competition.