Ray Hadley to keep increased $4m yearly contract despite Alan Jones staying put at 2GB

Radio host Ray Hadley will begin an eye-popping contract on Monday which he negotiated with 2GB management during plans to dump Alan Jones, despite the breakfast host staying put in the role on the same money as his stablemate.

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Exclusive: Ray Hadley will keep a $1.7 million “breakfast bonus” negotiated last year in the network’s failed plans to supplant Alan Jones in the prime 2GB breakfast radio slot.

Radio sources yesterday revealed Hadley’s new contract — which takes effect from tomorrow, July 1 — soared from $2.3 million a year to $4 million a year during secret negations with Macquarie Media bosses last year as they manoeuvred to axe incumbent breakfast star Jones and promote Hadley to his coveted spot.

Neither Hadley nor Macquarie CEO Adam Lang responded to calls to confirm the pay rise that puts Hadley on equal money to Jones though on a longer and ultimately more lucrative contract.

$4 million a year for Jones …

… And $4 million a year for Hadley.

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Jones’s contract expires in 2021 while Hadley’s new contract runs until 2025 — putting Hadley on $24 million over six years.

From tomorrow, 2GB’s incoming new afternoon host Steve Price, currently host of the night shift, will also receive a salary bump negotiated last year as part of 2GB’s now abandoned plan to replace Jones at breakfast with Hadley and Hadley at mornings with Price.

That plan fell apart following Nine’s acquisition of a majority stake in Macquarie Media, 2GB’s parent company, in December and Nine’s insistence Jones be retained at breakfast.

The men behind the decisions, National Executive Producer Michael Thompson …

… And CEO Adam Lang.

The financial sweeteners should offset any embarrassment or inconvenience Hadley and Price may be feeling after being informed they’d have to wait at least two more years — the term of Jones’s newly signed $8 million contract — for their promised slot promotions.

The news comes as 2GB’s new majority shareholder Nine urges financial restraint across the radio network — including cancelling an existing contract with news provider AAP.

The vision for the new 2GB under Nine also has bosses looking for an opportunity to draft one of its established female presenters into a slot on the radio station.

Steve Price is also set for salary bump and a shift change …

… While Chris Smith will feel the fallout from the arrangement and moves to nights.

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The preferred woman for the job is Today show presenter Deb Knight, a proven performer on both radio and television but one currently balancing a busy schedule at Nine as both Today presenter and weekend news anchor. The preferred slot for Knight, or an alternative woman, is the afternoon slot which until last week was occupied by Chris Smith.

“2GB wants her but for now she’s not going anywhere,” said a media insider last week.

Next week, while Smith takes his leave of 2GB to host a lavish Queen Mary 2 cruise billed by travel site Travelrite as a “Transatlantic New York to London & Paris with Chris Smith”, Nine sports presenter Erin Molan and 2GB newsreader Natalie Peters will share hosting duties.

2GB is pursuing for Deb Knight, ideally for afternoons especially when Jones’ contract expires in two years. Picture: Dylan Robinson

Natalie Peters and Erin Molan will again team up in the next few weeks in afternoons.

The women, both radio proteges of 2GB mornings host Ray Hadley, will fill in until Price vacates his evening spot and moves to afternoons, a move mooted to take place next month.

The internal cold war between radio stars Jones and Hadley — and Jones and 2GB management — meanwhile continues.

Last week came word another of Hadley’s appointments, sales representative Robert “The Duck” Smith, was informed his services were no longer required by Macquarie. After retaining lawyers, Smith will be engaged as a contractor a source said yesterday.