Radio legend slams ‘sloppy’ on-air talent

A Melbourne radio legend has lashed station bosses for hiring big-name comedians, sports stars and TV personalities to host shows.

A Melbourne radio legend has lamented the “sloppy” state of the airwaves due to industry bosses hiring TV, stand-up and sporting talent as hosts.

“When will radio station executives understand that hosting a show is actually a skill and not something you just give to someone because they are on television, do stand up, play sport or write a newspaper column,” Kevin Hillier said in a social media on his Facebook page.

“The fact it continues to happen is why hosting is sloppy. There is a difference between getting the job done and doing it really well. Same with interviews.”

Hillier co-hosted Fox FM’s Morning Crew with Peter ‘Grubby’ Stubbs, Diane ‘Dee Dee’ Dunleavy, Denis O’Kane and Ian McFadyen.

Kevin Hillier when he was breakfast announcer on Gold FM.

The former Gold FM Breakfast crew: Shawn Cosgrove, Jane Holmes and Kevin Hillier.

Mick Molloy was a writer and producer on the show.

He also anchored the Kevin Hillier and the D-Generation breakfast show on Triple M.

The D-Generation line up included Rob Sitch, Tom Gleisner, Magda Szubanski and

Jane Kennedy.

Hillier’s post did not name names, but his forthright opinion attracted immediate support from high profile broadcasters from radio, television and sport.

Peter ‘Grubby’ Stubbs. of Fox, Gold and 3AW fame, said: “Without sounding curmudgeonly, Kevin you are so right! The other thing ‘real announcers’ do is inadvertently or deliberately pass on skills and knowledge to newcomers”.

Former AFL star Brendan Fevola co-hosts FOX FM’s morning show. Picture: Josie Hayden

While Nova has also given hosting duties to a former AFL star in Jonathan Brown, along with ex-reality TV personality Chrissie Swan and comedian Sam Pang.

“I’ve always found it hard to improve my on-air skills chatting to a reality ‘star’ as opposed to someone whose been around the radio game for a while!”

TV broadcaster Craig Willis, popularly known as the voice of the AFL, added: “One only has to listen to a top rating station at the moment to fully understand what you have stated so well.”

Veteran TV reporter Dean Felton also added to the online debate.

“Similar to when TV stations hire sportspeople/models/reality contestants as news reporters or readers,” he said. “Insults the audience, cheapens the product, and spits in the face of those who’ve actually done the hard yards.”

Former Triple J and Channel V boss Barry Chapman said: “Commercial radio is a shadow of what it once was. A combination of consultants and bean counters killed its soul.

“Today it’s little more than a supermarket product. Restrictive and fake formats driven by cliches have killed talent development. Originality has left the building.”

Footy great Dermott Brereton also weighed in.

“The TV greats like (Graham) Kennedy, Bert (Newton) and my old mate Ernie (Sigley), all learnt the radio craft first. Then transitioned to TV. Huge difference.”