Page 13: John Burns says any decision to end his career ‘won’t be mine’

Word out of Sydney is that Nine Entertainment is about to shake things up in the Melbourne market. So why is radio king John Burns’ name on the guillotine list again?

What’s that noise, asked Page 13 when 3AW radio king John Burns was telling us what a shemozzle Nine Entertainment has found itself in after taking over the Macquarie network.

“It’s the bloody booze interlock,” says Burns, who is a legend in his own lunchtime and has had problems driving while under the, er, influence.

Burnso was unlucky, busted with a reading of 0.061 last year on the way home from a charity speaking engagement. But he calls a spade a spade and owns it. He says the alcohol interlock in his car costs him about $250 a month and now he also finds himself under the pump on his top-rating breakfast show with Ross Stevenson.

The jungle drums are beating, this time a little more loudly, with word out of Sydney that Nine is about to shake things up in the Melbourne market. “No one is safe,” one insider says.

Ross Stevenson and John Burns.

“Well except Ross and Neil, of course.”

That is 3AW ratings royals Stevenson and Neil Mitchell.

“Everyone else is on tenterhooks,” they added. Nine’s takeover of Macquarie Media, owners of 3AW, has talent looking over their shoulders.

Asked if a succession plan was under way, or if he was feeling the flex of some Sydney top brass at Nine, Burns let rip.

“I won’t be doing that voluntarily,” he said of rumours he might hang up the mic next year. “Whatever decision is made about my future it won’t be me making it.”

Burnso is not making it easy for anyone. “You wouldn’t think they would want to keep rocking the boat with all the trouble the’ve got up there with (ALAN) Jones and (RAY) Hadley,” he said. “Plus all the sponsors walking out on them.

“I don’t know what the situation is. But I’m prepared to work on forever, as I’ve told management down here.”

Burns said management had indicated he was not going to be here forever: “Well, I want to be here forever and whatever decision is to be made to end my career — it won’t be mine.”

With John Singleton gearing up to sell his 32.4 per cent share after the independent review cleared him earlier this month, it looks like Nine’s complete control of Macquarie Media is all but inevitable. Which brings us back to Sir Lunchalot.

John Burns and Kate Stevenson. Picture: Fiona Byrne

Page 13 has said it before, but why fix something that ain’t broke?

Ross and John are kings of breakfast radio. Every ratings survey sees the talk titans on top with more than 100 No.1 ratings.

So why is Burns’ name on the guillotine list, again?

Sydney top brass think Melbourne has been resting on its reputation for too long and needs to be more dynamic.

Radio’s a cutthroat game. Just look at Sydney’s bloodied landscape. Macquarie was happy to see the back of “shove a sock down her throat” Jones. Nine chairman Peter Costello apparently owed him a favour and the favour was duly called in.

But Hadley and Steve Price’s exorbitant new contracts had to be honoured, hence the salary shuffle taking place in the Harbour City.

Word is Price’s afternoon show may go national, across all markets, including Melbourne, which may be a problem for Denis Walter, whose baritone voice is starting to sound a shade shriller.

Hamish McLachlan. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Stephen Quartermain.

But Burns is a stayer and proves time and time again why people tune in. He tells it like it is. In a world of fluff and puff, the booze-lock blowing barrister is a golden goose. Melbourne listeners back the breakfast radio kings, although there is always speculation around Hamish McLachlan, Stephen Quartermain, Glenn Robbins and his A Moveable Feast co-host Kate Stevenson as replacements.

Burns has had his trials and tribulations, apologising for allegedly calling Richmond footballer Bachar Houli a “terrorist” in a conversation overheard at the MCG.

Then there was the drink-driving incident last year. That looks likely to end next month when the interlock is removed from his car.

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But unlike the controversy over the ever-jeering chaff bagging Jones, none of this seems to have affected sponsors or advertisers.

“Sure it is up to the executives,” said someone who knows, “but it’s Ross’s show at the end of the day. He makes the captain’s call.”

Sydney might pull rank but that No.1 magic is hard to replace.

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