Listeners hear media icon axed on air as AFL host cleans out station

Footy fans have been shocked to learn live on air that an Aussie media mogul has cleaned out a popular football network.

Media mogul Craig Hutchison has been grilled live on air just seconds after listeners learned of a mass clean out at a popular radio network.

Hutchison on Thursday announced sweeping changes to Melbourne network RSN just days after the TV host’s group purchased the radio station in a $3.25 million deal.

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The former Footy Show host returned to his old network with an axe in hand, giving popular hosts Daniel Harford and Michael Felgate the chop.

Many long-time listeners of the station only learned the news when Hutchison fronted Felgate’s Racing Pulse show on Thursday.

In a bizarre segment, Felgate had the opportunity to grill the Agenda Setters producer about why he was losing his job.

Hutchison responded to Felgate by saying the decision was not personal.

Keeley Skepper poses with Daniel Harford, senior coach of the Blues during the 2022 AFLW draft. Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

Felgate began in interview asking: “I’ve got to start with the elephant in the room.

“An announcement yesterday which came out that there will be programming changes. Breakfast with Harf and this show, Racing Pulse, will no longer exist in the new regime.

“Just talk us through the reasoning. Why you don’t want Breakfast with Harf and Racing Pulse on the new station.”

Hutchison responded: “First of all they’re magnificent shows, so no disrespect at all to the quality of the programs and the identities involved, you in particular Michael and Daniel, who have been incredible servants of RSN.

“There’s nothing personal about (cancelling) either of those programs... we need to invest, over time, into the racing product, it’s a racing station.

Craig Hutchison and Eddie McGuire behind the scenes of The Footy Show.

“It’s a different audience to the one that we have developed over on SEN Track, very different audience, very different experience, they don’t really resemble each other after midday.”

He went on to say: “I know that won’t be everyone’s cup of tea on day one.

“You (Felgate) have got an enormous following, so does Daniel. The default position from many will be to have empathy for those programs and I respect that hugely. Hugely, because it’s not about the quality of the shows.”

Harford, who has been an icon of the network, said on his Thursday show it had been “a period of uncertainty” for those involved.

“So at the end of August this program will cease to exist,” he said.

“We’ll be no longer required and there will be different programming on RSN which is very sad.

“We’ve been doing this for a long time, which is very sad. We’ve had a lot of conversations about this internally for a little while. Certainly in the last couple of days when we found out what was going to be happening.

“So that’s the reality of our situation.”

Craig Hutchison talks during a Perth Wildcats game. Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images.

The Hutchison-led group have announced RSN will double dip from the Hutchison-backed SEN network and will broadcast SEN Breakfast.

SEN’s flagship breakfast slot, whish is shared between Kane Cornes, David King, Tim Watson and Garry Lyon, will now be broadcast on two frequencies.

Felgate’s Racing Pulse will be replaced by Gareth Hall’s Giddy Up.

Those changes will be made from August 29.

Harford posted on X on Thursday: “Forgive my indulgence. I just wanted to express my immense gratitude for the amazing messages & love that I, our brekky team, have received today after the changes announced at RSN927.

“We’re not signing off yet, though. There’s still 31 shows to go.”

Harford has been with the network for nine years.

Speaking on Felgate’s show, Hutchison kept the door open to work on different projects with the sacked duo down the track.

Harford played 162 senior games during his playing career with Hawthorn and Carlton before his retirement in 2004.

His move into coaching included a stint as coach of Carlton’s AFLW side.

Originally published as Listeners hear media icon axed on air as AFL host cleans out station