2GB’s Ray Hadley signs new $9m deal

Australia’s highest-paid talk radio host, 2GB’s Ray Hadley, has confirmed to listeners that he will stay on the station until the end of 2026.

Nine Radio’s 2GB morning host Ray Hadley, who is on the verge of re-signing with the network under a lucrative $9m deal. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Australia’s highest-paid talk radio host, 2GB’s Ray Hadley, has confirmed to listeners that he will stay on the station until the end of 2026, telling them he only made the decision “last night”.

The news was exclusively revealed by The Australian on Thursday night, with Hadley formally announcing the contract renewal on-air on Friday morning, in what is understood to be one of the richest deals in talkback radio history. Industry insiders suggest the new deal is worth up to $9m over two-and-a-half years from the beginning of July next year.

There had previously been speculation that Hadley could retire when his current contract expired at the end of June next year. But the 2GB morning radio king told his listeners shortly after 9.20am on Friday morning: “I decided last night to stick around here until December 2026….The matter is solved. I’m staying. And I’m happy to be staying.”

Hadley told listeners his decision had been taken after extensive discussions with Nine Radio boss Tom Malone and his wife, Sophie. “After sitting down with Tom Malone over an extended period, and then gaining the support of my wife Sophie, I decided to accept an offer to extend my current deal,” he said. “I’m looking forward to the next three years as much as I’ve enjoyed the past 22 years at 2GB. I’m also excited to be back at the Olympic Games in Paris 2024 – my 7th Olympics – and again, I’ll be the lead commentator at the swimming and track and field (for Nine Radio).”

Hadley, who has won 148 consecutive morning radio surveys on Sydney’s 2GB dating back to the early 2000s, also revealed that Malone wanted him to stay longer, but he would assess that decision by December 2026.

Malone said on Friday morning: “Ray is a broadcaster of unmatched work ethic and likely never to be repeated success.”

Hadley had privately maintained he would not go around again after his current contract expired at the end of June 2024.

Media Diary noted last month that Hadley, 68, could be enticed to stay if he was offered a role as Nine Radio’s chief commentator at the 2024 Paris Olympics, as well as being able to call his 100th State of Origin match in 2024. By reaching the Origin milestone, Hadley will almost certainly eclipse his great mate, and Nine’s legendary TV NRL caller, Ray Warren, who retired last year with 99 Origin calls under his belt.

Nine is now understood to have agreed to offer both the Olympics and Origin roles to Hadley as incentives to stay.

The latest deal will cap the rags-to-riches story of the former cabbie, who started his broadcasting career calling the Appin dogs in the 1970s.

He eventually got his break in 1981, when he landed a gig as traffic reporter for Gary O’Callaghan, then Sydney’s No. 1 breakfast presenter at the now-defunct 2UE, where Hadley eventually went on to become the chief sports commentator.

Hadley is renowned for his work ethic, which has often led to him working seven day weeks during the football season, when he has called games on the weekend and run a regular talkback show during the week. He’s no stranger to controversy, having some robust on-air confrontations with prime ministers and premiers alike.