AFL TV kingpin’s staggering salary ‘broken down’ by Nathan Brown

A Footy Show star has lobbed a grenade into AFL media circles with some provocative claims about the sport’s highest-earning TV figures.

Garry Lyon and James Brayshaw.

Nathan Brown has lobbed a grenade into AFL broadcasting circles with another wild annual footy media rich list.

The former Richmond and Western Bulldogs star got tongues wagging after he named what he believes are the top five highest earning figures in football with a microphone in their hands.

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Brown’s annual list, which he says is compiled from around 30 phone calls to figures in the industry, named two figures as the top dogs in footy media.

For the first time, Brown has named James Brayshaw as the highest-earning broadcaster in football with annual earnings of around $1.2 million per-year — because of his multiple roles as host of Triple M’s drive time radio institution, The Rush Hour, as well as his positions as a commentator for Channel 7’s AFL and cricket coverage.

Fox Footy's Jonathan Brown, Garry Lyon and Nick Riewoldt. Picture: Jason Edwards

James Brayshaw is everywhere. Picture: Channel 7/Tim Carrafa

Brown’s annual lists have always been taken with a grain of salt and was met with plenty of light-hearted criticism from his colleagues when he dropped the list on Triple M’s Friday Huddle.

The Sunday Footy Show star has also named Melbourne Demons legend Garry Lyon as the second highest-earning footy media commentator because of his busy workload of juggling his Fox Footy commitments and breakfast radio on SEN in Melbourne.

He is estimated to have raked in around $1 million in the past 12 months.

Media commentator Mark Howard has again made the list with claims he earned around $900,00 — well down compared to Brown’s 2022 list where Howard was estimated to have earned around $1.2 million.

Popular Fox Footy caller Anthony Hudson has made Brown’s list for the first time with suggestions he is on a phat deal worth around $750,000 per-year since adding AM radio to his extensive TV gigs.

AFL 360 host Gerard Whateley was listed at No. 5 with claimed earnings of around $650,000.

Brown said there has been a big shake-up to his list because of a changed criteria which means AFL figures working outside of traditional footy media outlets were not included.

Brendan Fevola wasn’t included. Picture: Supplied/Fox FM

The changed criteria is the reason popular Nova host Brendan Fevola has not ben included.

Another big change to the 2022 list was Jonathan Brown falling out of the Top 5 because of his decision to step away from his morning radio program.

Understandably there was noticeably some jealous comments from the show’s panel, which includes Jason Dunstall, Luke Darcy and Damian Barrett.

The panel was also happy to point out the difference in salaries Brayshaw and colleague Brian Taylor have been taking home despite the pair working together at Channel 7 and Triple M.

Nathan Brown’s Top 5 Footy media earnings 2023

1. James Brayshaw

2. Garry Lyon

3. Mark Howard

4. Anthony Hudson

5. Gerard Whateley

Nathan Brown’s Top 5 Footy media earnings 2022

1. Jonathan Brown

2. Mark Howard

3. Garry Lyon

4. James Brayshaw

5. Nathan Buckley

Originally published as AFL TV kingpin’s staggering salary ‘broken down’ by Nathan Brown