SEN boss Craig Hutchison confirms sacking of RSN radio hosts Daniel Harford and Michael Felgate on-air

Just days after taking control of RSN, Craig Hutchison has shocked listeners, revealing two high-profile hosts have been dumped in a move the SEN boss says is ‘nothing personal’.

SEN boss Craig Hutchison has said it’s “nothing personal” about the sacking of high-profile RSN radio hosts Daniel Harford and Michael Felgate, just days after he took control of the station.

Many RSN listeners found out the changes live on air on Thursday morning when Hutchison appeared on Felgate’s Racing Pulse show where he revealed his plans for the racing station.

The popular Harford will finish up his nine-year stint on the breakfast show on August 29.

Hutchison confirmed SEN’s existing breakfast shows – ‘Fireball’ with Kane Cornes and David King on Mondays and Fridays, and SEN Breakfast with Garry Lyon and Tim Watson from Tuesdays to Thursdays – will now be heard also on RSN.

And former RSN host Gareth Hall returns with his daily SEN show ‘Giddy Up’ to be heard across the RSN airwaves at the earlier time of 8am.

Daniel Harford and Michael Felgate

“They’re both magnificent shows, so no disrespect at all to the quality of the programming and to the identities involved, you in particular Michael (Felgate) and also Daniel, who have been incredible servants to RSN,” Hutchison said.

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

“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.

“I know that won’t be everyone’s cup of tea on day one. The default position from many will be to have empathy for those programs and I respect that hugely.

“It’s not about the quality of the shows. We’re going to be investing in racing … we want to invest in content.”

Hutchison’s Sports Entertainment Group bought the Victorian racing industry-owned station for $3.25 million last week. He had been circling the iconic station, which celebrated its 100th birthday this year, for several years and had been outbid by Racing Victoria in 2021.

SEN chief executive Craig Hutchison, right, with chairman Craig Coleman. Picture: Arsineh Houspian

“This network is 100 years old, it’s got an incredible history in Melbourne, it’s been a part of the beat of the city for a long time,” Hutchison said. “It served racing especially well, I think Saturdays are just an unbelievable part of the Melbourne way of life here at RSN.

“There’s also a regional network that is tremendous in its distribution, frequencies and signals. Those towns are an opportunity to invest in, to put resources in and to put people in and be a deeper part of country racing in Victoria.

“We intend to invest in those areas and we want to be a regional business as much as a metro business.

“We will do more racing in breakfast and in the mornings. Long term, even earlier presents a lot of opportunity.

“You’ve got a lot of industry up at 5-5.30 in the morning who are at track work or who are on the road or who are travelling around the state, so edging even earlier into the morning in the state is a long term, and potentially short term, opportunity.

“The legacy of this place is a huge responsibility ongoing, and our job is to preserve it, protect it and enhance it. So we will absolutely be investing in the racing coverage.

“We’re going to be in racing long term. My word: we’re in racing for the long haul.”

Originally published as SEN boss Craig Hutchison confirms sacking of RSN radio hosts Daniel Harford and Michael Felgate on-air