4BC reveals breakfast show plans
The on-air announcement was unexpected by some ...
Breakfast with Laurel, Gary and Mark, a decades-long Brisbane radio partnership, will continue on 4BC, defying media rumours that their show would be axed when the trio’s contracts expire mid-year.
Noting the show was an outlier for 4BC, some pundits suggested the station would soon move to a news-opinion format closer to that in Sydney, where Ben Fordham hosts breakfast sister station 2GB, or to a double act, as exists on Melbourne’s 3AW.
However, as I’ve mentioned on this blog, the ratings are finally on the up at 4BC and management might be loath to meddle with that success.
Laurel Edwards, Gary Clare and Mark Hine joined 4BC after their long-time home, 4KQ, was sold and became all-sports station SEN. 4KQ music director also moved to 4BC, but he was made redundant a few weeks ago.
The next few months will be atypical at 4BC given that normal schedules will be disrupted for Olympic Games coverage. As I see it, the Games will not be ratings gold for radio, even if they are for TV.
Meanwhile, rumours persist that changes may be afoot at KIIS97.3, with Kyle Sandilands saying he wants the Kyle and Jackie O Breakfast Show to air nationally.
Since incumbents Robin Bailey and Kip Wightman are on a ratings high that, too, would seem unlikely in the short term.