Rush Hour is over
Triple M axe lands on local Drive show
Not for the first time, not I expect the last, I’m writing about a Brisbane radio station axing a local program in favour of a networked show.
This time it’s Triple M that has axed the Rush Hour Drive show with Liam Flanagan, Leisl Jones and Ben “Dobbo” Dobbin in favour of one hosted from Sydney by Marty Sheargolgd and broadcast to all Triple M stations in Queensland and NSW. The AFL states will have a different show, networked from Melbourne. The change will take place at the start of the new year.
This follows the replacement of the local Weekends program on 4BC with a show from Sydney (and, sadly, there are rumours of more changes to come there, especially after Nine Radio took the axe to 6PR in Perth a few weeks ago).
I won’t go through the laundry list, because I’m actually on holidays now (and writing this poolside in Cebu in the Philippines), but it seems the movement towards less local radio is relentless.
Only the breakfast shows have escaped the cost-cutting at most music stations — and that might not be the case in the near future. Good news for the networked stars, who are coining it in, but not for those who work hard and care passionately about delivering relevant content in their home towns.
The latest ratings will be released on Thursday next week. Good luck, everybody. Let’s hope strong figures can save you from the wrath of the bean counters (even though they may not).
Believe it or not the Marty show is also out of Melbourne. So the NSW/QLD drive show will actually be from Melbourne but they won’t hear it