When too much sport is too much
Is ABC Radio's new show a waste of airtime? Is Karl Stefanovic “getting away with murder“? And what’s Kyle Sandilands up to now?
The fabulous Roy Slaven and H.G. Nelson used to celebrate “when too much sport is barely enoughc in their seminal Triple J Saturday afternoon show This Sporting Life.
Well, as much as I continue to love H.G. and Roy, I’ve must say that ABC radio has now reached a point where there is simply too much sport and it is enough. Already!
ABC Local Radio, including ABC Brisbane, has quietly introduced a 15-minute sport show at 6.30pm. Yes, that’s around the time when Channels 7 and 9 have sport reports on their TV news bulletins, and when the commercial talk-radio rival — 4BC in Brisbane — is also running a sport show, the 6-7pm Wide World of Sport.
It’s as if the world is conspiring against those of us who don’t want to listen to sport (except when, as in the case of Roy and H.G., it’s served up with a hefty serving of comedy).
Aunty’s new national offering is called ABC Sport Daily and it’s billed as follows: “your daily sports conversation. We dive into the biggest story of the day and get you up to speed with everything else that’s making headlines.”
I’m sorry but who asked for this? And who do they think is going to listen to it, apart from those people whose radios are rusted on to the ABC frequency?
Did whoever commission this look at the abysmal ratings WWOS is getting and decide “we need a slice of this virtually non-existent audience”?
I haven’t heard the program, so I’m willing to believe host Patrick Stack and the production team have found a brilliant new way to present the subject.
But, in common with so many other Australians, I’m really not that into it.
Sandilands’ stunt
Will a stunt where 200 tennis balls full of cash and prizes were dropped from a helicopter on to a tennis centre in suburban Elsternwick convert Melburnians into fans of Kyle Sandilands and Jackie “O” Henderson?
Scrambling for the prizes were 100 listeners brought in from all over, while KIIS employee “Intern Pete” Deppeler reported back to Sanidlands and Henderson and a breathless nation.
Henderson was quoted as saying: “We were so excited to bring something this big to Melbourne to kick off a huge 2025 for our show. We can’t wait to bring even more surprises to them this year.”
Perhaps even making the effort to visit the city where they so desperately need listeners?
[Editor’s note: Insert crude joke here about Sandilands’ balls finally dropping, and be prepared to defend it on the basis that, unlike his radio show, this newsletter does not have a young audience.]
Elsewhere …
Speaking of stunts, KIIS 973 Brisbane’s Kip Wightman and Robin Bailey have denied rumours that they don’t get along, and their new co-host Corey Oates was set up over an interview with country music superstar Luke Combs. If that floats your boat, the story is here.
Also, former Queenslander Karl Stefanovic is back in the headlines following the sacking of his colleague, Alex Cullen, who reportedly accepted $50,000 from Melbourne multi-millionaire Adrian “Lambo Guy” Portelli.
News.com.au is asking whether Today Show host Stefanovic, who participated in banter about Portelli but did not accept any money, is a “protected species” at the Nine network. It reports:
A Nine insider yesterday said Stefanovic has for too long been allowed to “get away with murder” at Nine.
“He serially ingratiates himself to successive CEOs and executives and is forgiven for the things others simply don’t get away with,” one insider said on Friday.
With many people leaving Nine Entertainment for various reasons in recent weeks, the scaling back or closure of news bulletins, and a still not-satisfactorily resolved scandal over workplace harassment and bullying at the network, it’s no wonder staff morale is low.
Disclaimer: Brett Debritz has a face for audio and once worked for Nine Radio.
Tennis ball drop. Um, how quaint. Real 70's chic. Forward to the past!