Alan Jones lands regular Brisbane radio show on 4BC despite multiple law suits
Veteran broadcaster Alan Jones will become a regular fixture on Fairfax Radio station 4BC with a new hour-long weekday show, despite being in the midst of a legal battle with several state politicians and officials.
Jones, whose 2GB Breakfast show dominates the ratings in Sydney, has been broadcasting an hour-long show every morning on the network as part of its coverage of the Queensland State Election.
However, last week Queensland Premier Campbell Newman filed a lawsuit for libel against Jones and Fairfax Radio, who has made a series of claims relating to the expansion of a coal mine in his home town which has been approved by Newman.
That suit has since been followed by others from politicians and civil servants.
Jones is the first Macquarie Radio Network host to fill a regular timeslot on a Fairfax Radio station, and comes as the two networks seek a merger which is currently under scrutiny from the Australian Consumer and Competition Commission (ACCC).
The show, to be broadcast between midday and 1pm on weekdays, is called the Alan Jones Hour, and comes as the talkback station seeks to increase its audience and revenue shares in a market dominated by FM music stations.
“We have received an absolutely overwhelmingly positive response from our listeners to Alan Jones returning to 4BC and I am delighted to announce that Alan is staying on with our station with his weekday program, raising the issues that are relevant to Queenslanders,”4BC General Manager Anthony Frangi said.
“Having such an experienced and skilled broadcaster as Alan Jones on 4BC for his expert commentary really complements our on-air team.”
Mumbrella is seeking comment on whether the show will continue if the merger deal is not approved.
Alex Hayes
What a hero Alan Jones is. What a tireless worker for the people. Mr. Campbell-Newman has put mining first over agriculture and now mining is bust and agriculture is going to boom and where is the arable land now….. either dug up or poisoned, water stolen from farmers for the mines and general destruction of the richest farming land in that state. Alan Jones radio show will be the best gift for Queensland farmers in years. Congratulations- go get ’em!
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Interesting that Frangi would say they have had positive response. I have found a huge majority of 4BC listeners I know have been turning to the ABC as soon as Jones comes on. They do not like his egotistical, over bearing and boorish nature. This is just the start of 4BC and Fairfax trying to cut long term costs. If the merger is approved I am sure there will be “packages” of Hadley, Jones and other GB/UE broadcasters on air with the loss of jobs at 4BC. Sad but true
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Will it be new content for Queensland or the same one hour of edited highlights from his 2GB show regional stations currently receive?
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Alan Jones is from regional Queensland and has been very vocal supporting the rural producers, so makes sense
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The world protested (including Australia) about freedom of speech (i.e its ok to make a derogitory cartoon of someone elses religion) yet you can be sued for having an opinion. In my opinion, we all have freedom of speech but it comes with responisibilty. Dare I say if the protesters were right about freedom of speech than imagine the freedom we have on our copy!!
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What a pity voters can’t irradicate of this guy from Australia’s politics. He should go when his mate Tony goes – it would be the honourable thing to do.
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