Hamish and Andy return to Today Network drive slot as Dan and Maz take on 2DayFM brekkie
Broadcaster Southern Cross Austereo (SCA) has announce that radio duo Hamish Blake and Andy Lee will return to the radio hosting its drive time show on the Today Network, with current hosts Dan and Maz taking on 2DayFM breakfast.
Speculation has been rife in recent weeks that SCA would seek to revive ratings on its struggling 2DayFM station by signing the pair to its breakfast show. However, that show is set to end with Jules Lund confirmed as the host of the drive show until July.
Over the weekend Sophie Monk confirmed she would leave the show at the end of the year, leaving Lund and Merrick Watts as the two remaining hosts. SCA said Watts would be involved in some capacity on the network next year.
The 2DayFM radio station has languished in the ratings since the defection of breakfast hosts Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O last year.
Earlier this month Hamish and Andy did a skit at the Radio Awards on their contract negotiations, including the tongue in cheek demand from Blake “Southern Cross Austereo undertakes to organise for everyone in Australia to now get up at midday and the Australian work day to start at 2pm at the earliest,” with Lee declaring “if that happens then we’ll do breakfast.”
Hamish and Andy said in a statement: “We’re so stoked to be jumping into the Drive slot, it’s something we’ve always wanted to do. Ever since that time we did it for five years. It’s going to be so much fun.”
SCA Executive Director of Metropolitan Operations Guy Dobson said, “It’s a great day for radio when Hamish and Andy do five days in a row, live, which means it’s a great day for Southern Cross Austereo. It’s also fantastic when we get to promote young talent like we’ve done so many times in the past, to spearhead your key players. Dan and Maz will do exceptional radio waking up Sydney at 2Day FM.”
Nic Christensen and Alex Hayes
If only I had sold my SCA shares 13 months ago. If only.
User ID not verified.
You can hear Kyle and Jackie O shaking in their boots at the prospect of going up against Dan & Maz. A terrible show that has no place at breakfast.
Either the talent pipeline is tapped out or they just aren’t digging far enough.
User ID not verified.
I guess Dan and Maz have youth on their side; the idea being to lure the younger audience to whom Kyle and Jackie O sound a bit old. But any changes will have to include the music. Rebranding to Hit, in line with Adelaide, seems more likely now. Also, I’d be feeling a bit nervous if I were hosting another SCA brekkie show …
User ID not verified.
Trey it all depends on whether you want to listen to something young and fresh, or old and nasty (K&J), or a couple of bogans on nova…. It will actually be the point of difference in the radio market with Wsfm doing well. Bring it on I say! Dan and Maz are positive and fun – that doesn’t appear to be anywhere else on the dial.
User ID not verified.
Dan and Maz are 10 times better than the horrific drive time show on Nova.
User ID not verified.
Are there enough younger people listening to radio for Dan and Maz to make any progress on what is already a terrible breakfast share for 2Day? The only way to make up ground is to pick up the masses who are already listening to radio i.e. the over 30s. Maybe they should have gone for Jonesy and Amanda …
User ID not verified.
At the very least, you can say they’re backing young talent for Breakfast.
Wil Andersen was on breakie in the late 90s, Merrick and Rosso were on drive around a similar time. Hamish and Andy have been around a really long time too, although at least some people still think they’re funny.
Just hire good producers and (maybe) some good advertising creatives / comedy writers and you should be fine. Kyle and Jackie O had great producers that knew how to shock and get headlines, all you need are good writers / creatives who know how to endear people and get headlines.
User ID not verified.