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96FM breakfast hosts Carmen & Fitzi depart as Paul & Lise return to Perth radio

ARN’s 96FM breakfast show hosts Carmen Braidwood and Brad ‘Fitzi’ Fitzgerald have been removed from the station’s 2018 lineup.

Carmen and Fitzi will be replaced by former Perth radio hosts Nine news presenter Lisa Fernandez and Hobart’s Hit100.9FM’s Paul Hogan.

Hogan and Fernandez previously co-hosted Hit Network’s Perth 92.9FM breakfast show, before Fernandez left the show in 2013.

Following her departure, Fernandez joined Nine as a presenter. She will continue to work with the network in 2018.

Fernandez will continue her work with Channel Nine

Hogan began his career as a comedian and writer before moving to Triple M in a national on-air role.

Hogan has been in Hobart for the last four years

Over the last four years, Hogan has worked with Hobart’s Hit network, co-hosting breakfast.

Duncan Campbell, ARN’s national content director thanked Carmen & Fitzi for their efforts.

“We would like to thank Carmen & Fitzi for their outstanding contribution to 96FM and the moments they’ve shared and laughs they have provided all of Perth over the past six years. Carmen & Fitzi are talented personalities and have been a great team and we wish them well for the future,” Campbell said.

In the sixth radio survey for 2018, Carmen & Fitzi’s breakfast show finished fifth on the FM bandwidth, down 0.6 ratings points to 8.2%.

Perth has seen a major shakeup in the last few weeks, with Hit’s Will McMahon & Woody Whitelaw taking over Kiis national drive, as Hughesy & Kate move to the Hit network. Their replacements are yet to be announced.

Commenting on the station’s ongoing strategy, Campbell added: “The focus is now firmly on our broader strategy to deliver the very best entertainment for Perth and continue to drive ratings growth.

“We plan to build on 96FM’s recent success in transforming its music position to focus on pop rock/modern rock, which has seen the station return to its music roots to deliver “better music and more of it” and this new Breakfast show along with our announcement last week of Will & Woody in drive marks the next phase of that strategy to reignite the heritage and strength of the 96FM brand in Perth.”

He said he was looking forward to bringing Paul & Lise back to Perth.

“They have a wonderful chemistry and their irreverent, fun, and nothing’s off limits style will bring a new energy to Perth Breakfast radio.”

Carmen & Fitzi’s show concludes today. Until 2018, breakfast show announcer Brad Pottinger will present a ‘music breakfast show’.

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