Beau Ryan exits Macquarie Sports Radio after three months
The newly-launched Macquarie Sports Radio has lost one of its breakfast hosts, with NRL star Beau Ryan leaving the company after just three months.
Beau Ryan and John Stanley’s breakfast show has been on air since April
Ryan has previously worked with Kiis FM radio stars Kyle Sandilands and Jackie ‘O’ Henderson, but on a casual basis, in the absence of Sandilands. Ryan appeared on Kiis FM earlier this week.
Mumbrella understands Ryan’s appearance this week was a one off and he is not currently a permanent Kiis FM talent.
Macquarie Sports Radio launched in April, replacing Talking Lifestyle, which ran for two years.
The channel launched with radio breakfast co-hosts John Stanley and Beau Ryan across Sydney and Brisbane, and hosts Tony Leonard, Tony Shaw and Jimmy Bartel in Melbourne. Ryan replaced longstanding breakfast host Gary Linnell, who had worked with Stanley for a number of years.
In survey four of this year – the first full survey for the new stations – saw Macquarie Sports Radio fall from 1.9% to 0.8%, while breakfast with Stanley and Ryan went from a 2.5% breakfast share to 0.7%.
Elsewhere, the results differed. In Melbourne total share was down to 0.3% while breakfast with Tony Leonard, Tony Shaw and Jimmy Bartel finished at 0.1%, a 0.1 ratings point drop. In Brisbane the result was more positive. Total share went from 0.5% last survey to 1.1% while breakfast, with Stanley and Ryan increased to 1%.
But when Mumbrella interviewed Macquarie Media’s CEO Adam Lang and national producer Michael Thompson, both said they expected the results.
“It’s entirely expected that the audience that was used to Talking Lifestyle, that’s used to that style of content, is not necessarily going to be the same audience that is going to be looking for a 24 hours a day sports station,” Thompson said.
“We changed our breakfast program as well, that it was going to have an impact on the figures. The challenge for us now is to grow a new audience and to really start telling people about the station because what we have to offer is something that no one else has to offer. We have the best live sport. We have the rights to broadcast the NRL and AFL.
“We’ve got the Rugby Union, we’ve got the exclusive rights in Australia to broadcast the EPL and now we have the cricket. It’s a really exciting story to tell, the fact that here is a new home ground for sport in Australia.”
Mediaweek is reporting 2GB’s Continuous Call team member and former NRL star Mark Riddell as Ryan’s replacement.
You should have interviewed the person who listens to MSR at breakfast to get their views on Beau’ departure.
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Well done to the management for getting rid of Beau Ryan. A terrible choice to begin with but thankfully they had to guts to admit they got it badly wrong and punt him.
There’s still quite a few to get rid of but I’ll take one for now.
Next person for management to punt to improve the station is Tiffany Cherry. Over to you Matthew White!
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I think John Stanley needs to move on from his old radio program he tries so hard to drag parts of his old show back. Like guess which one is true out of the three options. ( who cares) this is when I switch off the program. He was good with Gary but this is a sports program. I only listen partially to hear Ryan and piggy Riddell I like their behind the scenes stories of their play days. To bad Thirsty Morrow can’t be on all day. I will keep listening though a little more nrl would be better.
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Great decision – Levy and Riddell are far better suited to Sports Talk and Levy’s opinions are worth listening to alone. Am investing in them and clients are seeing results – let haters hate, I think its great and good on FFX for having a red hot go.
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What`s happened to John Stanley?
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I liked John Stanley but can’t stand Mark Levy. Levy is just a Ray Hadley wannabe. I’ll revert back to Big Sports Breakfast now. Macquarie Sports Radio is a great concept but will be short lived if they can’t get the on air lineup right.
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Thanks goodness Beau Ryan is gone. The Pig & Levy are a much better bet!
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