Brisbane’s 97.3 FM revamps breakfast show for 2020, with Bianca Dye and Mike Van Acker departing
Australian Radio Network’s (ARN) 97.3 FM in Brisbane will have a new breakfast show in 2020. The change will see both Bianca Dye and Mike Van Acker depart the program.
In addition, four off-air positions at ARN have been made redundant across content and sales.
The 2019 97.3 FM breakfast show
The new line-up for the Brisbane breakfast program is yet to be announced, with ARN saying an exciting program is currently in development.
Co-host Bob Gallagher will remain with the network, and Dye will have a new role in 2020.
Van Acker, however, will depart completely, with ARN thanking him for his talent, passion and professionalism.
The show’s executive producer Liam Renton will also leave.
In the most recent radio ratings survey, 97.3 FM had a 9.5% share in breakfast, down from 10.3% in the previous survey.
This put it behind joint market leaders, Southern Cross Austereo’s (SCA) Hit 105, and Nova 106.9, both on 11.1%. SCA’s Triple M is on 10.5%, and ARN stablemate 4KQ 9.2%.
The show has been through various iterations over the past couple of years. It was fronted by Bob Gallagher, Robin Bailey and Terry Hansen for a decade.
Bailey, however, departed at the end of 2016 when contract negotiations with ARN broke down. Bailey said she was ‘blindsided by the decision’. She soon joined SCA’s Triple M instead, but departed earlier this year to spend time with her husband, Sean Pickwell, who was losing his battle with cancer.
Bailey was replaced on 97.3 FM by Dye.
Hansen then left in mid 2018 citing debilitating fatigue. He was replaced by Van Acker to form the ‘Bianca, Mike and Bob’ show.
topics
97.3 FM
ARN
Australian Radio Network
Bianca Dye
Bianca Mike and Bob
Bob Gallagher
Mike Van Acker
radio
The cume-cleanser strikes again!
That’s 4 stations in a row that have lost audience after being “Dyed”.
User ID not verified.
Bring back Robin, Terry and Bob.
User ID not verified.
And no doubt they will be replaced by another “zany, wacky” group, and their names will will end in “o” or “y” such as ‘Simmo’, ‘Davo’, ‘Brian “Buzzy” somerthing’ etc or some other such silliness
User ID not verified.
I LOVEEEE Bianca, Mike and Bob … I’ve listened to the breakfast show now for the past 4 years and I have it on in the school bus I drive with up to 50 High Schoolers on board.
Looks like, I’ll be now looking for a NEW radio station to play on my bus.
“Not happy Jan …”
User ID not verified.
Pleaseee no Robin.
User ID not verified.
The on-going soap opera of Bogan Radio …
User ID not verified.
No sympathy – given that these people allow their careers to be dictated by a diary survey methodology that was invented in the 1960’s, and a governing body so completely out of touch, they get what they deserve.
User ID not verified.
No Robyn
Could listen to anyone but her.
User ID not verified.
About time. Very dry and most subjects are nothing to do with breakfast. Bring back a Breakfast Show. Traffic reports, current news with local content.
User ID not verified.
Thank goodness they finally got rid of Bianca ..would have come back to 97.3 with just Bob and Mike …everyone did tell you 97.3 they would change stations when you on boarded Bianca ..just sayin
User ID not verified.
COMIN’ AT YA WITH TEN THOUSAND DOLLAROOS IN COLD HARD CASH. STAY TUNED FOR THE SECRET SOUND.
User ID not verified.
Moral of the story: Don’t work for 97.3.
User ID not verified.
Hi the show was at its peak with Robyn Terry and Bob which was still the ideal mix of personalities that drew people to listening to the Breakfast show. Unfortunately people will always compare new DJ’S with them. 2 of those 3 would have held it together but only 1 of those 3 was going to make the show struggle
User ID not verified.
Love the team Bianca mike and Bob!! Please keep them♥️
User ID not verified.
I’m devastated as the only radio program that I have listened for years, this radio station has the most obnoxious presenters in the afternoon that I have to change to AM radio while driving home.
User ID not verified.
Sorry to see Bianca, Mike going, really enjoyed the show. Unfortunately will have to find another Breakfast Show.
User ID not verified.
I’m glad that the old team are coming back together. It was never the same. Bob did his best with the new team but it was never the same. I could never find another station better that 97.3 so luckily I stayed with you. Now I have no hesitation in looking at any other radio station.
User ID not verified.
Really Bianca and mike where so funny omg you can not bring her back ( Robyn) She left because you did not want to pay her more money. I am so over this shit Bianca and mike have moved there family’s to Brisbane and I can not believe that today I here they are coming back I guess not for the love but the money and Bianca still have to pay a lease and mortgage from what I will never listen to 97.3 again calmer will get you.
User ID not verified.
Stopped listen when Robyn was on the radio years ago. Started listening again when Bianca joined. Now not listening again.
Lucky I can listen to other radio stations from around the world on the internet
???????????
User ID not verified.
I have really enjoyed Bianca, Mike and Bob so much more than Robyn, Terry and Bob. They are so much more down to earth and interesting. Will definately not listening in to the breafast show anymore.
Seems to be all about ratings.
User ID not verified.
I really enjoyed Bianca Terry and Bob on the radio it was funny it was good Mike was ok but now that I know have gotten rid of Bianca and put Robin back on again even having Terry and Bob their won’t keep me sorry bring back Bianca
User ID not verified.
Anonymous
Its “their” and “karma”.
User ID not verified.
Totally agree! I love Bianca, she is so REAL! What a shame!!?
User ID not verified.
I was so disappointed when I put the radio on today and didn’t hear Bianca & Mike’s voices. They were great – funny and seem to be more exciting and up with things. I thought Robyn quit and Terry left for health reasons but here they are back again. What’s that about? They’ve had their chances. Unfortunately I will be looking for another station too unless Bianca comes back. Shame!
User ID not verified.