F.Y.I.

Ricki-Lee Coulter dropped from Nova breakfast

DMG’s Nova network has revealed shakeups for its Sydney breakfast and national drivetime lineups in 2011.

Ricki-Lee Coulter is leaving the Sydney breakfast show, being replaced by national drive presenter Katie ‘Monty’ Dimond.

The national drive show will now be a double act, with the network pairing Michael ‘Wippa’ Wipfli with Nova Adelaide breakfast host Ryan ‘Fitzy’ Fitzgerald, a former Big Brother contestant.

The Nova 969 breakfast announcement:

DMG Radio Australia today announced Katie ‘Monty’ Dimond will join Merrick Watts and Scott Dooley on Nova 969’s Sydney breakfast show in 2011.

Monty has been part of Nova’s national Drive show for the past two years, establishing a great relationship with listeners for being fun, relatable and unashamedly spontaneous.

Monty said, “I’m so excited to be teaming up with Mez and Dools. It’s every radio nerds dream to do a breakfast show in Sydney, especially with two guys that I have so much respect for and are so much fun. Considering I was doing breakfast radio in Albury only three years ago, I’m going to have to pinch myself every morning to believe this is really happening.”

Nova 969 General Manager David Borean said, “We thank Ricki-Lee for her passionate contribution to breakfast and Nova 969 this year, and we are keen to explore further opportunities for her across the Nova network. We think she is a great talent.

“2011 presents new opportunities for the breakfast team and the station. Monty has a great relationship with Merrick and Dools, having regularly popped up on breakfast across the year. The chemistry and connection between them is obvious. It just made sense,” said Borean.

Monty will continue to be heard in Drive for the remainder of 2010 and Merrick, Dools and Monty will be heard weekdays 6am to 9am on Nova 969 in 2011.

The Nova drivetime announcement:

dmg Radio Australia today announced Fitzy & Wippa as Nova’s new national Drive team in 2011.

Ryan ‘Fitzy’ Fitzgerald has been a part of Nova Adelaide’s Breakfast team since the station launched in 2004. The sports fanatic and lovable larrikin regularly appears on Nova’s national Drive show and Network Ten’s Before The Game and The 7PM Project. Nova recognised Fitzy’s potential while still in the Big Brother house and signed the popular contestant as soon as he was voted out.

Fitzy said, “Now the restraining order has been lifted I’m hanging to get close to Wippa again, especially in Drive. As a bonus, instead of waking up at 4am, I can now get home then!’

Michael ‘Wippa’ Wipfli has been heard on Nova’s national Drive show for the past two years. Never afraid to ‘have a go’ despite his lack of ability, Wippa has pulled a plane, been suspended from a hot air balloon, caused Bruce Willis to stop an interview (don’t ask about Demi) and is currently exercising his survival skills in the Northern Territory.

Wippa said, “Great radio teams are a combination of beauty and brains, I am not sure which one I am, could be both!”

dmg Radio Australia CEO Cathy O’Connor said, “Fitzy’s appearances on Nova’s Drive show have shown the chemistry between Fitzy and Wippa. They’re a great reflection of the Nova brand – they’re real, they’re funny and they’re mates. With a bunch of half baked ideas that Nova management will keep a close eye on, Fitzy and Wippa will be a great team for the Drive home in 2011.

Ryan, Monty and Wippa will continue for the remainder of 2010 and Fitzy & Wippa will be heard weekdays in Drive on the Nova Network in 2011.

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