SCA’s Hit Network ‘a disaster around the country’, says Nova’s Paul Jackson
Despite a win in Melbourne, Southern Cross Austero’s Hit Network is in serious trouble in other markets, Nova Entertainment’s group program director Paul Jackson has claimed, noting the impending departure of Hamish and Andy will only make things worse.
Hit Network’s head of content Gemma Fordham however has said ‘life’ got in the way of the success of the Sydney breakfast show – The Em Rusciano Radio Show with Harley Breen – and the network will recover.
Speaking with Mumbrella, Fordham said Rusciano’s departure, which occurred from May 21 until 5 June, was one of a couple of reasons for the breakfast show’s rating point decline, and it had a significant impact.
Hamish and Andy are no longer No.1 in Sydney. They are now the No.7 FM station in Drive. That says it all about the trouble that 2DayFM has in Sydney. Says it all. 2DayFM needs to do what vega did. What Mix1065 did. Totally reinvent itself. Cause the whole Big Blue H thing is just not working. It’s been four years of same same. Now try different different.
Mix and Vega tried to be the same as 2day didn’t they?
Em Rusciano was away for one week of a nine week survey.
That is 11% of the survey … not half the book.
This bad result is not because Em was on personal leave, it is because the show is unlistenable.
In another percentage based comment, Simon (above) is 100% correct, the Em Rusciano show is unlistenable. Not only are people like me (who find her pathetically unfunny in all of her work but who are always happy to give something new a go), even female friends of mine that regularly go to her live comedy performances find her radio show to be the most disappointing and worst thing ever foisted upon the Sydney FM audience (and there’s been some doozies).
I agree with Simon…although the surveys are for 10 weeks so Em’s absence from 2DayFM impacted just 10% of the results…..the issue is the show is terrible.
You simply can’t “phone in” a radio show. You have to be present to present. It’s a miracle that any radio show originating from Melbourne works in Sydney at all. 2DayFM needs a complete rework – the brand is good, the talent is shit.
Agreed with the above. Em’s personal circumstances are very sad, but Ash London was so much better during that time.
I’ve caught snippets in the car, and there is just no local feel about it, and too many Melbourne references
I always love how everyone is quick to stick the boot in, but where are the alternative, constructive suggestions on how to make it better?
It would definitely help for the breakfast show to be more ‘present to present’ and feel more local. But for SCA to dump their fourth show in as many years would be an absolute disaster. One of the biggest issues with 2Day FM is the revolving door at breakfast.
It was obvious that the Em show wasn’t going to work. It’s bad management decisions (yet again) that have made 2day breakfast show a train wreck. They need talent with high profile and cred. The last few attempts at breakfast havn’t ticked both boxes. The music is too new and people switch off when they don’t recognise songs. It’s time they played songs that are more known and let the other 2 stations (nova and kiis) take the risk and break new stuff. Time to make heads roll in management. Wake up 2day fm share holders.