Rumour has it Channel Nine veteran Tracy Grimshaw, who has hosted A Current Affair for 13 years, could be heading to 2GB, with Ben Fordham tipped to take her place.
A report in Woman’s Day on Monday alleged Grimshaw could be leaving ACA for a career in radio.
With Alan Jones on his last leg, it is possible there will be a place for Grimshaw in the afternoon slot if Ray Hadley was to move into Jones’ breakfast spot.
And, with Ben Fordham’s 2GB drive show not doing so well as per today’s radio ratings survey, the move across to ACA could make sense, also taking into account he has reported on the program in the past. Fordham also currently hosts Nine’s Australian Ninja Warrior.
However, both Nine and Macquarie Media told B&T there was no truth to the rumours.
Still, the fact that Nine now controls most of 2GB would make the talent shuffle easy enough.
Nine currently owns 54.5 per cent of Macquarie media, who own 2GB in Sydney, 3AW in Melbourne, 6PR in Perth and 4BC in Brisbane.
And, just two weeks ago, Nine announced to the ASX an offer to acquire the remaining shares in radio broadcaster Macquarie Media.
“The acquisition of Macquarie Media consolidates Nine’s position as the leading provider of news and current affairs content across all of the key platforms – television, digital, print and now radio,” said Hugh Marks, CEO of Nine.
The offer values Macquarie Media at $275.4 million and will see Nine pay $113.9 million (at $1.46 per share) for the remaining 45.5 per cent stake in the leading talk radio business, provided enough shareholders accept the offer to lift Nine to 90 per cent.
With Macquarie Media feeling the heat as advertisers continue to pull out of Jones’ breakfast program, the latest being major brand Commbank, a few fresh voices might be the change the media company needs.
