Talent Watch: Which NZ radio duo is bound for Australia?

Staff Writer

Get ready; we are entering a time of year where Australia’s biggest FM radio networks begin to plot their prime time New Year line-up. And the rumour mill is already in full throttle, so saddle up and brace yourself for some larger than life announcements.

None of this should come as a big surprise though: A number of million-dollar breakfast and drive talent – from multiple networks – have agreements that will expire in December. That means some “big names” are officially “on the market”.

Negotiations with at least four metro breakfast and drive shows are well and truly underway, only adding to the swirling stream of tip-offs hitting Radio Today’s desk by phone, text, email and in the comments section.

It would be fair to assume that some of these water cooler reports are – as you would expect – more fiction than fact. Seldom does the noise get so loud, you know it ‘s more likely fact than fiction. This is one of those times.

A much-loved radio duo from New Zealand is preparing to pack their woollen rucksacks and move to Australia, according to multiple sources familiar with the negotiations.

It is not clear if their final destination is Sydney or Melbourne, but our insiders suggest it is almost certainly the latter. And as for their shift, we hear it is either breakfast or drive, making it a bold move for the network in play.

The male-female pair is a ratings favourite in their native Auckland. And both are, according to one source, ready to take on the challenge of “tackling Australia”.

Radio Today also understands that the Australian radio network believed to have snapped up the bubbly twosome even managed to spare the three-hour plane trip to visit NZ last week, “to get the deal done”.

When invited to comment on the new hire, the network delivered us a straight-shooting response: “There’s no truth to those rumours.” But that is to be expected when the stakes are high, and the competition is watching with an eagle eye.

And as for the NZ-based network preparing to lose two of its best, Radio Today hears they are already courting possible replacements, by fanning their chequebook in the direction of at least two Australian on-air talent to replace the duo.

Watch this space.


Can you guess the network or on-air team? Have you heard a Talent Watch rumour we should know about? Let us know in the comments below.

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Recent comments (14)
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Hilly
27 Jul 2017 - 9:51 am

Push and chups anyone ? Its a kiwi explosion. They will join a long list of successful Kiwi exports to Australian radio like …… ah ….. ah ( fill in the space )

Dave
27 Jul 2017 - 11:37 am

Well….. they’re ‘half’ Kiwi technically.
Jason ‘Labby’ Hawkins returns home with Kiwi native PJ – that would be a solid bet.

Nikita
27 Jul 2017 - 12:07 pm

.. like the great Tim Arnold at the Fox.

GladImnot there
27 Jul 2017 - 12:27 pm

Going to be a great vibe tomorrow morning at ARN Melbourne

Just Guessing
27 Jul 2017 - 12:56 pm

SCA? H&A replacements??

Tim
27 Jul 2017 - 2:10 pm

Hilly- I don’t really think that’s how you should judge something; have you ever listened to the show itself?

I’m sure you’re an armchair expert though so I’d hate to question you.

Mike
27 Jul 2017 - 2:43 pm

The pair making the jump, is Jase and PJ from ZM drive. Jase is a native Aussie so should be an easier transition than a 100% kiwi duo. Rumours in NZ are that they’re set to fill the shoes of Hamish and Andy, which would be a big ask, but someone has to do it.

Ross
27 Jul 2017 - 3:09 pm

Must be going to ARN or Nova . Will and Woody are odds on to replace Hamish and Andy.

TJ
27 Jul 2017 - 4:08 pm

Poor talent who follow Hamish and Andy. Remember what it was like for all those lineups who followed Kyle and Jackie. All big fails. best of luck though folks.

Dick Whittington
27 Jul 2017 - 5:41 pm

Tony Martin is from NZ and one of the best broadcasters this country has ever had.

Hey Hilly
27 Jul 2017 - 5:47 pm

Hilly – plenty of Kiwi talent has succeeded in Aussie radio and Vice Versa.

Derryn Hinch, Frank Botica, Rabbit, Dean Buchanan etc

It’s quite the long list.

TRISH
27 Jul 2017 - 9:53 pm

OMG TRISH— Has anyone watched the video on the FB page… I’m guessing Melbourne but you know.
Fox FM watch out. 😉

P.S JASE, YOUR SHIRT IS AMAZING

This is good
28 Jul 2017 - 10:29 am

I think Hilly feels that his or her position is under threat…that is all

PJC
28 Jul 2017 - 12:32 pm

Jase & PJ would be an awesome get for Hit Network drive. They already have such a fantastic radio show and would definitely translate very easily to Oz.

When people were saying that talent would be jumping networks, I don’t think many thought it would be from NZME. Hope this rumour proves right.

Jobs

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