It’s starting to get awfully crowded on the HIT network’s island of misfits.
On Tuesday, Em Rusciano’s 2Day FM co-host Harley Breen quit live on-air, in the latest blow for the embattled radio station.
It cemented a fall from grace for the once dominant network, who never truly recovered from watching Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O jump ship back in 2013.
Up HIT creek: On Tuesday, Em Rusciano’s 2Day FM co-host Harley Breen quit live on-air, the latest blow for the embattled radio station
Sitting pretty: It cemented a fall from grace for the once dominant network, who never truly recovered from watching Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O jump ship back in 2013
Since that time, they’ve seemingly gone through every name in the entertainment phone book, desperate to find a steady breakfast lead-in.
Meanwhile, their firm grip on the drive crown has been relinquished entirely, with departing duo Hamish and Andy unable to reignite the fire they started in 2006.
It’s no shock that HIT didn’t hold back in relentlessly pursuing popular KIIS duo Dave Hughes and Kate Langbroek to fill its drive slot in 2017.
So with plummeting ratings, a laundry list of failed experiments and talent seemingly heading for the exits, Daily Mail Australia takes a look at what went wrong at HIT.
Drive on: They’ve now failed to keep their breakfast hosts for a second term each year since Kyle and Jackie left, while Hamish and Andy are leaving drive amidst dwindling ratings
What went wrong? So with plummeting ratings, a laundry list of failed experiments and talent seemingly heading for the exits, Daily Mail Australia takes a look at what went wrong at HIT
Kyle and Jackie O Show 2005 – 2013: Defected to rival KIIS FM
KIIS goodbye: On November 1, 2013, HIT failed to successfully renegotiate the contracts of Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O Henderson, after eight successful years on air
On November 1, 2013, HIT failed to successfully renegotiate the contracts of Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O Henderson, after eight successful years on air.
With seemingly little fight from their spawning grounds, Kyle and Jackie packed-up and left for a reformed KIIS FM.
They brought their number one rated audience with them, notching four consecutive years as Sydney’s highest-rated breakfast show.
The gamble didn’t pay of for Southern Cross Austereo’s HIT, who’d placed their eggs in the basket of Sophie Monk, Mel B, Merrick Watts and Jules Lund.
Still the king: They brought their number one rated audience to KIIS, notching four consecutive years as Sydney’s highest-rated breakfast show
Jules, Merrick and Sophie with Mel January 2014 – October 2014
Didn’t pay off: The gamble didn’t pay of for Southern Cross Austereo’s HIT, who’d placed their eggs in the basket of Sophie Monk, Mel B, Merrick Watts and Jules Lund
As Kyle and Jackie helped turned KIIS from a nobody into a behemoth, Jules, Merrick, Sophie and Mel were left fighting for the scraps.
In the first Sydney radio survey of 2014, 2Day FM failed to retain any of its 8.4 ratings share earned in its last survey with Kyle and Jackie O.
Instead, its former Spice Girl and future Bachelorette-lead offering notched a woeful 4.0, losing to the likes of Triple J, Smooth, Nova and Triple J.
Failed: In the first Sydney radio survey of 2014, 2Day FM failed to retain any of its 8.4 ratings share earned in its last survey with Kyle and Jackie O, earning a woeful 4.0 instead
By August, Spice Girl Mel B was gone, showing no interest in renewing her six-month contract, and Sophie wasn’t far behind her – citing early morning starts.
HIT announced the cancellation of the show that October, before its final ratings numbers had even been release.
Its new duo of Dan Debuf and Maz Compton would walk into a 3.5 ratings share, its lowest end-of-year figures in over a decade.
In deep thought: HIT announced the cancellation of the show that October, before its final ratings numbers had even been released
Dan and Maz January 2015 – October 2015
Unfair share: Its new duo of Dan Debuf and Maz Compton would walk into a 3.5 ratings share, its lowest end-of-year figures in over a decade
Many believed the comedians – who’d already found some success in the drive slot – would reinvigorate the network, re-positioning it in the eyes of younger listeners.
And things were looking positive for the duo, who managed to eek a small increase from 3.5 to 3.6 after the first survey – a rare feat for a debut performance.
But it all came crashing down months later, when the pair earned a 2.7. just as Kyle and Jackie were popping the cork in celebration of another year at the top.
Meanwhile: With the likes of Hamish and Andy also absent from the once dominant network, Dan and Maz earned a 2.7 share – just as Kyle and Jackie were popping the cork in celebration of another year at the top
They were shafted to the weekend slot at the end of 2015, which didn’t last more than twelve months either.
‘Like many of you, we’re off on Christmas holidays, ‘ they began a sombre Facebook post at the end of their run.
‘But next year we won’t be coming back,’ they concluded, as reports flooded in regarding Rove McManus’ monumental three-year deal to steady the ship.
A touch of Frost: It was a truly dire figure, well behind the likes of Triple J, Nova, WSFM and more, causing 2Day FM to bring in the untested radio talents of Bachelor veteran Sam Frost
Sam Frost and Rove McManus November 2015 – November 2016
New beginnings! Hot off her successful Bachelorette series, 2Day FM announced Sam Frost would join Rove in an exciting new breakfast show, complete with a network re-brand
After a series of duos that felt cobbled together at the last minute, HIT finally saw a quietly optimistic chatter emerge following its latest breakfast duo announcement.
Hot off her successful Bachelorette series, 2Day FM announced Sam Frost would join Rove in an exciting new breakfast show, complete with a network re-brand.
Survey one was a cause for minor celebration, as fans reacted positively to some genuine chemistry from the charismatic duo, earning a 4.0 share.
It rose to 4.6 by the end of the year, but stumbled slightly to 4.4 in November’s final survey – still its most promising results since Kyle and Jackie took their 8.4 and ran.
It worked… kinda: Ratinga rose to 4.6 by the end of the year, but stumbled slightly to 4.4 in November’s final survey – still its most promising results since Kyle and Jackie took their 8.4 and ran
But HIT wanted to show they meant business, surprising many by axing its hosts within a year for the third time on the trot.
Head of Content Gemma Fordham cited Em Rusciano and Harley Breen’s success over the summer break for the change, handing them the reigns.
‘The feedback we’ve received around Em and Harley has been incredible,’ Gemma announced, ‘nothing is off limits and Em connects with her audience brilliantly.’
‘Her humour and honesty is what’s driven her combined social media following of over 350,000 and we look forward to Em and Harley waking up Sydney each day.’
We mean business! But HIT meant business, surprising many by axing its hosts within a year for the third time on the trot – bringing in Em Rusciano, who’d impressed alongside Harley Breen on the holiday break
Em Rusciano and Harley Breen January 2017 – November 2017
DONE: On Tuesday, Harley Breen announced live on-air that he’d no longer be part of the show, with Have You Been Paying Attention? star Ed Kavalee to take over
On Tuesday, Harley Breen announced live on-air that he’d no longer be part of the show, with Have You Been Paying Attention? star Ed Kavalee to take over.
Following the announcement, Em broke down live on air, admitting she was ‘really sad’ by Harley’s departure.
‘I’m really sad’: Em Rusciano and Harley Breen’s final ratings share survey registered a 4.0 – down .4 from the 4.4 Sam and Rove left it to start with
‘I’m really sad. We’re great mates… Obviously everyone will be shocked, but I’m still here,’ she said, fighting back tears.
‘It’s by no means an easy decision, but it’s the right one,’ Harley said during his on air announcement.
Em Rusciano and Harley Breen’s final ratings share survey registered a 4.0 – down .4 from the 4.4 Sam and Rove left it to start with.
Can they climb out of the hole? Em and Ed will have a huge deficit to claw back in 2018 and will attempt to break the four-year drought of one-and-done breakfast show
Boost! They’ll have the added boost of a solid drive pairing of Dave Hughes and Kate Langbroek, nabbed by HIT for 2018