Erin Molan will keep her job on the Sunday Footy Show and take on a ‘new role’ with Channel Nine after the station dumped its flagship NRL program.
Ms Molan’s future was thrown into doubt after Channel Nine announced it would axe the NRL Footy Show after 25 years on air.
Ms Molan had only been installed in the host’s chair earlier in the year, after she unseated longtime serving Paul ‘Fatty’ Vautin.
Ms Molan will now play a new role at Wide World of Sports.
Ms Molan will keep her job on the Sunday Footy Show and take on a ‘new role’ with Channel Nine after the station dumped its NRL program
Ms Molan’s future was thrown into doubt, after Channel Nine announced it would axe the NRL Footy Show
Ms Molan (left) had only been installed in the host’s chair at the Footy Show earlier in the year, after she unseated longtime serving Paul ‘Fatty’ Vautin (right)
‘Wide World of Sports will launch a whole new look, feel and sound to its rugby league coverage in 2019,’ Nine’s Director of Sport Tom Malone said.
‘Including two new post-match shows to follow Thursday Night Football and Friday Night Football, with a strong emphasis on being at the ground, and interacting with players, fans and coaches.’
Ms Molan will now cover sports like netball, tennis and cricket.
Mr Malone said heaped praise on the ‘star’ and ‘great broadcaster’ and said she will ‘take an even more prominent role on Nine’s sports broadcasts going forward.’
‘In recent years, Erin has equally brought a new energy, perspective and showed her passion for the game,’ Mr Malone said.
Mr Malone also took the chance to say his final words about the outgoing Footy Show.
‘It’s been an incredible ride for The Footy Show. A quarter of a century of laughs, controversy and first-class footy analysis.
‘I want to thank everyone who has contributed to this amazing era of live sports-entertainment television – from producers, editors, camera operators, the players, guests and of course the legendary hosts.
Tom Malone: ‘It’s been an incredible ride for The Footy Show. A quarter of a century of laughs, controversy and first-class footy analysis’
The axing of the show brings to a close a 25-year-long chapter of Australian sporting television.
The Footy Show first aired in 1994 and has won 11 Logies for being the most popular show on Australian TV.
Despite its strong run, the show began to show signs that it was on its way out.
Show veteran and former host of nearly 25-years, Vautin was sidelined to a smaller role and Ms Molan was placed in the host’s chair earlier in the year.
Molan began the season under the spectre of poor ratings, budget cuts and the show’s push to a later time-slot.
The NRL Footy Show has been axed by Channel Nine after 25 years, following a season of poor ratings
Ms Molan began the season under the spectre of poor ratings, budget cuts and the show’s push to a later time-slot.
Her first appearance as host on the show saw an 8 per cent dip in viewers in both Sydney and Brisbane, compared to the same time in the previous year.
Beau Ryan was left without a chair during the debut episode, and later in the year Molan was accused of ‘fat-shaming’ former player Dave Taylor.
It was reported that network personality Andrew Johns quit the sports show mid-season due to growing disappointment.
Ms Molan took to Instagram to say her time with the Footy Show had been an ‘incredible privilege.’
‘Thank you so much to all the wonderful staff who worked behind the scenes.
‘To the fans – you made the show.’
Molan and Beau both took to Instagram to pay tribute to their time on the show
Ms Molan on the Footy Show: Thank you so much to all the wonderful staff who worked behind the scenes
Beau added: ‘I grew up idolising Matty Johns, Sterlo, Chief and to work with Fatty was a dream come true.
‘But finally I want to thank the fans. The people I met along the way.
‘The supporters, the punters, the fanatics, the men, the women and the kids that made my job so enjoyable.
‘I loved every second of it and I’m forever grateful.
‘Footy Show, thanks for the memories, and in the meantime if anyone needs me I’ll be halfway up the Centrelink queue…’