Price to 2GB, Wilshire shafted

It has been rumoured for weeks, and has now been confirmed. Steve Price, formerly of Melbourne's MTR, will replace 2GB's long-term night announcer Brian Wilshire (left).

Due to his daughters being in high school, Price will remain living in Melbourne and commute each week to Sydney for the show, which commences on Monday 30 April.

Notwithstanding Price's abilities, he was MTR's highest rating announcer, the decision was undoubtedly helped by the fact that he had a contract with MTR, which the Macquarie Radio Network are responsible for honouring.

Price commented "I still had three years to go on my contract and they obviously wanted to keep me on board and Sydney and 2GB was the only option.....GB thinks they should have night-time programs of the same standard as they've got between 6am and 6pm. It's great for me"

The move is signficant for 2GB on two fronts.

Firstly the tone and substance of Steve Price is a major change from Brian Wilshire, and secondly talk listeners are famous for reacting adversely and at times aggressively to change, particularly when an announcer of 30 years standing in the one shift has been displaced against his wishes.

Price's new on-air hours will be 8pm-midnight, and he will be joined by MTR collaborator and Channel TEN host Andrew Bolt for an hour each night. Wilshire has been the evenings host since 1979, and has been offered a new role on the midnight-dawn shift, however is yet to agree to the new contract and is presently on long service leave.

Published on Friday, 20 April 2012 08:00

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David Bunt (9:09am 20 Apr 2012)

Is this 2GB's first programming mistake for some time? 2UE ought to grab Brian & put him up against Steve Price.

Anonymous (5:09pm 20 Apr 2012)

So funny, old right wing gone. Oh the joy, no more grabs of john laws (fancy hanging ya hat on that after this long) and no more talk of space. This is good news for late diners, terrible for cabbies and drunks though I guess.

Paul (11:43am 24 Apr 2012)

Sensational news for 2GB...I would say that they have just about got it nailed ...personally though, I would flick that Ben Fordham off asap as he is a total "myth"....bigger ego that Texas! Welcome back to Sydney, Steve Price...now just to find a replacement for Fordham and the team will be as strong as the Melbourne Storm.

Anonymous (4:10pm 24 Apr 2012)

Get rid of Brian Wilshire? This man is an institution and offers a far more interesting radio show than the mindless political dross trudged out by Jones et al. Yeah nice one 2GB. I, for one, will not be listening. I strongly suggest that you keep Brian happy and keep him on even if it is a different timeslot. There really is nobody else like him.

John Hargrave (8:40pm 28 Apr 2012)

It's a shame that Brain had to leave to make way for Steve Price.

Brain's chats on Health, Dial a Lawyer, Your Eyes, etc was very informative. Good luck to you Brian. You made us all think.. I look forward to hearing you again in 3 months..

Best wishes, Brian.
And yes -I know you Arians 'don't believe in Astrology!'

Anonymous (11:09pm 05 May 2012)

2GB has made a big mistake replacing him with Steve Price. His show was the best on 2gb so informative and he does not have a massive ego like so many other presenters. Come back soon Brian. You are greatly missed!!

Anonymous (12:10pm 13 May 2012)

"Due to his daughters being in high school, Price will remain living in Melbourne and commute each week to Sydney for the show, which commences on Monday 30 April. "

Steve Price is coming out of Sport 927 Thursday and Friday evenings to be broadcast on 2GB. Andrew Bolt comes out of Melbourne every night from his home to join Price.

Sydney radio now a networked outpost: who would have thought?

Anonymous (3:14pm 13 May 2012)

Interesting news but no surprise hear, MRN will complete purchase of 2UE and others from Fairfax sooner rather than later. Then lets see if Mr Price is back on AW my tip is he will be in Drive.

Marlene (9:11am 21 May 2012)

The balance at 2GB is just right now with Steve back in the evenings.Do not muck it up by replacing Michael McLaren midnight to dawn where he is clearly the BEST performer what's more he could carry ANY shift.

Albert (2:14am 17 Jun 2012)

I'm glad Wilshire's gone. I rang him once and blasted him for defending the serbs committing a massacre of over 7000 bosnians in Srebanica. Since then, he's banned me from calling his show. Good riddens, I hope 2UE rejects him as well.
I've now been listening to steve price for a few weeks now and found him to be very entertaining and hope 2GB hangs on to him for many years to come.

Anonymous (12:50pm 21 Jun 2012)

Brian Wilshire was one of the greatest radio broadcasters in Australia just through sheer persistence over nearly 40 years
Brian Wilshire I salute you,
May you be resurrected on some other station

Anonymous (7:14pm 03 Jul 2012)

Have come back to Oz after a stint o/s. Can't believe that a consistently high rating presenter who is also highly articulate has been dropped. Nothing against Price but Brian was in a class of his own. I had been listening for over 20 years. Sorry 2GB you just lost me.

jill (4:50pm 10 Jul 2012)

Please stay on radio brian wilshire as long as you are able, you contribute healthy constructive truth in this world and there should be more people like you on earth. we will listen to you on radio no matter what time you are on. our quality radio.

andrew (10:54pm 10 Jul 2012)

First you take away Saturday nights with Steve Murphy now its Brian Wilshire. That's the final straw. I like Andrew Bolt but 2GB after 20 years of listening exclusively to you you've lost me. I hope Brian goes to another station at a decent timeslot.

Jason McLean (10:49am 11 Jul 2012)

I don't mind Steve Price, he's interesting but I reckon he's somewhat a protected species. He didn't make a big impact when on 2UE, went nowhere with MTR, and now GB have flicked an icon in that timeslot to accomodate him. I agree with David Bunt, perhaps 2UE go after him, I'm sure many loyal listeners will crossover, will help 2UE's overall figures I'd imagine.

Anonymous (10:51am 01 Oct 2012)

Quite simply he was flicked for speaking the truth and exposing corp control of govt and world affairs that are being put in place to enslave society and moreso now in Australia too! He was another victim of corp control silencing by expulsion from a position of reaching and awakening masses in this country!

Anonymous (8:37pm 05 Dec 2012)

Great pity they pitched out Brian for a Melbourne hack. Tired old 80's shock jock rubbish. Brian you were are an original and a subversive and this is much to be admired. How they let you on commercial radio is beyond me. Come back. Radio is too boring without you!

Ron Skinner (1:35am 03 Jan 2013)

Steve Price failed the first time in Sydney thats why they sent him back to Melbourne. Then the station failed so they had to bring him back. He would not succeed without help from Andrew Bolt and others. He is a very negative person. No wonder they call him the angry ant. Why would you mover wilshire when he had so many continuous ratings successes. Wilshire is a much better presenter hands down. Five minuets of Price and I wold rather listen to David Oldfield on 2UE.

Anonymous (2:34am 11 Feb 2013)

Wilshire offered an interesting thought provoking show.The shallow redneck style of Hadley and Jones has never thought outside of the square unlike Wilshire who keeps listeners glued to their radios by stimulating their curiosity by offering the rarest of things on talk back radio which is fair and open debate.

eve (1:02am 27 Mar 2013)

come on ! side stepping brian for steve. Steve okay.but brian is a wealth of fabulous infomation.and has a wonderful winning way with words. Also has a better choice of music thought provoking programe and am sad to hear