Talent Watch
BY RadioToday Network November 28, 2023
Talent Watch December 5, 2019
ARN axes 97.3FM Breakfast show
Bianca, Mike & Bob
Australian Radio Network has called time on the Bianca, Mike & Bob Breakfast show at 97.3FM in Brisbane.
The network announced today that Bianca Dye and Mike Van Acker will leave the show.
Van Acker won’t be with ARN in 2020, nor will the show’s executive producer Liam Renton return.
“Mike has been a much-loved and respected part of the 97.3FM breakfast show, and ARN thank him for his talent, passion and professionalism during the past two years,” said ARN in a statement.
“ARN thanks Liam for his contribution to the station and for his achievements over the past two years.”
Dye and Bob Gallagher are set to remain with 97.3FM next year.
After a tough year in the ratings, the back end of 2019 has seen 97.3FM rebound into the race for Brisbane’s #1 spot. As the seventh book of 2019, the station was equal second with an 11% share of listening.
However, those results still hadn’t translated into Breakfast, with Bianca, Mike & Bob recently fifth in the market with a 9.5% share.
Vam Acker joined the team mid-way through 2018, replacing Terry Hansen.
Bianca Dye has presented the Breakfast show since 2017, when she replaced Robyn Bailey.
The 97.3 FM changes will leave many wondering what exactly ARN’s plans are for the top rating station in 2020.
Former co-host Bailey is back on the market after departing Triple M Brisbane and Radio Today asked network head Duncan Campbell about a possible reunion after Survey 6 results this year.
“I’ll, have to catch up with her when I’m up there,” he said in August.
“But I don’t know what her plans are. I think she probably deserves a break from radio at the moment to be honest.”
A spokesperson for ARN also told Radio Today that there is no contract signed with Robin to return to 97.3FM.
“An exciting Breakfast show is currently in development for 97.3FM and we’ll be making an announcement on that in the new year,” said ARN in its statement.
The announcement is the third major change revealed by ARN today, following a rebrand of Mix 106.3 Canberra to align in with the KIIS Network and confirmation that WSFM content Director Scott Muller has left the building.
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They were first with Robin Bailey on breakfast. Now breakfast, with Bianca, Mike & Bob are fifth in the market with a 9.5% share.
There’s a podcast in the “changes” that have been announced in the radio industry in the past 2 weeks. Maybe a title could be “The Killing Fields”.
97.3 has made some interesting choices this year. So has Hit105 in Brisbane.
I noticed that Hit 105 culled The Code who lead the Black Thunders and was on air.
Then less than a week after the cull he pops up with 97.3?
Maybe it’s an option that he is going to be doing Breakfast?
Robin Bailey is coming back. It would be stupid not to throw money at her and get her back into radio. She is also brilliant.
I know someone who’s replacing this show.
Good to see in true ARN style the PD
has dodged the blame for his low earring show.
Duncan will move an SCA regional show in and call it KIIS.
Hasn’t Christian Hull just moved to Brisbane? He doesn’t give a reason why on his social media.In fact he mentions thinking about moving in Oct. Around about when Duncan probably started shopping around…
What is wrong with ARN the disgraceful way they treat people. Bianca Dye and Mike Van Acker were blindsided by their booting and it caused a stir at the station, with workers seen crying in the car park.
Terrible people managers. Bet they wouldn’t axe sales people like that.
Good luck Bianca. Sounds like Robin is on her way back, about time ARN saw the error of their ways.