Talent Watch
BY RadioToday Network November 28, 2023
Talent Watch October 6, 2019
Ben Fordham replaces Mark Braybrook on 4BC drive shift
Macquarie Media Limited’s cost-saving continues in Brisbane with chief executive Adam Lang confirming that Ben Fordham will beam into 4BC Brisbane from Monday.
It follows the departure of Mark Braybrook two weeks ago.
The addition of Fordham means an all-Sydney lineup in key weekday shifts on the Brisbane station; Alan Jones on breakfast, Ray Hadley on mornings, Steve Price on afternoons, Ross Greenwood on evenings, and John Stanley on nights.
4BC took a hit in the latest radio ratings. Braybrook finished Survey #6 on 4% (-0.4).
Overall, 4BC had 5.9% of the available listening audience, behind 4KQ on 8.4% and ABC Radio on 7.1%. Only time will tell if the shift to networked programming will steer the ship north.
In a statement sent to media on Sunday (Oct 6), Lang said he was “delighted” that the 6x ACRA and Walkley Award-winner would now be heard in Queensland.
“Ben’s credibility with his audience and his ability to deliver a result for advertisers make him an excellent choice to join the line-up at 4BC,” he said.
After launching his media career at 2UE and Sky News Australia, Fordham went on to join the Nine Network in 1999. He had stints on A Current Affair and the Today Show, and more recently as co-host of Ninja Warrior.
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I genuinely thought that when radio station licences were issued by the ABA/ACMA following auction/tenders for the purpose of serving the city/region/area they are licenced to broadcast into ? I could understand the networking of most programs if this news story was about a small population region like the Roma or Longreach radio markets in QLD, but this has been allowed to happen in Brisbane, Australia’s 3rd largest city by population. There is NO excuse or Public Relations media statement that Macquarie Media could release that could justify having not a single local program on their 4BC station. I guess they will find out how wise this decision was to axe Mark Braybrook’s program and all the previous local programs in future ratings surveys, especially if ABC Radio Brisbane and 4KQ still have higher overall audience share than 4BC after these changes. 🙁
4BC’s ratings have INCREASED since the other local shows were axed and networked shows introduced. I wouldn’t be surprised if the same thing happened to the drive shift.
Still behind 4KQ etc. , but improved on what they were getting before the changes.
I turn off 2gb at 12 as cannot stand price or Fordham they are on the way to self destruct mediocrity is not acceptable
@ Fay 7 Oct 2019 – 10:10 am
Who do you listen to after 12?
Love 4BC and listen everyday however turn off at 12 because of Steve Price and Mark Braybrook, he (Mark) was just a whinger. Welcome aboard Ben look forward to your programme and will turn on again at 3pm.
Repeat after me – Brisbane no longer exists. Welcome to Sydney.
Farewell 4BC. With no local content I have no desire to keep tuning in. As a broadcaster I like Fordham but Brisbane (and every city) needs local content. Can you imagine the outrage if an entire station in Sydney or Melbourne were 100% rebroadcast
Honestly, ACMA needs to look at how some of these stations are getting used. 4BC in brisbane and SEN+ are literally network or replay radio stations now with no content. Those licenses could be used for so much that’s better.
Chris Smiths departure was a huge mistake and as much as I don’t dislike Steve Price he just doesn’t fit that time slot.
And now the final local blow with Mark Braybrook.
After year of loyalty to 4BC talkback you have finally lost me.