Steve Jacobs to host breakfast on Nine’s music stations

After reappearing in the ratings last week, Nine’s music stations are ready for business.

The network has announced former Today Show weatherman, Steve Jacobs, will front breakfast on 2UE 954 Sydney, Magic 1278 Melbourne, 4BH 882 Brisbane and 6GT DAB+ Perth.

Jacobs left morning television last December after being dropped by Nine, as the station looked to reinvigorate the show up against rival Seven’s Sunrise.

At the time of his exit, Jacobs said he was unable to handle the travel commitments that the weatherman gig demands, saying he was looking forward to breakfast with his daughters.

Today’s announcement marks a full-circle moment for Jacobs, 53, who began his radio career hosting a Top 40 music countdown on over 50 stations with Sky Radio in the mid-90s.

“I’m so thrilled to be back in the studio,” said Jacobs, who will make his debut on April 27.

UPDATE: Jacobs surprised listeners with an early start, listen to his first break here.

“I’m a huge fan of radio and can’t wait to dive into the classics from the 70s to the 90s across our four music stations.”

Also Read: Nine Radio’s Tom Malone on ratings pause & audience growth

Nine will be hoping the star power of Jacobs, who got his TV break hosting a children’s news program on WIN Wollongong, will give the stations a much-needed boost.

Last year the three stations were known as Macquarie Sports Radio before new owners Nine scrapped the underperforming sports format in favour of classic hits.

“We’re thrilled to have Stevie on board to lead our new music stations,” said Nine’s head of content, Greg Byrnes, who hinted at the announcement when talking to Radio Today last Thursday.

“He’ll be heard between 6am and 10am each weekday, playing the best music from the 70s, 80s and 90s, along with classic album tracks. And his breakfast show will include the very latest news, sport, weather and traffic from the Nine Radio newsroom.”

In Survey 8 2019, Mac Sports Radio ended the year with a 0.7% share in Sydney and Brisbane and a 0.4% share in Melbourne.

Nine management then pulled the three stations from the first survey this year “due to the change of format mid survey”, but they magically reappeared last week.

Mac Sports Radio replaced the ‘Talking Lifestyle’ format across three stations in 2018.