RADIO 2AY dumped Derryn Hinch after determining there was greater listener support for a mostly music format program hosted by Emily Canning.
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Managing director of Ace Radio Stephen Everett said there had been “terrific feedback” from listeners to Ms Canning’s program, broadcast Monday to Friday between noon and 4pm.
Mr Everett said the station had extended Ms Canning’s program to 6pm and axed the two-hour program talkback program hosted by Hinch after listeners expressed a preference for the music format aimed at an older age bracket.
“Maybe in these more difficult times, people want more music,” he said.
“We rely on listener feedback and more people wanted to listen to Emily’s program.
“After Steve Block in the morning, followed by Neil Mitchell, perhaps they had come to the conclusion that by midday they had had enough of the talk and wanted a more relaxing option.”
The station has also axed the news and talkback program daily between 8pm and midnight, hosted by Stewart Bocking, replacing it with more music.
Mr Everett said the station, one of 13 managed by the Ace Radio network, had been introducing a greater music component into its programming over recent months and it had so far been successful.
He said Ms Canning, who had formerly been an announcer with 105.7 The River, knew the Border well and that gave her the capacity to relate directly to what was happening in the region in her program.
He said at different times she would deliver the program out of Albury, while at other times she would be located at other stations within the network.
Mr Everett said he did not believe any other major changes would be made at 2AY in the near future.
The station has retained its Neil Mitchell and Sports Tonight programs on relay from 3AW in Melbourne.
In January, the station dumped experienced broadcaster Richard Perno, who had held the noon to 4pm timeslot.
It also replaced the Weekend Break program with music on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, while the Sunday local news service was dropped.