2GB host Ray Hadley defends his colleague Ben Fordham as the radio station takes a hit in ratings and loses thousands of listeners
Ray Hadley has come to the defence of his fellow 2GB radio host, Ben Fordham, after the station took a hit in their ratings this week.
The 66-year-old broadcaster backed up Fordham, 44, who has been the focus of the station’s ratings plummet after he had the ‘herculean’ task of replacing Alan Jones in May of last year.
‘Make no mistake, Ben is not Alan Jones, he never will be,’ Hadley stated on Friday, according to the Herald Sun.
‘Ben is not Alan Jones, he never will be’: 2GB host Ray Hadley, 66, has defended his colleague Ben Fordham, 44 (pictured), as the radio station takes a hit in ratings and loses thousands of listeners
‘He is Ben Fordham, doing a program that suits his style, his personality and if anyone thought that Ben Fordham was going to merely replicate the views of Alan Jones, they would be sadly mistaken,’ he continued.
The radio host went on to say that Ben has an ‘entirely different view’ on a ‘range of matters’ compared to himself and Alan Jones.
‘That is the beauty of talkback radio,’ Hadley added. ‘We don’t all just paddle the same canoe.’
Different voices: Hadley went on to say that Ben has an ‘entirely different view’ on a ‘range of matters’ compared to himself and Alan Jones
Since Ben’s take over, the station has reportedly lost more than 90,000 listeners.
In the latest ratings survey, the 2GB host’s spot suffered a historic lost to the Kyle and Jackie O’ show for the very first time.
It was also the first time the station dropped from the top spot in Sydney’s breakfast radio lineup since 2003, with critics blaming Fordham’s more moderate political leanings.
Many listeners also pointed fingers at the station for deliberately turning down on-air conservative voices and opinions.
Brutal: Since Ben’s take over, the station has reportedly lost more than 90,000 listeners. In the latest ratings survey, the 2GB host’s spot suffered a historic lost to the Kyle and Jackie O’ show for the very first time, with critics blaming Fordham’s more moderate political leanings
According to The Australian, citing several unnamed senior sources, the talkback network is concerned that ‘woke’ mobs on social media could lead to advertisers withdrawing.
Before the latest ratings survey, Alan Jones, who has since been hosting his own program on Sky News Australia, indicated he’d be open to coming back to radio.
The veteran broadcaster, 80, who retired last year after claiming the workload was ‘detrimental’ to his health, said he was pondering a return.
‘If someone wants to put a piece of paper in front of me I’ll be able to give them a “yes” or a “no” in five days,’ he said.
Making a comeback?: Before the latest ratings survey, Alan Jones, 80, indicated he’d be open to coming back to radio. The veteran broadcaster retired last year after claiming the workload was ‘detrimental’ to his health