Wow. I’ve been listening to 2SM for 15 minutes and have heard two songs!!! (Twist and Shout & Walking on Sunshine) What is this? 2CH?
Nice effort Ron Wilson, from what I’ve heard so far. Very much a rip and read vibe though, he read out a story about Madeleine West having her seventh child before the news, a story about tar balls straight after. Callers seem to like him. He’s got a folksy-warm charm when he’s not sounding so newsy.
Overall, still very much a poor man’s 2BL, not the type of station you’d listen to during a major event, or on a big news day, but if you want talking lifestyle he’s chatting to some person about berries at the moment (and I’m not talking the Canterbury Bankstown variety either!)
I’d say he is still getting used to the format and studio. I’m confident we’ll hear changes and stability as the year goes on. One thing I do enjoy, is he is more switched on with Sydney news and does have a good number of interviews to fill the time - even if they aren’t “big names”.
For the time being, I find Ron an easy listening alternative to 2GB, whilst not being as generic & music-heavy as 2UE.
If I was in charge of 2SM, I’d be making a phone call to Luke Bona (made redundant by SCA this week) and try to get him into the lineup. Drive would be good for him.
I’d also be trying to syndicate Chris Smith beyond the Super Radio Network. Some stations might be interested in taking something other than what Nine are offering given recent presenter changes to morning shows across Nine’s stations.
They definitely need work on publicity - Chris Smith is getting some big-ish interviews but nobody knows about them.
The problem with syndicating beyond SRN is that they struggle to properly syndicate themselves. If you listen, there are gaps, there’s bleedthrough and callers always missing. They’d need a major infrastructure upgrade to properly syndicate.
Hasn’t been much talk about the breakfast show but I’m really enjoying Ron Wilson at Breakfast. It’s a really easy listen and a good balance of news and entertainment.
I don’t listen to Ron at breakfast (I tried him but much prefer Ben Fordham on 2GB). But mornings is a different story. After listening to Mr Hadley for many years i have dropped 2GB mornings and moved to 2SM. I find Levy so grating, so annoying, like listening to some loud yob in the pub trying to shout over everyone else. Chris Smith on 2SM mornings is such a radio pro and handles all manner of interviews and talkback callers with ease. Now, as I’ve said here before…2SM needs to do something about the wasteland of their afternoon/early evenings. All that rubbish sport filler has to finally go !
Totally agree.
Back in the 2000’s, after Bill took over, they’d play music between 12-3pm. In my opinion, I think they should go back to that - plus it’s a good break after Chris’s news and talkback program. Then have a news type drive program between 3-6pm, with a credible name. If they wanted to keep Talkin’ Sport - maybe have that between 6-8pm (why on earth they broadcast the same thing as SEN at this time is beyond me).
I would prefer to see Talkin’ Sport moved to the 12-3pm wasteland if it has to stay and then local drive show 3-7pm. Network stations could have regional local drives 3-6pm prior to a “best bits” from the Ron Wilson breakfast aired 6-7pm.
Very good to note. Also of course “Stephanie” regularly calling into Chris. She really misses Alan but Chris will do. 2SM is a proper big boy station in the mornings but after 12.00 its mostly back to the amateur hacks, sadly. Desperately in need of new afternoon and drive programming as the next step surely !