4BC is just not the local go-to like 3AW and 2GB are in their respective markets - 4BC spent too long doing the TAB contract and as a relay of Macquarie Sydney to bounce back. Half a dozen percent is about where its natural place lies in Brisbane. Any radio faces who manage to even get it into double digits should get an ARCA just for that.
A lot of radio types in Brisbane won’t touch the place on principle now due to its history anyway. Eventually you run out of local people to shaft .
Perhaps Nine should put the word around up at BTQ7 - that doesn’t sound like its worth driving up the hill for nowadays
Popular newsreader Steve Barker has officially quit 4BC, sparking concerns of a mass exodus from the embattled Nine Radio station.
Barker, celebrated for his award-winning coverage of Queen Elizabeth II’s death in 2022, informed 4BC’s management of his resignation on Monday, according to a station insider.
The well-regarded journalist is expected to wrap up his tenure in early October.
Afternoon host Sofie Formica is reportedly in talks with at least two rival stations after a social media post last week hinted at her dissatisfaction with 4BC’s management.
Yeah people comment about it all the time when she fills in.
I mean her work ethic is commonly on display.
A lot of the time she’s doing the show and then getting ready for a live cross in the space of 10 mins from Dive finishing at 6pm and then on 9news for the Melbourne bulletin. You can commonly see her doing her makeup and hair in the last 10 mins of the show before she heads down.
What really makes me uncomfortable is the amount of paid promotions and ambassador roles Felgate has. It’s almost a cash for comment or opinion blur and it doesn’t sit well. When you had people like Neil Mitchell who wouldn’t do read out ads during morning due his belief of the blur between commercialisation of news and then you have Felgate, it’s pretty extreme.
I won’t lie the show has got better, it’s still not 100% there though
Journalists/newsreaders regularly move around for all sorts of reasons, including to take up new opportunities, and news of one person doing just that does not of itself suggest a mass exodus is looming. But of course the atmosphere around 4BC is quite febrile at the moment and papers can play on that to hype up a story. The situation feeds on itself in the end. This is why I believe 4BC management need to act quickly and decisively this week, and then everyone can move on.
As for Sofie Formica, she certainly wouldn’t be the first media personality to issue cryptic messages on social media and elsewhere as a negotiating ploy with their current employer at contract renewal time…
Has Sophie improved significantly? Or am I missing something. I haven’t tuned in since she first started at 4BC and I wasn’t a fan. Too much light talk.
I’d be interested to see what other roles any other station(s) would have for her.
I would say the ABC is the only possible option for her if she doesn’t stay at 4BC.
It is contract renewal time, so a lot of the talk and rumour has to be taken with a huge pinch of salt and often comes from the presenter themselves as part of the negotiating tactics.
Peter Gleeson has announced on Bill McDonald’s program this morning he is leaving 4BC Drive on Friday to take up a role as CEO of The Q - a new future home for Queensland greyhound racing.
More likely I’d say that they’ll be told after the show that they’ve just presented their last show on the station. Management won’t want a big goodbye on air. I’m sure LGM are very nervous about tomorrow even though they’ll have a good idea what might be coming. Could be an interesting day
4BC needs a major revamp in Brisbane Produced Programming from Morning to Midnight, Airing Sydney Produced Content will likely to Erode more People, Brisbane People need Brisbane Voices.
Most of the day is local into Brisbane other than nights and overnights. Where it matters. Personally I would have limited talk on the station as it just doesn’t rate in Brisbane.
If they don’t have a strong alternative option ready to go, I’d say just let them continue until the end of the year. Ratings surely can’t sink any lower.
Not necessarily true - when Spencer Howson did 612 ABC Breakfast, it had shares of around 15%, and he won every survey between 2007 and end of 2016 - after he left, the ABC took a softer approach to Breakfast, and the ratings suffered. 4BC also had it’s own issues, including sacking all the local talent and networking Sydney programs, and the current soft Breakfast approach.
If the program is good quality, people will tune in. If it isn’t, they go elsewhere.
