Radio shakeup: Popular host announces departure from flagship show
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In a surprising turn of events that has left the airwaves buzzing, a prominent radio host has made headlines after announcing a huge career decision.
This unexpected move is set to send ripples through the media landscape, with fans and listeners eagerly anticipating the changes this switch will bring.
Stay tuned as the story unfolds and the radio waves buzz with this development.
ABC Radio Melbourne Breakfast host Sammy J has announced his departure from the flagship radio show.
This news comes just months after he triumphed over The Kyle and Jackie O Show in the ratings, a victory that had the Melbourne market talking.
Sammy J, who has been the host of ABC Radio Melbourne Breakfast since prior to the pandemic, expressed that he departs from the program with a sense of ‘pride’ and gratitude.
Reflecting on his tenure, Sammy J expressed a mix of emotions as he prepared to step away from the microphone.
‘Hosting Melbourne Breakfast was an unexpected opportunity that became an unexpected joy,’ the radio host, whose real name is Samuel Jonathan McMillan, stated.
‘But radio demands all of you and deserves nothing less, and after five years, I'm ready to trade the 4:15 AM alarm for more regular hours.’
‘I leave with pride, gratitude, and a litany of cash-for-comment scandals that will be revealed in due course,’ he added.
Shelley Hadfield, ABC Radio Melbourne's Acting Manager, praised Sammy J's significant impact on the audience.
‘Sammy has asked the questions we never knew we wanted answered,’ Ms. Hadfield said.
‘He's grilled the Prime Minister and the Premier, he broke the news to Melbourne of the Queen's death, and he's interviewed musicians, magicians, meatworkers and mathematicians.’
‘But it's Sammy's connection with the audience, which has been a hallmark of his time at 774. You only had to see the listeners turn up at the crack of dawn for his outside broadcasts to understand what an impact he has had on people's lives,’ she continued.
She highlighted his versatility in interviewing a wide range of guests, from politicians to performers, and his ability to break major news stories with sensitivity and professionalism.
His departure follows an incident a few months ago where he made an explicit remark about KIIS FM's Kyle Sandilands and Jackie 'O' Henderson, after they were surpassed in the Melbourne market in August.
In the latest survey, the radio duo ranked fifth, while Sammy J's ABC breakfast show saw a rise in ratings.
‘All these months asking my ABC listeners whether they've done a*** has really paid off,’ Sammy J quipped on his social media story.
The cheeky joke targeting his competitors seemed to directly reference a comment made by Sandilands when his radio show launched in Melbourne in April.
During the broadcast, Henderson, 49, introduced herself as ‘STI-free’, after which Kyle probed her for her thoughts on a*** sex.
Meanwhile, the 52-year-old described himself as an ‘ex F-boy, coke-sniffing a******’.
Over time, Sammy J saw an increase in listeners for his ABC Melbourne Breakfast show.
He achieved an 8.2 per cent audience share in the August ratings, up from 7.3 per cent in the previous survey.
In the latest ratings, the show experienced a decline, securing a 7 per cent share with an average breakfast radio audience of 55,000.
Sammy's popularity reached its highest during the COVID-19 pandemic, with an average of 114,000 listeners and a 14.9 per cent share of the Melbourne breakfast market in 2020.
Sammy J will have his final broadcast on December 13, with additional announcements regarding ABC Radio Melbourne's 2025 line-up anticipated next week.
The radio industry is no stranger to significant shifts, as demonstrated by Sammy J's announcement about his departure from ABC.
Similarly, the world of sports broadcasting is witnessing its own changes with the retirement announcement of Tim Watson, who is stepping down after an illustrious 30-year career.
Both moves mark the end of notable eras in their respective fields, reminding us that even the most enduring careers eventually transition to new chapters.
To our dear Seniors Discount Club members, we'd love to hear your thoughts on Sammy J's departure. How has his show impacted your mornings? And what do you hope to see in the future for the ABC Radio Melbourne Breakfast slot? Share your memories and expectations in the comments below, and let's celebrate the legacy of a radio host who truly made a difference.
This unexpected move is set to send ripples through the media landscape, with fans and listeners eagerly anticipating the changes this switch will bring.
Stay tuned as the story unfolds and the radio waves buzz with this development.
ABC Radio Melbourne Breakfast host Sammy J has announced his departure from the flagship radio show.
This news comes just months after he triumphed over The Kyle and Jackie O Show in the ratings, a victory that had the Melbourne market talking.
Sammy J, who has been the host of ABC Radio Melbourne Breakfast since prior to the pandemic, expressed that he departs from the program with a sense of ‘pride’ and gratitude.
ABC Radio Melbourne Breakfast host Sammy J (Samuel Jonathan McMillan) is departing after five years. Credit: Facebook / Sammy J
Reflecting on his tenure, Sammy J expressed a mix of emotions as he prepared to step away from the microphone.
‘Hosting Melbourne Breakfast was an unexpected opportunity that became an unexpected joy,’ the radio host, whose real name is Samuel Jonathan McMillan, stated.
‘But radio demands all of you and deserves nothing less, and after five years, I'm ready to trade the 4:15 AM alarm for more regular hours.’
‘I leave with pride, gratitude, and a litany of cash-for-comment scandals that will be revealed in due course,’ he added.
Shelley Hadfield, ABC Radio Melbourne's Acting Manager, praised Sammy J's significant impact on the audience.
‘Sammy has asked the questions we never knew we wanted answered,’ Ms. Hadfield said.
‘He's grilled the Prime Minister and the Premier, he broke the news to Melbourne of the Queen's death, and he's interviewed musicians, magicians, meatworkers and mathematicians.’
‘But it's Sammy's connection with the audience, which has been a hallmark of his time at 774. You only had to see the listeners turn up at the crack of dawn for his outside broadcasts to understand what an impact he has had on people's lives,’ she continued.
She highlighted his versatility in interviewing a wide range of guests, from politicians to performers, and his ability to break major news stories with sensitivity and professionalism.
His departure follows an incident a few months ago where he made an explicit remark about KIIS FM's Kyle Sandilands and Jackie 'O' Henderson, after they were surpassed in the Melbourne market in August.
In the latest survey, the radio duo ranked fifth, while Sammy J's ABC breakfast show saw a rise in ratings.
‘All these months asking my ABC listeners whether they've done a*** has really paid off,’ Sammy J quipped on his social media story.
The cheeky joke targeting his competitors seemed to directly reference a comment made by Sandilands when his radio show launched in Melbourne in April.
During the broadcast, Henderson, 49, introduced herself as ‘STI-free’, after which Kyle probed her for her thoughts on a*** sex.
Meanwhile, the 52-year-old described himself as an ‘ex F-boy, coke-sniffing a******’.
Over time, Sammy J saw an increase in listeners for his ABC Melbourne Breakfast show.
He achieved an 8.2 per cent audience share in the August ratings, up from 7.3 per cent in the previous survey.
In the latest ratings, the show experienced a decline, securing a 7 per cent share with an average breakfast radio audience of 55,000.
Sammy's popularity reached its highest during the COVID-19 pandemic, with an average of 114,000 listeners and a 14.9 per cent share of the Melbourne breakfast market in 2020.
Sammy J will have his final broadcast on December 13, with additional announcements regarding ABC Radio Melbourne's 2025 line-up anticipated next week.
The radio industry is no stranger to significant shifts, as demonstrated by Sammy J's announcement about his departure from ABC.
Similarly, the world of sports broadcasting is witnessing its own changes with the retirement announcement of Tim Watson, who is stepping down after an illustrious 30-year career.
Both moves mark the end of notable eras in their respective fields, reminding us that even the most enduring careers eventually transition to new chapters.
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