Home Entertainment 2Day FM’s failed gamble: Behind ‘millions’ spent on Hughesy’s high-profile breakfast show Ed and Erin, only for it to sink in the ratings before its surprise cancellation

2Day FM’s failed gamble: Behind ‘millions’ spent on Hughesy’s high-profile breakfast show Ed and Erin, only for it to sink in the ratings before its surprise cancellation

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Hughesy, Ed and Erin's breakfast show has come to a sensational end. Pictured: Ed Kavalee, Erin Molan and Dave Hughes

Listeners were left shocked and saddened by the news that Hughesy’s breakfast show Ed & Erin had been cancelled on Wednesday, but it was not a cheap decision for 2DayFM.

It was reported that millions of dollars were spent to save the long-running radio show, but nothing could be done to keep it on the air.

According to radio sources, the trio’s departure “was long in coming” and the drop in their ratings was “the final nail in the coffin.”

‘SCA (Southern Cross Austereo) has spent millions trying to make this show a success, even having Hughesy move from Melbourne to try to ‘connect’ more with Sydney listeners living there, but has still always struggled to find an audience,’ a radio source said. Yahoo Lifestyle.

‘They brought in a new executive producer earlier this year, who they signed from KIIS, but even that wasn’t enough and no one is surprised that he’s now been dumped.’

Hughesy, Ed and Erin’s breakfast show sensationally came to an end amid soaring ratings and “commitment issues”.

The show, hosted by Dave Hughes, Ed Kavalee and Erin Molan, managed a mere 3.6% market share in the latest ratings survey.

2Day FM announced the news on Wednesday night, informing listeners that they had opted to cancel the show and replace it with lovable nightshift pranksters Jimmy Smith and Nath Roye, who currently host The Jimmy and Nath Show.

Millions of dollars were reportedly spent to save Hughesy’s morning show, Ed and Erin, but nothing could be done to keep it on the air. Pictured: Ed Kavalee, Erin Molan and Dave Hughes

“We have loved our time together on 2DayFM Breakfast, however, due to some of our families living in different cities, we are unable to commit until 2025, so it is with a heavy heart that we are stepping aside so that 2DayFM can find the team to take them forward on Breakfast,” Hughsey, Ed and Erin said in a statement.

‘We are so grateful to Sydney for their support, and doubling our listenership in three years is something we are immensely proud of, and we will miss each and every one of them.’

Southern Cross Austereo went on to thank radio presenters for their “passion and commitment” following the announcement.

“We are incredibly grateful to Hughesy, Ed and Erin for their unwavering dedication to making 2DayFM Breakfast a fun way to wake up Sydney every morning since 2020, and we wish them all the best as they continue their outstanding careers,” said SCA Chief Content Officer Dave Cameron.

‘Looking ahead to 2025, we are preparing for a change to the 2DayFM Sydney Breakfast program and will make further announcements in due course.’

The show hosted by Dave Hughes, Ed Kavalee and Erin Molan achieved a mere 3.6% audience share in the latest ratings survey.

The show hosted by Dave Hughes, Ed Kavalee and Erin Molan achieved a mere 3.6% audience share in the latest ratings survey.

Jimmy & Nath’s show, currently on the successful national night slot, will temporarily move to breakfast time.

According to the GfK Radio 360 Survey 4, Hughesy, Ed and Erin fell 1.4 points to a market share of 3.6 at the start of the year.

The announcement comes after rumours that Hughes is preparing to reunite with Kate Langbroek, 58, to reboot their popular show Hughesy and Kate.

The pair last hosted the popular Hit FM show in 2019, before Langbroek stepped away from the show to move to Italy.

In July, the Herald Sun reported that there were rumours in Melbourne that Langbroek and Hughes, 53, were preparing to bring back the show.

Meanwhile, Hughes recently appeared as a guest on Triple M’s The Rush Hour in Melbourne, which was a huge hit with listeners.

Hughes and Langbroek first worked together in 2001 for Nova 100’s breakfast show in Melbourne.

Langbroek currently co-hosts the popular podcast The Buck Up with Nath Valvo after leaving her last commercial radio job at KIIS FM’s The Pick Up two years ago.

Last year she hinted at a possible radio reunion with Hughes.

“We are full of love for each other and nothing is off the table for us,” she said. Herald of the Sun last August.

The announcement comes after rumours that Hughes is preparing to reunite with Kate Langbroek, 58, to relaunch their popular show Hughesy and Kate. Both are pictured here.

The announcement comes after rumours that Hughes is preparing to reunite with Kate Langbroek, 58, to relaunch their popular show Hughesy and Kate. Both are pictured here.

Langbroek currently hosts the popular podcast The Buck Up alongside co-host Nath Valvo after leaving his last commercial radio job at KIIS FM, The Pick Up, two years ago. He is also a regular panellist on Channel 10's The Project. (Pictured)

Langbroek currently hosts the popular podcast The Buck Up alongside co-host Nath Valvo after leaving his last commercial radio job at KIIS FM, The Pick Up, two years ago. He is also a regular panellist on Channel 10’s The Project. (Pictured)

“I love Hughesy. I’m not doing radio at the moment, but I’ll always love radio because it’s a natural medium for me.”

In March 2023, Langbroek issued a lengthy apology after publicly exposing a gender-based pay dispute between her and Hughes on The Project.

She claimed she earned 40 percent less than Hughesy during their time hosting Hughesy & Kate on the Hit Network for nearly two decades.

Clarifying her shocking admission on Instagram, Langbroek said she had not explained the full context of the situation due to “time constraints” on the Channel 10 show.

“I also didn’t explain that when he found out, Hughesy was mortified, appropriately shocked, and immediately tried to rectify the situation,” he admitted.

“I had already achieved parity, by the way, but his instincts were so honourable that he immediately offered to take a pay cut,” he added.

“He also promised that from that point on, we would always negotiate together on the show we had created together, and so we did the following year when we moved to SCA. Knowing that we could speak freely about our negotiations and that we were treated as equals on our new radio network was the best thing.”

She confessed that Hughes had been “hurt” by her comments on The Project, so she felt the need to clarify them.

She also said she and Hughes were “not estranged” and that she was “mortified” that she had led people to believe that.

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