Hit Network has announced some major changes to its on-air programming as the winter ratings war with rivals KIIS FM intensifies.
The radio station confirmed they will be making some presentation changes over the two-week winter break in an exciting shake-up.
Fan favorites Jimmy Smith and Nath Roye will move into the drive-thru show and get behind the wheel with their show from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Meanwhile, Lucy Jackson and Nikki Westcott will make their weekday radio debuts taking over the prized weekday slot from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Previously, the fan favorites were heard on their popular show Saturday Nights.
Hit Network has announced major changes to its on-air programming as the winter ratings war with its FM rivals intensifies. Jimmy Smith and Nath Roye to move to national driving schedule (Both pictured)
Hit Network is promoting the changes as part of its coverage in the run-up to the Paris Olympics, which begin on July 26.
Jimmy and Nath will feature Australian Olympians “past and present” as they give fans a preview of the Summer Games in their national time slot from 3 to 6 p.m.
The hosting duo said of the changes: ‘Well it’s nice they keep asking us to do this, I guess it means we haven’t screwed it up yet!’
“We love bringing our show to National Drive and gently warming the earlobes of winter listeners from 3 to 6 pm across the country.”
Hit Network is also home to Carrie Bickmore and Tommy Little’s popular hosting show, and Kyle and Jackie O’s rival show, Fifi, Fev and Nick.
The changes come as Kyle and Jackie O (pictured) try to get ahead of Hit Network’s main rival Fifi, Fev and Nick Show on Melbourne’s Fox FM.
Hit Network continues to battle with FM archrival KIIS, the home of Kyle and Jackie O’s breakfast show, which expanded to the Melbourne market in April.
Fans were shocked when the Sydney-based ratings titans lost to Melbourne rivals Fifi, Fev and Nick.
The trio’s show claimed its 12th consecutive win as Melbourne’s most listened to breakfast show in the latest radio poll released in June.
But in Sydney, Kyle and Jackie O triumphed and came out on top. after previously winning the Sydney breakfast FM radio war for 40 polls in a row.
Meanwhile, Lucy Jackson and Nikki Westcott will make their weekday radio debuts taking over the prized 7pm-10pm weekday slot after previously performing on Saturday nights.
This time the show suffered a slight drop in viewership, falling 1.4 points to a market share of 14.7 percent.
On April 29, Kyle and Jackie O brought their breakfast radio to Melbourne in a massive multi-million dollar expansion deal.
The move saw Jason ‘Jase’ Hawkins and Lauren Phillips’ breakfast show come under fire.
The unapologetic Kyle recently said he felt indifferent to his competitors being eliminated, as it ultimately came down to who attracted the most listeners.
Hit Network is also home to Carrie Bickmore and Tommy Little’s popular hosting show, and Kyle and Jackie O’s rival show Fifi, Fev and Nick (pictured).
‘No, I do not care. That’s why we chose Melbourne, we thought: ‘We’ve given Jase and Lauren a good chance at KIIS FM, it can’t get above fourth place in the radio ratings so we’ll take it,’ he told the news. .com.au.
He added that The Kyle and Jackie O Show moved to Melbourne because there was a “troubled market” and it was thought his show could help win back listeners.
However, Kyle’s co-host Jackie ‘O’ Henderson took a different approach, adding that while she didn’t like competitors being eliminated, it was unfortunately the reality of the business.
“No one ever wants to fire someone from their job. I wouldn’t want that to happen to me. It’s a double-edged sword, it really is,” she stated.