Rumours and the denials of those rumours by the rumoured parties are highly nuanced and open to interpretation – providingfertile ground for talk shows and newspaper blogs. When a politician amid leadership speculation tells the media that they have no ambition to be the prime minister, it’s odds on that they’d kill for the job. If they then go on to concede that, should his or her colleagues feel that the PM’s job would be the best way in which to serve their party, they may reluctantly take on the solemn burden of high office, then you can bet your house that they have been sounded out and a leadership spill is imminent. On the other hand, if the incumbent furiously denies rumours that his leadership is under threat, then you definitely know that maybe it is. But if the incumbant doesn’t even return the media’s phone calls on the matter, well, then what is one to think?

For weeks now rumours have been rife that Hamish and Andy will not renew their contract with Austereo’s Today Network at the end of the year. It seems that the lure of television either here or in the UK will be too much for them to resist. But contrary to Austereo’s normally efficient response to our enquiries on most matters, our calls made to them on this subject remain unanswered.

Which leads us to believe that either we have fallen out of favour with Australia’s most successful FM network, or that there is something about these rumours that they don’t want to publicly deny.

Assuming the latter (while reiterating that it is still only a rumour) lets jump to a conclusion and speculate on the make up of the Radio landscape without Hamish and Andy.

Perhaps the most successful nationally networked program of all time, Hamish and Andy are easily number one in Drive in every surveyed market where they are heard. Probably because they are easily the freshest, and naturally funniest talent on radio at present. It would be hard to think of anyone better in recent memory. Martin Malloy, Doug Mulray perhaps?

How valuable is Hamish and Andy to Austereo?

If you were running the company, amid the current rumours, how would you handle it? How far would you go to keep Hamish and Andy. And if they did leave, how and with whom would you replace them?